Our precious mother joined her Heavenly family on Saturday, January 28, 2012. She was 91 and lived a long life as a Christian lady, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many. She will be greatly missed by us all. The Pastor who was to oversee her service had pneumonia. Therefore we asked the Pastor from my nephew and niece's church if he would do the service. Mom had attended his church on occasion, and he came to visit while she was at the Hospice House. He was more than willing to do this for the family. He asked that we put together some thoughts, stories, or anything that would help him get a "feel" of who Mom was. Huh - oh . . . ask an English teacher to write a paper, and you may get a book ( or so some of the family thought!) :)
The following is what I put together to help him to know who we thought Mom was! He actually read it during the service. We love this simple, caring, and elegant lady with all our heart and will miss her everyday of our lives!!! One day, we will all be able to hug once again!! Love you Mom!!
Let's all stand and give five cheers for Mom. Why??? Because she was what motherhood was all about. She brought her family up praising God and thanking Him for what we had, and not what we didn't have. She lost her mother when she was only a day old, but she was brought up and nurtured by many who taught her what being a wife and mother was all about. She taught her children right from wrong; how to share, and why we should; how to be caring and compassionate towards others; to take responsibility, and to do the best we could; to never give up, and to keep trying regardless of the obstacles we may face; but most importantly, she taught us we were never alone!. Not only were she and Dad always there with us, supporting us all the way, but our Heavenly Father was always there too. She never lost her faith even when things were tough. She knew God was always there!
She was a simple woman, one who never wanted to be in the limelight. She was set in her ways, and as her family, we knew which way to go, and how fast we needed to move. Mike, the youngest, learned that at a very young age. He was "running" from Mom so that he wouldn't get "spanked", when all of a sudden, he fell into a "hole" (it was actually a footer our neighbor had dug), and Mom caught him!! He always thought she had dug the hole just so she could catch him! :)
She loved doing for other. If there was a luncheon at church, a party at school, or a Sunday School get-together at some one's home, she was more than willing to make something from scratch to take. She loved to crochet and had crocheted more than four hundred afghans. She never asked for anything in return. She delighted in seeing the joy on the faces of those who received the afghans. That was her pay . . . . making others happy.
She bowled for many years, but when the league she was bowling with folder up and were going to join the Senior Citizen's League, she was not thrilled about the move. She was about 83, and said, "I don't think I want to bowl with all those "old" people!" She was more than likely the oldest bowler. She never felt as if she was old! :)
Several years ago she was interviewed by an newly formed group - "Thanks! Plain and Simple" - who were trying to interview and recognize all the "Rosie the Riveters" from WV. They came to the house and taped the interview they did with her. She also went to Charleston to be recognized for having been a Rosie!! She was really worried about participating and doing the interviews. She kept saying she was afraid she would get into trouble for talking about her time as a Rosie! She was assured she would not get into trouble. She was still going by the guidelines for when she was working on the B-24's, and the fact that she was never to divulge ANY information about her job at the Ford Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti, MI. 60 years later, she was still not giving out any "secrets!" When in Charleston, she realized "she" was going to have to speak to a group about her time as a Rosie. She did not want to do the speaking; she wanted me to speak for her, and when she realized I couldn't/wouldn't, she leaned over to her grand-daughter and asked, "where's the exit?" She was going to make a fast retreat!!! :):)
To sum her up, she was a true Christian lady. She loved her entire family with all her being; making sacrifices through the years so that they could have what they needed. She cared for all who were sick, not just her husband and children, but for anyone who needed her help. She was caring but firm; tender and loving; unselfish with her love; and tanked God everyday for all the blessings He had bestowed upon her.
She was my mother; She was the mother of my three brother - Dink, John, and Mike; the wife of our father - Elmer (Buck) Layne; the grandmother and great-grandmother to our children and grandchildren; but she was the one we always depended upon; the one who loved us regardless; the one to support is in all that we tried; she was our mother whom we loved so very much. She is with Dad and John now; she has been able to meet her mother for the first time! We are sad, but we are happy for her. We love you Mom - always will!
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