In Memoriam of Those No Longer With Us!

When you leave on an extended adventure such as ours you hope that all will be well with those you left behind and that you love. You want to return home to find it just as you left it. This is not always the case, and I guess that I can now relate how those who are in uniform or whose occupations take them long distances feel when they have sad news from home and know that when you return it will not be the same as when you left.
We had two persons very close to us depart this world recently.
The first Kim Stempler lived with her husband Jeff in the San Diego area. We had known them since they were married and even before that. Kim was a fighter and loved flowers and food and life. She fought a battle that included a kidney transplant and I shall never forget her laughter and good cheer. Fortunately, before we left home we were able to spend some time with she and Jeff in their home. Even with all of her pain she was still able to laugh with us and we shall always remember that.
There is also Mary Fletcher whom I just heard about today. Married to my sister’s husband’s brother John she lived in Windsor, Canada. Last summer we were able to spend a week with Mary and John and visit extensively with them on our trip to see the fall colors. Mary was the kind of person you always felt a kind of comfortableness with and one who had that poise that comes with a person of great dignity. I know that I may not be saying this correctly but Mary was a great lady of great dignity. Also a fighter whose battle with cancer was not an easy one.
To those left behind I will leave you with a poem sent to me by my good friend Bill Locklin who also is no longer with us:


When I am dead, cry for me a little.
Think of me sometimes, but not too much;
It is not good for you, or your wife or your children,
to allow your thoughts to dwell too long on the dead.
Think of me now and again as I was in life.
But not for long.
Leave me in peace, as I shall leave you to in peace.
While you live, let your thoughts be with the living.


Thank you both Kim and Mary for all the memories that you have given to us.