Ron was my very patient, loving, husband for six and a half years. We had ups and downs like any couple, but at the end of the day, I knew he'd be there for me, no matter what.

He was very kind and gentle and treated me like a Princess. In fact, Princess was what he always called me. I used to tease that he'd forgotten my real name, and once suggested that my status should be elevated to Queen...

Ron said, "You'll never be a Queen! Queens are old and ugly and you'll always be young and beautiful."

How could I not love a guy like that? And most of all, he was MY best friend...

+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Ron used to sing this Don Williams song to me:

YOU'RE MY FRIEND WHEN I'M HUNGRY
YOU'RE MY SHELTER FROM TROUBLED WINDS
YOU'RE MY ANCHOR IN LIFE'S OCEAN
BUT MOST OF ALL YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND

WHEN I NEED HOPE AND INSPIRATION
YOU'RE ALWAYS STRONG WHEN I'M TIRED AND WEAK
I COULD SEARCH THIS WHOLE WORLD OVER
YOU'D STILL BE EVERYTHING THAT I NEED.

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Heaven Needed My Husband

He was my husband and my friend,
Who loved me deeply to the end.

I picture yet his caring face,
His comforting and warm embrace.

A husband's jobs are never done,
And Heaven must have needed one.

For angels came and took his hand
And led him to God's promised land.

I'm sure he's keeping busy there
While teaching little ones to share,

And playing ball and swinging tykes,
Repairing toys and fixing bikes.

Although there's sadness, this I know,
He's waiting there, his face aglow.

I close my eyes and I can see --
His arms still open wide for me.

© Larry Howland

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You never said you were leaving
You never said goodbye
You were gone before I knew it
And only God knows why.
A million times I needed you
A million times I cried
If love alone could have saved you
You never would have died.
In life I loved you dearly and in
Death I love you still,
In my heart you hold a place
That no one could ever fill.
It broke my heart to lose you
But you did not go alone
For part of me went with you
The day God took you home.

~~ Author Unknown

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"Death is not extinguishing the light;
it is only putting out the lamp
because the dawn has come."
-Rabindranath Tagore

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When The Thought Of You Catches
Up With Me

It can happen any moment
Without reason or rhyme
It might be right around the corner
Or it'll come up from behind
A picture that I thought would fade
That I still clearly see
When the thought of you catches up with me

It can happen on a Sunday drive
The sky above a shade of blue
Headin' down some lonesome highway
Then you come into view
Mile after mile goes by
But you're all I see
When the thought of you catches up with me

When the thought of you comes to mind
It'll carry me away to a better place in time

It can happen in the dead of night
Or any day of the week
Sometimes you'll come find me
When I'm in bed asleep
And I'll have that dream about you
And I sure love what I see
When the thought of you catches up with me

-David Ball

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Heartfelt appreciation to Edward Leffew for sponsoring Ron's memorial. I am deeply touched by his kindness.