Later today, many of us who knew and loved this special lady will have a chance to share their memories and pay tribute to her:

I first met her when I came to visit Lake Jackson, Texas in 1974 to spend Christmas with the family there. Hubby (who was not yet my hubby) assured me that I would be welcomed by everyone and they would be glad for the chance to meet me. Having a son myself now, I know that feeling of not being quite what they had hoped for their little darling that I often felt in the presence of the mother of my previous boyfriends was not entirely imaginary since we all want the BEST for our children…and I was just, well…me.

Before my arrival, dear, sweet Hubby (who was not yet my hubby) sent a little background information about each of his family members so that I might find it easier to get to know them. I do not recall all of the details, but I remember being a little bit intimidated by the data he provided about his mom. Learning about her becoming a Life Master in Bridge tournaments she had played after I arrived, seeing their beautifully decorated home and being a guest at the lovely dinners she prepared and served on the family heirloom china in their formal dining room only made me feel even more more like I might not be all that she hoped for her son, but before my visit was over, she managed to make it quite clear to me that if her son loved me, than by golly, she was going to love me, too.

Watching her watch her favorite football teams after one of those impressive dinners, cheering loudly, booing the bad calls and crushing beer cans when they got a tough break on the field made me feel a lot less intimidated by her, but her “dominant MOM gene” really helped a lot, too.

She was all about being a mom and she was there for me whenever I needed her, even before I married her son. After our children were born, she participated in every age and stage of their lives.

I just don’t know how much longer it would have taken me to figure out a lot of that “mom stuff” without her help!

Along with all of the birthday parties, music recitals, amusement parks, shopping excursions, carving pumpkins,

 and all kinds of neat stuff like decorating graham cracker “gingerbread houses”

special occasions of all kinds

and major milestones,

she had her own passions and projects, like her volunteer work that she did for 30 years.

Not to mention the fact that almost up until the last day of her life, she could still dominate any and all of us in Scrabble. She will be missed by many, of that I am sure!