Granny Wilma's Eulogy was beautifully delivered by her son, Mike Mashburn, at her graveside on Wednesday, 10 November at 11:30am.
We are here today to celebrate the life of Wilma Jean Prater. Whether you knew her as Wilma, Jean, Wilma Jean, Granny, Crazy Granny, Cookie Lady, or just plain Mom, you were blessed to know her.
She was born Wilma Jean Morris on May 23, 1933 in Ben Franklin, Texas in a tar paper shack in the middle of an alfalfa field during a snowstorm… I personally never bought the snowstorm part!
She left this earth on November 7, 2010 to join those that preceded her: Her mother, Mozelle O'Hara,Her stepfather, James O'Hara, Her father, Vernon Morris, Her stepmother, Louise Morris, son, Barton Louis Conner, Absorbed son, Rex Burson. She is survived by: Daughter, Kathy Godsey, Son, Rick Actkinson and wife Teresa, Son, Mike Mashburn and wife Keri, Son, David Mashburn, Sister, Sandra Nicholson and husband Tim, Sister, Darlene Smith and husband Glenn, Sister, Vanessa Shamberg and husband Marty. Brother, Charles Holloway and wife Deidre. Brother, Wayne Morris. Adopted/Absorbed Children: Barbara Estes, Pamela Morrison, Tommy Hines, Brenda Himes, Linda Himes, Rick Mooneyham, Ray Burson, Terroll Prater, Toby Prater, and likely half the crowd in attendance today.
And as best as we can count: 33 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren. If I have missed anyone, I apologize, but supper is at 6:00 p.m.!
Wilma and family moved to Arlington in 1942. She graduated from Arlington High School in 1950. On November 1, 1956, she was given a 3 month temporary assignment with an upstart Aerospace company known as Temco, 42 years later she retired from what is known today as Lockheed Martin. I see that her family from the plant is well represented here today. This brings to mind a story shared by one of coworker/extended family members:
On one of her Friday trips to take donuts to the guards, she loved a man in uniform, she stopped at the cashier's office to chat. While there, a man walked up and said hello, looking at Wilma asked her, "Haven't I met you before?" She replied, "Maybe, but I don't remember." The man then asked, "How long did you work here?" She answered, "Well, I was here about 42 years, but I only worked the first 3 weeks." The man laughed and then cheerfully volunteered to take the donuts to the guards, and walked off to deliver them. The Cashier asked Wilma if she knew who that was. Wilma replied, "No, I don't." To which the Cashier responded, "That was Jim Berry, the President of the company!" Mom did manage to stick her foot in her mouth every now and then!
(At this time the pallbearers will start passing out the cookies)
She was also famous for the cookies she brought to the plant, to the staff of Rankin Elementary, and to the school crossing guards. Her giving was contagious, she would take offense to anyone trying to repay her kindness. As a gesture to her, I would like to ask that everyone join me in "breaking cookie" instead of bread in her honor.
*******SCRIPTURE*******
While I was growing up, she gave herself tirelessly. From being the Cub Scout Leader, the Football Team Mother, countless hours sitting in the car reading during sports practices, to picking up and transporting half the football team to practices and games, and even taking them to Georgetown Inner Space Caverns. She took the Scout Troop to Houston for a weekend trip paying roundtrip airfare for the entire group. She gave of herself for all her "children" on top of being the sole provider for a good portion of her life.
She then started to gain grandchildren and another chapter in her life started. During this time she was heavily involved in their lives. She took great pride in her growing family and anytime you saw her, it was picture time. She loved to take pictures to document everything. She always had her camera with her, but if she did forget to bring it, she would have withdrawals. She had a Kodak preferred customer card and the photo staff at Eckerd's and Walgreen's knew her by her first name and even knew the family members by their first names. Her camera and glass of ice water, were two things she always had by her side. The grandkids never drank water unless it was from Granny's cup! It was magical ice water.
And then there was Christmas time and the infamous wall of stockings. Each year the time needed to hang the stockings would increase. The only person who knew what order to hang them in was Mom. There was a well planned and detailed sequence in which the stockings were hung. The last count of stockings was 103, each one hand made by Mom herself.
Wilma loved her westerns, whether it was a TV series, movies, or books. There was one actor in particular that she idolized… Let me see… What was his name?
One other figure that she loved was Will Rogers -- you remember, the character who never met a man he didn't like. Well, Mom's saying would be, "She never met a person that she didn't adopt." Everyone became family and we all had numbers. I, myself, am #7. Just ask the people who attended her 2004 birthday luncheon. She made me wear a name tag with the #7 on it! What # are you???
At this time I would like to invite anyone that wishes to share a memory to come forward and do so.
Mom did have her serious side that came out when someone needed help. She was always the first one to jump in and help. From the neighbor who needed a ride, sitting in the emergency room with a football teammate's mother, or just being there to listen when someone needed to talk. We should all follow her example in paying it forward.
We should also follow her example of unconditional love. No matter what occurs or how someone behaves, family members always deserve love without conditions.
Mom would not want us to grieve her passing. She always said she know one day that she would be joining her family upstairs, run thru her fields of daisies, and chase John Wayne until his horse gave out. Rest assured that she is already planning another class reunion. I would like to close by reading a poem selected by one of the grandchildren, Amy Rainey.
A grandmother's touch, A granny's kiss,
A grieving family, you're greatly missed.
An empty house, an empty chair,
A granny's love, fills the air.
Broken hearts, tear filled eyes,
A loving soul to fill the sky.
Many memories in my mind,
Some I laugh, some I cry.
Realizing that's all I have to hold on to,
Only memories of what once were you.
Missing your laugh, I will never again hear,
That is the reality that fills me with so much fear.
No more smile on your face
No more warmth of your embrace.
The last hug, the last kiss,
The last "goodbye" leaves me with one last wish…
To have you granny, here today,
Never to leave and always to stay.
A grandmother's touch, a granny's kiss,
A grieving family, YOU'RE GREATLY MISSED!!!
Close with prayer and announce gathering at house.
We are here today to celebrate the life of Wilma Jean Prater. Whether you knew her as Wilma, Jean, Wilma Jean, Granny, Crazy Granny, Cookie Lady, or just plain Mom, you were blessed to know her.
She was born Wilma Jean Morris on May 23, 1933 in Ben Franklin, Texas in a tar paper shack in the middle of an alfalfa field during a snowstorm… I personally never bought the snowstorm part!
She left this earth on November 7, 2010 to join those that preceded her: Her mother, Mozelle O'Hara,Her stepfather, James O'Hara, Her father, Vernon Morris, Her stepmother, Louise Morris, son, Barton Louis Conner, Absorbed son, Rex Burson. She is survived by: Daughter, Kathy Godsey, Son, Rick Actkinson and wife Teresa, Son, Mike Mashburn and wife Keri, Son, David Mashburn, Sister, Sandra Nicholson and husband Tim, Sister, Darlene Smith and husband Glenn, Sister, Vanessa Shamberg and husband Marty. Brother, Charles Holloway and wife Deidre. Brother, Wayne Morris. Adopted/Absorbed Children: Barbara Estes, Pamela Morrison, Tommy Hines, Brenda Himes, Linda Himes, Rick Mooneyham, Ray Burson, Terroll Prater, Toby Prater, and likely half the crowd in attendance today.
And as best as we can count: 33 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren. If I have missed anyone, I apologize, but supper is at 6:00 p.m.!
Wilma and family moved to Arlington in 1942. She graduated from Arlington High School in 1950. On November 1, 1956, she was given a 3 month temporary assignment with an upstart Aerospace company known as Temco, 42 years later she retired from what is known today as Lockheed Martin. I see that her family from the plant is well represented here today. This brings to mind a story shared by one of coworker/extended family members:
On one of her Friday trips to take donuts to the guards, she loved a man in uniform, she stopped at the cashier's office to chat. While there, a man walked up and said hello, looking at Wilma asked her, "Haven't I met you before?" She replied, "Maybe, but I don't remember." The man then asked, "How long did you work here?" She answered, "Well, I was here about 42 years, but I only worked the first 3 weeks." The man laughed and then cheerfully volunteered to take the donuts to the guards, and walked off to deliver them. The Cashier asked Wilma if she knew who that was. Wilma replied, "No, I don't." To which the Cashier responded, "That was Jim Berry, the President of the company!" Mom did manage to stick her foot in her mouth every now and then!
(At this time the pallbearers will start passing out the cookies)
She was also famous for the cookies she brought to the plant, to the staff of Rankin Elementary, and to the school crossing guards. Her giving was contagious, she would take offense to anyone trying to repay her kindness. As a gesture to her, I would like to ask that everyone join me in "breaking cookie" instead of bread in her honor.
*******SCRIPTURE*******
While I was growing up, she gave herself tirelessly. From being the Cub Scout Leader, the Football Team Mother, countless hours sitting in the car reading during sports practices, to picking up and transporting half the football team to practices and games, and even taking them to Georgetown Inner Space Caverns. She took the Scout Troop to Houston for a weekend trip paying roundtrip airfare for the entire group. She gave of herself for all her "children" on top of being the sole provider for a good portion of her life.
She then started to gain grandchildren and another chapter in her life started. During this time she was heavily involved in their lives. She took great pride in her growing family and anytime you saw her, it was picture time. She loved to take pictures to document everything. She always had her camera with her, but if she did forget to bring it, she would have withdrawals. She had a Kodak preferred customer card and the photo staff at Eckerd's and Walgreen's knew her by her first name and even knew the family members by their first names. Her camera and glass of ice water, were two things she always had by her side. The grandkids never drank water unless it was from Granny's cup! It was magical ice water.
And then there was Christmas time and the infamous wall of stockings. Each year the time needed to hang the stockings would increase. The only person who knew what order to hang them in was Mom. There was a well planned and detailed sequence in which the stockings were hung. The last count of stockings was 103, each one hand made by Mom herself.
Wilma loved her westerns, whether it was a TV series, movies, or books. There was one actor in particular that she idolized… Let me see… What was his name?
One other figure that she loved was Will Rogers -- you remember, the character who never met a man he didn't like. Well, Mom's saying would be, "She never met a person that she didn't adopt." Everyone became family and we all had numbers. I, myself, am #7. Just ask the people who attended her 2004 birthday luncheon. She made me wear a name tag with the #7 on it! What # are you???
At this time I would like to invite anyone that wishes to share a memory to come forward and do so.
Mom did have her serious side that came out when someone needed help. She was always the first one to jump in and help. From the neighbor who needed a ride, sitting in the emergency room with a football teammate's mother, or just being there to listen when someone needed to talk. We should all follow her example in paying it forward.
We should also follow her example of unconditional love. No matter what occurs or how someone behaves, family members always deserve love without conditions.
Mom would not want us to grieve her passing. She always said she know one day that she would be joining her family upstairs, run thru her fields of daisies, and chase John Wayne until his horse gave out. Rest assured that she is already planning another class reunion. I would like to close by reading a poem selected by one of the grandchildren, Amy Rainey.
A grandmother's touch, A granny's kiss,
A grieving family, you're greatly missed.
An empty house, an empty chair,
A granny's love, fills the air.
Broken hearts, tear filled eyes,
A loving soul to fill the sky.
Many memories in my mind,
Some I laugh, some I cry.
Realizing that's all I have to hold on to,
Only memories of what once were you.
Missing your laugh, I will never again hear,
That is the reality that fills me with so much fear.
No more smile on your face
No more warmth of your embrace.
The last hug, the last kiss,
The last "goodbye" leaves me with one last wish…
To have you granny, here today,
Never to leave and always to stay.
A grandmother's touch, a granny's kiss,
A grieving family, YOU'RE GREATLY MISSED!!!
Close with prayer and announce gathering at house.
Granny Wilma's Eulogy was beautifully delivered by her son, Mike Mashburn, at her graveside on Wednesday, 10 November at 11:30am.
We are here today to celebrate the life of Wilma Jean Prater. Whether you knew her as Wilma, Jean, Wilma Jean, Granny, Crazy Granny, Cookie Lady, or just plain Mom, you were blessed to know her.
She was born Wilma Jean Morris on May 23, 1933 in Ben Franklin, Texas in a tar paper shack in the middle of an alfalfa field during a snowstorm… I personally never bought the snowstorm part!
She left this earth on November 7, 2010 to join those that preceded her: Her mother, Mozelle O'Hara,Her stepfather, James O'Hara, Her father, Vernon Morris, Her stepmother, Louise Morris, son, Barton Louis Conner, Absorbed son, Rex Burson. She is survived by: Daughter, Kathy Godsey, Son, Rick Actkinson and wife Teresa, Son, Mike Mashburn and wife Keri, Son, David Mashburn, Sister, Sandra Nicholson and husband Tim, Sister, Darlene Smith and husband Glenn, Sister, Vanessa Shamberg and husband Marty. Brother, Charles Holloway and wife Deidre. Brother, Wayne Morris. Adopted/Absorbed Children: Barbara Estes, Pamela Morrison, Tommy Hines, Brenda Himes, Linda Himes, Rick Mooneyham, Ray Burson, Terroll Prater, Toby Prater, and likely half the crowd in attendance today.
And as best as we can count: 33 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren. If I have missed anyone, I apologize, but supper is at 6:00 p.m.!
Wilma and family moved to Arlington in 1942. She graduated from Arlington High School in 1950. On November 1, 1956, she was given a 3 month temporary assignment with an upstart Aerospace company known as Temco, 42 years later she retired from what is known today as Lockheed Martin. I see that her family from the plant is well represented here today. This brings to mind a story shared by one of coworker/extended family members:
On one of her Friday trips to take donuts to the guards, she loved a man in uniform, she stopped at the cashier's office to chat. While there, a man walked up and said hello, looking at Wilma asked her, "Haven't I met you before?" She replied, "Maybe, but I don't remember." The man then asked, "How long did you work here?" She answered, "Well, I was here about 42 years, but I only worked the first 3 weeks." The man laughed and then cheerfully volunteered to take the donuts to the guards, and walked off to deliver them. The Cashier asked Wilma if she knew who that was. Wilma replied, "No, I don't." To which the Cashier responded, "That was Jim Berry, the President of the company!" Mom did manage to stick her foot in her mouth every now and then!
(At this time the pallbearers will start passing out the cookies)
She was also famous for the cookies she brought to the plant, to the staff of Rankin Elementary, and to the school crossing guards. Her giving was contagious, she would take offense to anyone trying to repay her kindness. As a gesture to her, I would like to ask that everyone join me in "breaking cookie" instead of bread in her honor.
*******SCRIPTURE*******
While I was growing up, she gave herself tirelessly. From being the Cub Scout Leader, the Football Team Mother, countless hours sitting in the car reading during sports practices, to picking up and transporting half the football team to practices and games, and even taking them to Georgetown Inner Space Caverns. She took the Scout Troop to Houston for a weekend trip paying roundtrip airfare for the entire group. She gave of herself for all her "children" on top of being the sole provider for a good portion of her life.
She then started to gain grandchildren and another chapter in her life started. During this time she was heavily involved in their lives. She took great pride in her growing family and anytime you saw her, it was picture time. She loved to take pictures to document everything. She always had her camera with her, but if she did forget to bring it, she would have withdrawals. She had a Kodak preferred customer card and the photo staff at Eckerd's and Walgreen's knew her by her first name and even knew the family members by their first names. Her camera and glass of ice water, were two things she always had by her side. The grandkids never drank water unless it was from Granny's cup! It was magical ice water.
And then there was Christmas time and the infamous wall of stockings. Each year the time needed to hang the stockings would increase. The only person who knew what order to hang them in was Mom. There was a well planned and detailed sequence in which the stockings were hung. The last count of stockings was 103, each one hand made by Mom herself.
Wilma loved her westerns, whether it was a TV series, movies, or books. There was one actor in particular that she idolized… Let me see… What was his name?
One other figure that she loved was Will Rogers -- you remember, the character who never met a man he didn't like. Well, Mom's saying would be, "She never met a person that she didn't adopt." Everyone became family and we all had numbers. I, myself, am #7. Just ask the people who attended her 2004 birthday luncheon. She made me wear a name tag with the #7 on it! What # are you???
At this time I would like to invite anyone that wishes to share a memory to come forward and do so.
Mom did have her serious side that came out when someone needed help. She was always the first one to jump in and help. From the neighbor who needed a ride, sitting in the emergency room with a football teammate's mother, or just being there to listen when someone needed to talk. We should all follow her example in paying it forward.
We should also follow her example of unconditional love. No matter what occurs or how someone behaves, family members always deserve love without conditions.
Mom would not want us to grieve her passing. She always said she know one day that she would be joining her family upstairs, run thru her fields of daisies, and chase John Wayne until his horse gave out. Rest assured that she is already planning another class reunion. I would like to close by reading a poem selected by one of the grandchildren, Amy Rainey.
A grandmother's touch, A granny's kiss,
A grieving family, you're greatly missed.
An empty house, an empty chair,
A granny's love, fills the air.
Broken hearts, tear filled eyes,
A loving soul to fill the sky.
Many memories in my mind,
Some I laugh, some I cry.
Realizing that's all I have to hold on to,
Only memories of what once were you.
Missing your laugh, I will never again hear,
That is the reality that fills me with so much fear.
No more smile on your face
No more warmth of your embrace.
The last hug, the last kiss,
The last "goodbye" leaves me with one last wish…
To have you granny, here today,
Never to leave and always to stay.
A grandmother's touch, a granny's kiss,
A grieving family, YOU'RE GREATLY MISSED!!!
Close with prayer and announce gathering at house.
We are here today to celebrate the life of Wilma Jean Prater. Whether you knew her as Wilma, Jean, Wilma Jean, Granny, Crazy Granny, Cookie Lady, or just plain Mom, you were blessed to know her.
She was born Wilma Jean Morris on May 23, 1933 in Ben Franklin, Texas in a tar paper shack in the middle of an alfalfa field during a snowstorm… I personally never bought the snowstorm part!
She left this earth on November 7, 2010 to join those that preceded her: Her mother, Mozelle O'Hara,Her stepfather, James O'Hara, Her father, Vernon Morris, Her stepmother, Louise Morris, son, Barton Louis Conner, Absorbed son, Rex Burson. She is survived by: Daughter, Kathy Godsey, Son, Rick Actkinson and wife Teresa, Son, Mike Mashburn and wife Keri, Son, David Mashburn, Sister, Sandra Nicholson and husband Tim, Sister, Darlene Smith and husband Glenn, Sister, Vanessa Shamberg and husband Marty. Brother, Charles Holloway and wife Deidre. Brother, Wayne Morris. Adopted/Absorbed Children: Barbara Estes, Pamela Morrison, Tommy Hines, Brenda Himes, Linda Himes, Rick Mooneyham, Ray Burson, Terroll Prater, Toby Prater, and likely half the crowd in attendance today.
And as best as we can count: 33 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren. If I have missed anyone, I apologize, but supper is at 6:00 p.m.!
Wilma and family moved to Arlington in 1942. She graduated from Arlington High School in 1950. On November 1, 1956, she was given a 3 month temporary assignment with an upstart Aerospace company known as Temco, 42 years later she retired from what is known today as Lockheed Martin. I see that her family from the plant is well represented here today. This brings to mind a story shared by one of coworker/extended family members:
On one of her Friday trips to take donuts to the guards, she loved a man in uniform, she stopped at the cashier's office to chat. While there, a man walked up and said hello, looking at Wilma asked her, "Haven't I met you before?" She replied, "Maybe, but I don't remember." The man then asked, "How long did you work here?" She answered, "Well, I was here about 42 years, but I only worked the first 3 weeks." The man laughed and then cheerfully volunteered to take the donuts to the guards, and walked off to deliver them. The Cashier asked Wilma if she knew who that was. Wilma replied, "No, I don't." To which the Cashier responded, "That was Jim Berry, the President of the company!" Mom did manage to stick her foot in her mouth every now and then!
(At this time the pallbearers will start passing out the cookies)
She was also famous for the cookies she brought to the plant, to the staff of Rankin Elementary, and to the school crossing guards. Her giving was contagious, she would take offense to anyone trying to repay her kindness. As a gesture to her, I would like to ask that everyone join me in "breaking cookie" instead of bread in her honor.
*******SCRIPTURE*******
While I was growing up, she gave herself tirelessly. From being the Cub Scout Leader, the Football Team Mother, countless hours sitting in the car reading during sports practices, to picking up and transporting half the football team to practices and games, and even taking them to Georgetown Inner Space Caverns. She took the Scout Troop to Houston for a weekend trip paying roundtrip airfare for the entire group. She gave of herself for all her "children" on top of being the sole provider for a good portion of her life.
She then started to gain grandchildren and another chapter in her life started. During this time she was heavily involved in their lives. She took great pride in her growing family and anytime you saw her, it was picture time. She loved to take pictures to document everything. She always had her camera with her, but if she did forget to bring it, she would have withdrawals. She had a Kodak preferred customer card and the photo staff at Eckerd's and Walgreen's knew her by her first name and even knew the family members by their first names. Her camera and glass of ice water, were two things she always had by her side. The grandkids never drank water unless it was from Granny's cup! It was magical ice water.
And then there was Christmas time and the infamous wall of stockings. Each year the time needed to hang the stockings would increase. The only person who knew what order to hang them in was Mom. There was a well planned and detailed sequence in which the stockings were hung. The last count of stockings was 103, each one hand made by Mom herself.
Wilma loved her westerns, whether it was a TV series, movies, or books. There was one actor in particular that she idolized… Let me see… What was his name?
One other figure that she loved was Will Rogers -- you remember, the character who never met a man he didn't like. Well, Mom's saying would be, "She never met a person that she didn't adopt." Everyone became family and we all had numbers. I, myself, am #7. Just ask the people who attended her 2004 birthday luncheon. She made me wear a name tag with the #7 on it! What # are you???
At this time I would like to invite anyone that wishes to share a memory to come forward and do so.
Mom did have her serious side that came out when someone needed help. She was always the first one to jump in and help. From the neighbor who needed a ride, sitting in the emergency room with a football teammate's mother, or just being there to listen when someone needed to talk. We should all follow her example in paying it forward.
We should also follow her example of unconditional love. No matter what occurs or how someone behaves, family members always deserve love without conditions.
Mom would not want us to grieve her passing. She always said she know one day that she would be joining her family upstairs, run thru her fields of daisies, and chase John Wayne until his horse gave out. Rest assured that she is already planning another class reunion. I would like to close by reading a poem selected by one of the grandchildren, Amy Rainey.
A grandmother's touch, A granny's kiss,
A grieving family, you're greatly missed.
An empty house, an empty chair,
A granny's love, fills the air.
Broken hearts, tear filled eyes,
A loving soul to fill the sky.
Many memories in my mind,
Some I laugh, some I cry.
Realizing that's all I have to hold on to,
Only memories of what once were you.
Missing your laugh, I will never again hear,
That is the reality that fills me with so much fear.
No more smile on your face
No more warmth of your embrace.
The last hug, the last kiss,
The last "goodbye" leaves me with one last wish…
To have you granny, here today,
Never to leave and always to stay.
A grandmother's touch, a granny's kiss,
A grieving family, YOU'RE GREATLY MISSED!!!
Close with prayer and announce gathering at house.
