This week my dear friend, Mona Durham, age 96, died peacefully with her family gathered round.
Mona’s family and the leadership team of our church decorated the sanctuary and fellowship hall beautifully for her memorial service today.
Her ashes, in a container under the purple cloth, were sent into the hands of God as Jesus and St. Peter must surely have welcomed her into heaven. She was a True Believer.
The floral arrangements were spectacular.
There was a beautiful display of photos depicting Mona with many of her beloved family. She had four children and seven grandchildren. Four of the grandkids shared stories about how her life impacted theirs in such loving, meaningful, lasting ways.
I took notes (as is my habit) as I listened to their stories. Here are my notes:
Mona Durham’s was a 96 year life well lived. She lived heartily loving and laughing; Tough, fair, sarcastic, always available, Humble, reliable, stable, and always hospitable.
Mona wasn’t delicate or sheltered. The last of three daughters, she was the son… The son her dad never had! How he loved her! Oh how she loved him, others, and this Madison Valley!
She was a woman of grit and grace, loyal and hardworking. Volunteered with church, History museum, blood draws, Elections, Women’s Club & Cattle Women’s Association. Her later years were less busy, but never less purposeful.
She gave her life to quietly helping others. Her strength, honesty, love, and strong values Were the glue that held the family together. Also the fact that she always had fresh cookies!
Mona’s strength was grounded and rooted. Her faith was deep, honest and clear. She carried struggles quietly with endurance. Her life will endure in each of us who loved her.
Following the service, there was a time of fellowship with beautiful trays of meats and cheeses (prepared by Deemo’s in Ennis).
Deemo’s also prepared this beautiful, tasty tray of veggies.
The family extended a special thank you to the caregivers at Home Park and Madison Valley Manor for the dignity, kindness, and care they showed Ramona in her final years. In lieu of flowers, they asked that donations be made to Madison Valley Historical Museum (where Mona was a faithful, treasured volunteer) or Bear Creek Schoolhouse (where she attended 1st to 4th grade and then later volunteered to help with fundraisers to maintain it – and organized pinochle parties every March). She loved playing cards, doing 500 – 1000 piece puzzles, and keeping in touch always with her family and friends. She will be sorely missed by us all!
Mona’s smile was infectious!
Mona’s granddaughter, Tori, summed up what most of her family would agree was an important take-away:
“I see so clearly that her impact isn’t simple or singular, it’s generational. What she has given us goes far beyond memories, she’s given us a way of living.”
“She never once told me how to live, but she sure as hell has shown me!”
Your shared love inspires us to pass it on. Thank you, Mona.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day My bonus daughter, Elainè, certainly knows how to celebrateAnd our daughter, DeDe, in Switzerland does tooOur son, Ty in California, knows how to have fun with his granddaughter I hope your day is filled with happiness, too
Send some snow or rain our way, will you? We are very concerned about our missing winter and lack of moisture. Love,
Weekly we are given an invitation to write a six-sentence story using the word prompt from GirlieOnTheEdge. This week the word prompt was “Fly.”
I had fun trying to write about as long a sentence as I could for each of the paragraphs today. And I enjoyed giving you, my faithful readers a glimpse of my childhood from kindergarten to sixth grade. What do you think?
Time flies… but I can recall when I was a little girl of about five, my sister Sally and I walked from Fig Lane (where we lived in a lovely little two bedroom, one bath home with our parents) to P Street School in Newman, California where I was a happy little kindergartener.
Time flies, but I can recall… when I was six, my sister and I continued our daily walks (it was about a mile each way) to P Street School where I was a very happy, very outgoing first grader in Mrs. Awe’s classroom, my favorite primary grade teacher who kept in touch with me for the rest of her life, even after our family moved away.
Time flies, but I can recall… when I was seven, my dad quit his job as a mechanic at Newman Garage and he sold our lovely little two bedroom house on Fig Lane and we moved into an old house next door to my paternal grandmother, about five miles out of town.
Time flies, but I can recall… when I was eight, we moved to a remote house twenty miles from anywhere except the stinky Tallow Works that my dad owned with three sorta relatives who also had old houses moved onto the remote property and my sister and I walked about two miles to the bus stop every morning to go to Crows Landing’s Bonita Grammar School where Mrs. Yetter (who was almost bald and looked as old as Methusalah) was my 3rd grade teacher.
Time flies, but I can recall… when I was nine and ten we still lived out there in the sticks by the smelly Tallow Works and we still had that long walk to the bus stop every morning – and walked back at the end of the day – but my life was much better because Mrs. Horwedel was my 4th and 5th grade teacher and she was a wonderful square dancer who taught us all to square dance and she let me be the “caller” – – – I was in 7th heaven!
Time flies, but I can recall … when I was eleven and twelve Mrs. Marlow was my teacher and she let me fly to my highest potential by recognizing and rewarding my talents by letting me go every day during spelling time (because I didn’t need it) to the kindergarten where I volunteered to help the teacher … and learned early on that I wanted to be a teacher, too, someday.
Today I wrote a letter to the editor of our local paper, the Ennis, Madison County Montana Madisonian. I decided it is time to write to my state and federal representatives, too, and write to my friends and neighbors locally about my concerns for the present divisiveness and for the future of our country (and the world). The USA is headed in the wrong direction. We must reverse course and reunite with our friends at home and abroad. We must do our part to stop the insanity. Here is what I wrote:
“Dear Editor,
In the February 12th Madisonian Opinion page, Doris Fischer’s letter to the editor, titled “Ignore the Drumbeat at our Peril” was very inspiring. She warned and encouraged us all. In her final paragraph she cautioned, “We citizens all need to pay close attention to what is happening.” She quoted other local citizens whose cautionary posts reminded us that we need to speak up and we need to choose our federal representatives wisely. Doris concluded that we “…must study up on the candidates running for this year’s Primary and General Elections… (and then) Vote.” It’s never been more important than it is now for us to pay attention to what is happening to our democracy, to our foreign relations, and to our moral base. If you are as concerned as I am about the divisiveness in today’s politics, then it’s time for you to speak up, too. We desperately need fervent voices to promote love and compassion. Join me! Write a letter to your representatives. Tell ‘em what you think. Promote neighborly sanity, world-wide peace and unity, and respect for all. Yes, as Lois Stephens wrote in her letter, “Enough is Enough!”
My friend, Lilie, posted a comment today touting her belief in “fairness to all, and justice.” I responded in affirmation. Wouldn’t our world be a better place if everyone practiced fairness to all, and justice?
Fair to all!Celebrate fairnessWhat’s not fair in your life right now?What can we do to promote fairness?Speak up!
Promote fairness for all. Exhibit unconditional (Agape) love!
First February Festivity: the 11th for our 64th anniversary- A reason to celebrate and share a fabulous memory. The year was 1961 and Bob was stationed in Germany I was teaching a 1st grade in CA; he was in the US Army.
I married that handsome fellow when he flew home. I left my darling first grade class in Stockton, CA to go roam. Left my apartment, my language, Suzie, my roommate, My family and friends… all that was familiar. Not great!
The wedding was spectacular and the reception would make Family and friends smile & cheer us on and marvel at our cake. At our 50th anniversary we asked a bakery to duplicate it for us. One after another they said “Impossible” in an incredulous chorus.
I landed a job on the army base school in Germany, a first grade class, And finished out the year joyfully, learning a new culture. It was a blast! Back in California, I continued to teach the little ones in Turlock And then in San Francisco & Hillsborough… while Bob graduated from SF State.
We started our family during those SF years… a boy, Ty, and girl, De. They were a delight to us then … and still are a blessing each day to me! Here’s a picture of Bob & me with Ty when he was a sweet little babe… And one of DeAna with me in matching dresses I made!
As the years have gone by and our children have grown We moved from the Bay Area back to the place we had known As children and young adults; Bob joined the family with bees While I continued to teach and moved to principal and District Office with ease.
Our 50th anniversary was a time to gather five decades of friends & family For a weekend in Palm Desert where we golfed, ate, and reunited happily. The memories of that grand occasion are alive and well in our hearts, And we continue each February to connect with friends from our life’s parts.
When we retired, we continued to celebrate our February dates with flare! But we’re doing it in Montana. Twenty years ago we moved ourselves there. We love living in Big Sky Country, Ennis Montana, where the antelope roam. We celebrate life every day and invite you to come share the joy in our home.
February 11th is a day each year to celebrate the joy of being together. Valentine’s Day we celebrate at a Wine Pairings dinner – regardless of the weather. It’s at Madison Valley Ranches, a beautiful setting for sure, with great food and friends. Come join us if you wish… spaces are available … right out here where the river bends.
Time to celebrate! This February Festivity is my favorite one. Having you here to join us would make it extra fun. Call Manu at 406-660-2959 for your Valentine’s Day reservation. It’ll make us so happy to see you! Come share in our celebration!
