Grandma Deb and Meggie's blog...: January 2009

Saturday, January 31, 2009
(click to enlarge photo)

Today was sunny and very warm! In the back of the residence was this big magnolia tree...I wished I could see the tree when it is blooming.

As I had mentioned in my previous blog...they have a wall with pictures of veterans who were former residents.

Inez gave a nice plant for all the residents to enjoy thanking them for all their kindness. The plant is displayed in the center of the lobby on a table.

We are staying in the quest room. It quite small...includes a bed...

a refrigerator, television set, a chair, and a bathroom (left of picture). Very nice and very clean.

We are about to leave for the funeral. Of course, guess who is ready and waiting.

The service was held in the funeral chapel...it made one feel like they were in a church. This was the front of the room. In the middle was the urn surrounded by beautiful flowers. On each side were bouquets of flowers and on the right side was a picture of Bill.

These pictures are left of the above picture.

This is right of the picture above picture.

This is a bit far away but you can see the entire front of the chapel.

The primary mission of the DFW Honor Guard is to provide full military funeral honors for active duty members, retirees and veterans who served honorably in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.

This is the Color Guard practicing folding the flag that was presented to Inez at the end of the service.

A photo of Bill.

The following are flowers that were in the front of the chapel.

After the funeral we went to Bruce and LeAnn's house for a family get together.

The five sisters...Vivian, Inez, Anita, Jeanette, and Loretta (oldest to youngest).

Loretta

Jeanette, Inez, Anita, and Bruce (Bud and Anita's son)

And the food...

Gathering in the kitchen.

Barbara (daughter of Anita and Bud) , Lauren (Barbara's daughter),
and Kathy (daughter of Jeanette and Howard).

Bob (Loretta's husband)

Granny B getting some fruit.

Barbara and Kathy

Inez and Granny B

Howard, Daryle (Kathy's husband), Barbara, and Kathy

Inez and Jeanette

Jeanette

Josh (Bruce and LeAnn's son) and LeAnn

The dog was great...he/she knew right where the food was.

Bruce and LeAnn

hugs

Bob, Barbara, Lauren, and Daryle

Jeanette and Howard

This was a very classy funeral! It was a nice send off for a very classy man. I do have a program of the funeral ceremony and will add this to my blog probably tomorrow night.

We are leaving at 6:45am and are off to Liberty, Missouri tomorrow...long day of driving ahead of us.

Friday, January 30, 2009
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Today was a resting day...we just relaxed today (I even got a nap in this afternoon).

I got my car washed this morning while the "kids" were playing bean bag baseball. It is really fun to watch them play...they are very serious about the game. They play against other residence homes in the area. My mother tried it out but decided she was better as a cheering team than playing. Inez played and is very good at it...she even scored some runs.

They stand a certain distance away from this blue board and toss the bean bags into the holes. If you are lucky enough to put one of the bean bags in the hole you would go to 1st, 2nd, or 3rd base.

At the residence where Bill and Inez live they have a table in the lobby with a picture of Bill, a vase with one rose, and Bill's obituary.

The residence where Bill lived has a wall with pictures of past residents who were in the military. On display is the persons military picture with their name engraved on the frame. I had a hard time taking this picture because of the light.

On display is the helmet that Bill wore in World War II. Bill was a Naval Aviator and after his training in the Naval Aviation Cadet V-5 Training Program in 1942 he flew eighty-four missions during the invasions of the Marshalls, Marianas, Philippines and Iwo Jima. He was stationed in the Pacific, flying four engine bombers and was Honorably discharged as Lieutenant (jg) from US Navy reserve in June 1946.