A difficult time

All families have hard times. They cannot be avoided. This week was the Autry family's turn, my mother's mother's side of the family.

Last Sunday was our annual reunion. The one time of year we HOPE most of us can come together to catch-up and simply enjoy each other. Now, I have to say our reunions are not like some I have heard of lately. I have come to discover that some family reunions are for family members who only have THAT last night. Well that is asinine! Under those circumstances all of my grandfather's seven children would not had been invited (all girls!). I repeat asinine!!!

Anyway. We found out late last week we were going to be missing at least one person, Betty Grey. Betty Grey is my mother's first cousin (I hope I have that correct). She is always smiling and happy, even when things are not going so well. Every time she saw me she would smile (as she did most people). But Betty Grey was in the hospital last weekend. You see in late July Betty Grey was diagnosed with emphysema. I believe it was almost immediately she was put on oxygen. I had not seen her since her diagnosis and was looking forward to seeing her Sunday. I was sad to hear she would not be there. After talking to her son, Doug, on Sunday I feared I may not get the chance.

I did not. She had contracted pneumonia and with her lungs already in jeopardy her body could no longer hang on. She passed away Tuesday afternoon. Her daughter, Jamie, wrote that 900 people came to visitation to say goodbye. I believe that is all that needs to be said about what type of person she was. But I'll say it anyway; she was loved. Not only by her family (which I was happy to be part of) but by most people who knew her.

My heart goes out to Johnny, her husband of 36 years, who is beyond distraught. I hope somehow he can find some peace through the memories they shared. I also feel for Lexi, her youngest granddaughter, who when told she could anything she wanted of her grandmother's said simply, "I want my grandma." I know their hearts will heal, as ours will, but it will take time.

The world lost a great lady who will forever be missed.