Eulogy written for Violet by granddaughter Sherrie, 29 December, 2004.

Grandma was known to many by her genuine, gracious smile, love and giving nature. Negative and dark were not part of her personality, but hugs, smiles, kisses and the positive attitude she instilled upon others was. When people were rushing by, she made time for everyone.

If you dropped by her home during a meal, you were always invited to join in the feast, the answer NO was not an option. She always made sure everyone had something to eat and plenty of it.

A perfect relationship could be based on her and Grandpa's life together. They were a team, from gardening, travel and even housework, they were the perfect couple.

In the last few weeks of Grandma's life, she told me a secret. She said that she was busy packing her things, that Grandpa was coming soon to pick her up for a grand vacation. I realized at that point, she knew her time was near. In the past few months of her life, when she and I spent time alone, she would reflect on the good times she and Grandpa shared. She would often tell me how at night he could come to her in dreams so real it was as if he was really there with her.

She loved nothing more than to dote on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she loved you "unconditionally" regardless if you were perfect or not.

She loved us when we found out you could seal a bottle of Barks pop, shake it with those plastic lids, and see it explode all over her kitchen ceiling. She loved us when the boys thought they were Tarzan with the bathtub curtain, or we accidentally broke things...

I can recall hundreds of stories about Grandma, most I have penned in my journals or have on video. She had mentioned she gave up her right as class valedictorian to marry grandpa at an early age. Grandma could speak French and Latin, play the piano, but her gift with numbers was astonishing. She could figure up her grocery bill prior to the cashier's final tally. She knew everyone's date of birth, right down to the weather the day you were born.

Grandma was famous for her kitchen talents, to this day I still can't make her potato salad. The only thing I can think of that she wasn't good at was driving. After Grandpa died, I spent a lot of time with her and endured her driving skills. She had no choice but to learn how to drive and be kind of good at it. I will give her credit, she was DETERMINED. I can't begin to mention the times I thought the wall at the back of the garage on Terrace Place would cave in, as she'd try to park that long Buick. Better yet, in the winters she was determined to make it down and back up that same snow covered hill. Grandma NEVER gave up.

Every grandchild here today will say the best part was her reading us a bedtime story. Somehow we convinced her we liked her reading to us better with her teeth out. There was something about the way she read that hooked us on books.

Perserverance was her word. One time on Maplecrest, in the few years of good health and already legally blind, I was helping her plant flowers. She was insistant on breaking ground around the side of the garage. I had been using a large pick to do so. Pausing to go inside for a drink of water, I came out and there she was....swinging that pick like a 20 year old. She was in her 80's. I said "GRANDMA! What are you DOING! You are too old for that! She shot back, HUSH!, I'm NEVER too old! We both stood there laughing.

We shall not mourn her death, we shall smile knowing we ALL had the divine pleasure of having the most beautiful angel among us for 88 years.

Everyone serves a purpose in life, a mission, she told me. To me, hers was giving an abundance of love.

Aunt Violet and second husband, J.B. Albright of Eubank, Pulaski Co. KY. He is buried with his first wife in Eubank Baptist Church Cemetery. She is buried with her first husband, Ell Sowders.