30/09/2022
Final words from a loving sister (by Ruth):
How do you summarize a lifetime of events regarding the sister you love? Here are a couple of interesting, memorable moments:
(Circa 1949-1950) During our family relocation, by train, from Bismark, ND to Cowan, TN, I was 7 and Mary Louise was 14. We walked together to the end of the train and encountered a man standing there. He asked us if we knew who he was - we didn't. He said, "I'm William Boyd - Hopalong Cassidy" ( a popular cowboy hero on the radio). We didn't get his autograph!
When Mary Louise was in High School, her April Fool's Day prank on the family was to dump a container of salt in Mother's evening chili con carne. Mother said something is wrong with the chili. Don't eat it! Mary admitted what she had done and we all had a good laugh!
Mary went to Mid-State Baptist for her Nurses training. They were started on floor duty which was hard work. She quickly lost 20 lbs! Pat Boone's wife was in Mary's class. However, she and Pat got married before their training was complete. In the 50's, if you got married, you had to drop out of training and couldn't graduate. She sent a telegram to the class during graduation, wishing them all good luck! Mary Louise was proud to be an RN and had "RN" on her license plate.
Mary had a big heart and would always try to help you if she could.
She loved the theatre and musicals and she liked to dance and sing.
Mary Louise was unique - she was her own person
She loved to travel. Her last trip was to Australia.
She had sadness in her life when she lost Jenny, her second daughter, and later her husband, Bill.
I will greatly miss Mary Louise, my big sis, but I know she's reunited with Bill and Jenny, and she's in a better place where she's no longer blind.
A poem in closing:
No one heard the footsteps of angels drawing near, who took from Earth to Heaven the one we love so dear. You have not really left us, or have you traveled far, just entered God's beautiful garden and left the door ajar.
I'll always love you, Mary!