Wednesday was a dark day. Early that morning, Jeanne took her last breath, ending a two year battle with oral cancer. She was surrounded with loving family, and her passing was peaceful.
I’m going to put up a few pictures, and maybe write a bit. We’ll see how it goes…
Jeanne was Cherryl’s little sister. A memory that jumps out in my mind now, is from about when that picture above was taken. Cherryl and I were engaged, and I was staying at her parent’s house for a while because it was close to a University where I was taking a summer class. Jeanne was intent on learning where we were going on our honeymoon, and I was intent on keeping it secret. She asked me continually, and I refused just as often. She told me she even kept a vigil in the den where I slept on the hide-a-bed, hoping I’d talk in my sleep and reveal my secret.
Jeanne and Steve were married just about three years after we were. (I did not spy on her sleeping to find out honeymoon plans.)
Skipping ahead about five decades, here’s a picture of a much larger family group:
And here’s a second later when everybody reverted to their true selves:
Cherryl and Jeanne a couple of years ago:
The following picture was taken early this year, when Jeanne celebrated the holidays with all her immediate family – kids and grandkids.
A couple of months ago three long time friends – Alicia, Kristy and Becca – converged from different areas of the country to visit Jeanne. They did lots of work as well, with lots of flowers planted all over! Below you see them with Jeanne and Crista.
Jeanne recently expressed a desire to go camping. Steve and Jeanne took their camping trailer, and we took ours, to a little campground in Nebraska City. Jeanne didn’t have strength to do much, but said she really loved being out in the campers and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Another hope she had was to spend a bit of time near water. A favorite place of theirs was near Duluth, Minnesota. Jeanne said she was up to the drive, saying “I sit all day anyway!” She enjoyed being near the water, and hearing the gentle waves.
It was during the last of those few days that she began to decline rapidly. Only one week later, she gently passed away in her sleep.
We look forward to reuniting with her and our Savior in a better place.
