Dale Perry
February 1985
One of my memories of Gram is when I was planning to visit in the summer of 1979. I took my car to the dealership for adjustments, and it fell apart in the dealer's driveway (good place). After a week and a half of waiting for parts and a $350 bill, it was too late to go up north (plus my summer earnings went into the car). I explained this to Gram and she sent down a four-leaf clover to put in my car to keep it running. It worked!
It's still hard to accept that both of my grandmas are gone. I expected them to live to 100 and more but I guess it was their time. I wish I was able to see them more but circumstances wouldn't permit it. I just hope I can see my other relatives more often than once every 25 years—and I plan to.
Patsy Hogg
March 1985
Jeff and I were quite young when we left Seattle. The only time we saw Gram was when she came 'a travelin'. I know, from the letters that Mom had written to her Mother before and just after I was born, that she had some influence on me, because she was there to help Mom when I was born.
We all remember how Gram loved the Roadrunner. And I can remember Gram "bribing" the cats with chicken. She loved the "Inkspots", Crookedtail and Straightface, but got real frustrated with my cat Sasha, because she was skittish and not too trusting of anyone.
One thing Gram did for me was send me clippings from the newspaper on what "The Mountain" was up to. I have almost (I think) everything she sent. Often it was enclosed in a letter to the family, so I don't have the letters.
We kids really missed out in that we never really knew any of our Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. We are missing a lot of the richness—the traditions—that having relatives near brings into one's life.
Mark Meissner
January 10, 1985
To my cousins:
With the passing of our beloved
Grandmother, I hope this occasion brings our clan together again from
times & places that we have been drawn towards. It makes us think, does
it not, and realize a lot about ourselves in that we all do really love life,
although in the reality of it, we all face a measure of hardship, and pain
too at times, as life goes on.
We in our relative youth and inexperience should remember Grandma and wonder what gave her such a drive and spirit of longevity, a true caring for tender and proper things, and a willingness to share her Love with all of u,s if we would but share moments with her.
To me, memories filled my eyes in seeing her big friendly home every time I went there. On my last trip home I had to look at her home, and say: "Yes, I was privileged to know her. She sure had a lot of Love for us all, too. Grandpa and her both." Let us not forget it!
And she had stories. Of places that most of us have never seen or been to personally. Times even before our parents were born. Events before I or you, dear cousins, came to be. Friends she knew. The newest great-grandchild, and what each grandchild, by name, was doing. And of how happy she was to see us all taking pride in what we are each doing, in that we are all so very uniquely different, yet gave her reason to live on to a complete full life!
Did she ever neglect to tell you or I what each cousin was up to, or had accomplished, since our last hearing from them? She never ran short of stories, in detail, and all true, that we all so loved to hear, or of the new vagabond tom cat that adopted her, and created a threat and menace for her feathered friends visiting outside on the window-feeder?
Grandma never acted out of place, or was rude to even a soul who didn't deserve a mild scolding. She was full of Love for all of us, yet knew we had to live our lives, too.
The nite before I heard of her passing away, I was in the middle of writing a letter to her. It was already in an envelope and sealed for mailing in the morning, when to me the following morning I received a tragic call from home stating details of her passing, and I cried because it hurts so bad
I was just saying to myself she sure had reason to have joy that I knew she did, in her heart. Because her own children, first of all, made her proud of them all; and then in addition all of us came along, as a bonus, and a double-bonus of at least 13 great-grandchildren! But she is sleeping in peacefulness now, and I couldn't send the letter.
She may be gone, but she will not be forgotten, by any of us who knew her & loved her so dearly. We all need to remember the values she held so close. To work hard and honestly at who we are, and whatever we are doing, and do it all to the best we each can!
Reflect on the happiness she brought to us all, and that we in but a small way could try and return to her. We are a product of her love towards us, and now it is our turn to share it with others. Happiness is contagious.
I Love you Grandma Beatrice, and I will not forget you!