My Aunt Diane said that at her father's memorial the grandchildren compiled a letter telling memories they had of him and one of the grandchildren read it representing all of them. So, we decided to write out our memories, I arranged them and Matthew and I read took turns reading them. It went great and God gave me the strength to get through it without losing it too bad (just a little). I want to share my memories with anyone who would will read them. Below is my contribution to the letter.
Memories of Grandma:
Grandma was the best shopper! Anytime she took me shopping I knew I was going to come home with cool stuff. She bought me my first pair of REAL Reebok tennis shoes at the Navy Exchange when I was about 8 and I thought I was the coolest person on the face of the earth. She also took me shopping when Jonathan was born. We went to Pick-N-Save and got a sundress with a little short sleeved jacket and jelly shoes to match. She definitely knew how to speak to my "girl" heart.
I always loved Grandma's jewelry. She was one classy dresser! She always wore a necklace, earrings and bracelets. I used to like to play with her bracelets because they would rattle together. Even to the very end Grandpa would make sure to put on her earrings and lipstick if she was going to have company. I know she appreciated that caring gesture.
Grandma could talk to anyone and she was always smiling and laughing. I always loved to follow her around at the fellowship hour after church on Sundays. She'd take me around and introduce me to all her friends. It made me feel like I was an honored guest!
Grandma always sang in the choir on Sunday morning. When the choir would process in at the beginning of the service and again at the end she would always wink at me (and the other grandchildren sitting with me). It made me feel special, but it was also a reminder that she was watching us. She could see us from the front so I always knew not to misbehave during the service.
I think all of us grandchildren remember Grandma teaching us the crumb trick. She taught us that to keep the crumbs from falling all over the place we should suck in just a little after taking a bite to get the crumbs into our mouth instead of all over our shirt or the floor.
Grandma and Grandpa were always family oriented. They made family a priority. Grandma knew how to make anywhere feel like home. For years we went to Beaver Lodge, which was an old run-down house on a Boy Scout camp. We would go after Christmas for a few days of boat rides in the lake, swimming in our underwear if it was warm, going snipe hunting after dark, everyone talking at the same time and sharing one bathroom. It wasn’t luxury, but it was a memory maker. Grandma was the heart of the family. She and Grandpa bought the house at the beach and put in a pool so that they would have a fun place for the grandchildren to visit. It worked, because we spent countless hours horsing around in the pool with chicken fights and Marco Polo.
I remember Grandma was always doing Weight Watchers. She's been an inspiration to me since I got her genes :) Every time I see Parkay butter or I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, I think of her. She was a life time member at Weight Watchers and was so faithful to do her monthly weigh-ins even if they were on vacation.
Some of my favorite memories from my entire childhood were at Grandma and Grandpa's house, especially during JU camp because we got to stay there the whole week without our parents. We would ride with Grandpa to work in the morning and go to camp and then get to hang out around the pool in the evening when we got home. Grandma always made delicious food for dinner. I always looked forward to her food except she liked to serve squash, which I don't like. I wasn't allowed to get up from the table until I had eaten my squash so sometimes I would cram it in my mouth and go to the bathroom to spit it out. She was the perfect mix between fun and teaching us manors and respect.
I hear this is a common experience among the grandkids – Grandma gave me my first sip of beer when I was about 5. I thought it was nasty. It was one of the best ways to keep me from being tempted to drink beer when I was young.
I always loved the way Grandma could be comfortable talking to anyone. She had so much class and personality, she could talk in front of a group with perfect ease or to the cashier at the grocery store as if she had known them all her life.
Grandma was always a good example of a wife and mother (and grandmother). She had a strong personality and she retained her individuality while still caring for and devoting her life to her family. She had distinct opinions about what she wanted done and she wasn't afraid to make her voice heard (especially when she and Grandpa disagreed). She taught me that you can disagree with someone and still love them. Marriage isn't about always agreeing, but about being committed to each other no matter what. Grandma and Grandpa are an excellent example of "having each other's backs" so to speak, in marriage. Grandma spent much of the time when her kids were little raising them by herself while Grandpa was deployed and packing up the house to move all over the world. Then, Grandpa got to return the favor by caring for her so diligently until the very end. There was definitely mutual sacrifice and selflessness on both sides. They have taught me more by their actions than I could ever read in the book.
When I think about something to sum up Grandma's life the thing that comes to mind is love. The thing she did best throughout her whole life was love people. The impact of her life on the many she touched with that love is immeasurable. She loved her God, her family and everyone she came in contact with. I am one of the most blessed people on earth to have known, loved and been loved by the best Grandma on the entire planet.
Grandma with me when I was a little baby. Look at her face, she was so happy and loved us so much.
Matthew and me with Grandma and Grandpa
The caption written on the back of this picture in Grandma's own handwriting was "As close as it gets to heaven" That brought tears to my eyes.
Both of my grandmothers with Matthew and me. Grandmother Clark on the left and Grandma Walker on the right. I miss them both.
The pictures of Grandma at the front of the church for the service today.
Grandpa and me at the memorial today. Doesn't he look awesome in his uniform? I wore black and red because they were Grandma's signature colors.
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