Grandma was "grandma" to many children in addition to her own 7 grandchildren. She is the mother of Charles Lloyd, Evelyn Louise, and Sharon Kay. She is buried between Sharon Kay, who died of leukemia at age 15, and Grandpa. Grandma was a Christian lady who started and taught Sunday School to the children at the Church of God in Chanute, Kansas. She was a professional cake decorator for well over 20 years and made cakes for nearly everyone in Neosho County. She is deeply loved and missed by her family and all those whose lives she touched with her special brand of love and caring.

Grandma was my best friend, the one I laughed with at everything and nothing, she taught me how real love feels. Some days it seems I can barely get by without her. The ache is almost unbearable...and so, I share this poem:


When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not here to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me, as much as I love you,
And each time you think of me, I know you'll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand.
And said my place was ready in heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye, for all my life,
I'd always thought I didn't want to die;
I had so much to live for and so much yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared, and all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday, I thought, for just awhile,
I'd say good bye and kiss you and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized that this could never be,
For emptiness and memories would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things, that I'd miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me, from His great golden throne,
He said, "This is eternity and all I've promised you. Today for life on earth is past but here it starts anew. I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last,
And since each day's the same day, there's no longing for the past.
But you have been so faithful, so trusting, so true.
Though there were times you did some things, you knew you shouldn't do.
But you have been forgiven and now at last you're free.
So won't you take my hand and share my life with me?"

So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me, I'm right here in your heart.