In Tribute to Momma...

 A Faithful Woman

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is the way long?" she asked.  And her guide said, "Yes, and the way is hard.  But the end will be better than the beginning."

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years.  So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and life was good, and the young mother cried: "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then night came and storms and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close, and the children said, "Oh Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."  And the mother said: "This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary, but all the time she said to the children, "A little while, patience - and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top, they said "we could not have done it without you Mother."  And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked at the stars and said: "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage, today I have given them strength." 

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth - clouds of war and hatred and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up, lift your eyes to the Light."  And the children looked and saw above them the clouds and also an everlasting Glory and Light, and it guided them and brought them beyond darkness.  And that night the mother said: "this is the best day of all, for I have shown my children the face of God."

And the years passed, but her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage.  And at last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining roof and golden gates flung wide.  And the mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey.  And the children said: "You will always walk with us Mother, even when you have gone through the gate."  

Unknown Source 
  

Harvey is dancing with Mildred in Heaven...

W. Harvey Smith was born July 29, 1924 in Elgin, Texas, the son of Rice Sewell Smith and Mabel Siegeler Pauly, and brother of Dorene McNair, Mary Wusterhausen, Roy Smith and Edwin Dewayne Smith (who died in infancy). Harvey was Sewell and Mabel’s oldest child and was born on Mabel’s 17th birthday! He went to Heaven on Friday, January 4, 2013. Harvey was a devoted husband to Mildred Mary Grohman Smith who preceded him in death by eight days on December 27, 2012. Their family is convinced that Mildred went first to make sure everything was ready for Harvey in Heaven! They had been blissfully married for over 66 years. He also was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Roy, his favorite fishing buddy.


As a young man, Harvey worked for the Texas Highway Department and served in the Air Force during World War II. Following his military service, Harvey worked with his father in New Mexico, Wyoming and then El Paso, Texas before returning to Austin. He became a Registered Surveyor in 1956 and established W. Harvey Smith Surveying in the early 1960’s. Early in his career as a surveyor, he designed many of the roads in Austin including the extension of Lamar Blvd. near Pease Park and, later, the original layout of what is now the Mopac expressway. Harvey was well known and respected as a man of high integrity and business ethics. He was an active member of the Austin Civitan Club, serving multiple times as an officer, and was instrumental in the founding of the first Boys Club of the Austin area.

Harvey retired in 1977 to his ranch outside Spicewood, Texas. There he took up the hobby of team roping, and in 1988 and 1989 he was the Over-60 National Champion Team Roper Heeler of the Old Time Rodeo Cowboy Association . He loved to hunt and fish, and, after unsaddling his roping horse for the last time, played golf at Meadowlakes Country Club in Marble Falls. Until his stroke in 2009, Harvey remained very active. He and his dear friend, fellow team-roper, fishing buddy and golfing partner Leslie Stephens, collaborated on a construction crane rental business until they went into the land development business together, forming Martex Investments. Together they developed numerous subdivisions in the Hill Country including Cavern Ranches, Wilderness Cove and Stone Mountain. Harvey was amazingly gifted at looking at raw acreage and envisioning the entire development with a grand entrance and scenic home sites.

Harvey was highly devoted to God and to his church. He and Mildred were founding members of St. Louis Catholic Church in Austin. After moving to the ranch, they were active members of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Marble Falls where he served as a Eucharistic Minister, lay reader, and Council Member.

Harvey married the love of his life, Mildred, on May 5, 1946. He was a loving husband and was known to come up to Mildred, put his arms around her waist and, with a huge grin in his face exclaim, “Look at my sexy Momma!” They were a very affectionate couple and lit up a room with their contagious smiles when they entered together! Their love was very visible! As Mildred’s health declined, Harvey was at her bedside often, holding her hand for hours at a time. After Mildred’s passing, Harvey’s health decline immediately accelerated. Harvey suffered from the effects of cancer as well his 2009 stroke, but he died of a broken heart. Harvey is survived by his four children of whom he was so proud: daughters Jean and her husband Jimmie Plentl, Glenda Flanagan, Sandi and her husband Ollie Crinkelmeyer, and the pride of his life, his only son Danny and his wife Lisa. Harvey’s six grandchildren are Jennifer and her husband David Koenig, Neely and her husband Carl Meyers, Nicole and her husband Matt Johnson, Whitney Davis and her father Lodney C. Davis, Clint and Mollie Flanagan and their father Lloyd Flanagan. He had seven great-grandchildren - Randy, Bradley, Kelly, Austin, Mia, Livi and Madi - as well as a large extended family. The family wishes to extend love and gratitude to the many close friends and family members of Harvey and Mildred as well to the staff and caretakers from Home Care Assistance and from Hospice Austin.

Services:
Sunday January 6
Cook-Walden Funeral Home 6700 North Lamar Blvd., Austin
Visitation with the family from 4 pm to 6 pm
Monday January 7
St. Louis Catholic Church 7601 Burnet Rd, Austin
Visitation with the family beginning at 12 pm

Mass in Celebration of Harvey’s life at 1 pm followed by procession to Forest Oaks Memorial Park 6300 W. Wm. Cannon Drive, Austin

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Harvey’s name to The Care Communities www.thecarecommunities.org

Bittersweet

What a bittersweet time this is in our lives.  Dad was on a steady decline as Mom neared the end of her life on Earth.  Since her passing, he has taken a much quicker turn for the worst.  Or is it?  I have been contemplating that and I know the answer.  It is so bittersweet that Jean, Glenda, Danny and I will be losing our Dad so quickly after Mom, but the blessing is that Dad and Mom will be reunited in God's gloriful kingdom! 

A couple of weeks ago we asked the caretakers to carefully document all of Dad's intake.  Each day, as Mom's condition worsened, Dad ate and drank less.  The morning that he found out she had passed, he stopped eating and drinking anything.  He would simply refuse any offerings.  The effects of malnutrition hit him Tuesday.

I arrived Tuesday morning and literally watched Dad's condition worsen hour by hour.  Earlier that day he was able to somewhat help the caretaker get him from his recliner to the wheelchair.  As the day wore on, he became weaker and weaker until he had no use of his legs.  At that point I had the hospital bed delivered. 

Our family and the precious caretakers are on a 24-hour vigil with Dad.  The hospital bed is in the living room and someone is sitting with him constantly.  I can't say enough good things about the caretakers Christina, JR, Darlene and Matthew in their loving care for our Dad.  They have been such a blessing to our family!  Christina has been with Mom and Dad the longest, since we were first able to convince Mom to have help.  Christina is suffering with us.  She is the nighttime caretaker and, in fact, when her shift was over at 8:00 this morning, she asked to stay here and continue to be with me and Dad.  I insisted that she sleep in the back bedroom and JR and I have taken over her vigil. 

Please pray to our precious Lord to open the gates of Heaven and allow Mom to lead Dad through them.  They will then be dancing in each other's arms for all eternity!

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy
Psalm 30:11

Beautiful in life and death

My Momma was the most amazing person I have known in my 57 years!  I would walk into the bedroom where she would be laying in her hospital bed and be dumbfounded at how beautiful she was lying there!  She had the most beautiful skin and hair!  I have started using Merle Norman skin care!  It worked for her, maybe it will work for me!! 

I marveled at how my Mom never complained about her pain.  I would beg her to tell me if she was in pain and she would comfort me rather than me comforting her!  She never wanted us kids to worry about her! Only when she would unconsciously wince in pain would I know that she truly was in pain.  She was the epitome of the word "stoic". I want to be more like her in so many ways.  She was loving, kind, thoughtful, forgiving, frugal, devoted, graceful, beautiful and, most importantly, Godly.

Her Rosary and funeral services were a testament to her life.  The funeral home and the church were filled to the brim on Sunday and Monday.  I looked down each pew at each individual there and was so proud and happy knowing that Mother loved each and every one of them and they loved her!  Once a person was blessed with Mildred's love, they had it forever.  She could overlook all of our shortcomings and love us in spite of them!  She was a beautiful example of Christian love and Godly ways.

To say that Momma was particualr about how things were done is an understatement!!  There was no way but Mildred's way! Our house ran smoothly beacause Dad generally let her run things her way!  But, I see that as an attribute, not a fault on both their parts!  I want to interject that Dad was absolutely the patriarch of our family and we were taught to respect and honor him because our Mother did! So, first we were taught to respect our parents and elders. Secondly, we were taught to love God and to worship and praise Him. We were taught to respect others and their property.  We were taugt to take care of our things and to put things in their proper place. We were taught to be stewards of the Earth and its creatures. We were taught to make a dollar stretch by the use of coupons, shopping sales, reusing items that most would throw away, turning off lights as we left a room, not wasting water, and on and on.  Were were taught to be meticulous in our personal hygiene and that an unmade bed made the whole house look a mess!!  Mother even taught us each how to swim, and she was deathly afraid of getting in water over her head!   

I can't think of one friend of mine or my siblings that she didn't adopt as her own!  If you came to Mildred's house, you were treated like one of her own kids.  You were expected to follow her rules, but you would also be nurtured and loved like you were hers!  Many of our friends called them Mom and Dad!

Daddy was her "Dreamboat"!  In the days before she passed, she would awaken in her ospital bed and the first question she would ask me was, "Has Daddy eaten anything?"  Her second question was, "Where is Daddy?"  Mother was a completely devoted wife.  It boggles my mind when I think about this woman, whom at 83 years of age, focused her days and nights on caring for Daddy after his stroke. Bless her precious heart, she fought tooth and nail when we wanted to have caretakers come to their house and help her with Dad.  It was only after she was totally exhausted that she gave in and allowed help.  She was even resistant to us kids helping her because of her devotion to Dad and because she did not want us to interrupt our lives or our rest!  She was one hundred percent concerned about others before herself.  Romans 12:10 says, Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Our Mother lived those words!!

In tribute to Momma, for the past two years I have been working on writing a story about a tragic experience that occurred when she was 8 years old, when she witnessed her mother being shot.  It had a huge affect on Mom, no doubt.  Last night, as I laid in Mom and Dad's bed, I realized that there is so much to be written about Mom, and that experience is only a small part of her story.  With the Lord's guidance, I will get her story written!  Of course, you can't tell Midlred's story without telling Harvey's story also!  Hopefully and prayerfully I will be able to accomplish that goal!  As with everything, in God's time!!

Thank you for loving and praying for Mom and for Dad.  Since her passing on Thursday, December 27, 2012, Dad is racing to be with her.  My siblings, Jean, Glenda and Danny and I were with Daddy yesterday and each told him that it was okay to go and be with Mother.  Over the past 24 hours there has been a marked decline in his earthly existence.  He lies now in a hospital bed and in a deep, unresponsive sleep.  I know that he is already in a dreamful state, dancing with her.  Pray with me that our sweet Lord will allow him to rejoin with the love of his life now in Heaven.  Close your eyes and imagine the joy on their faces when they reunite in Heaven's glory...the beautiful blonde and her Dreamboat!  In knowing them, God truly blessed all of our lives and made the world a better place!

Mom when to Heaven on Thursday, December 27, 2012

Mildred Mary Grohman Smith was born near Rockne, Texas on May 3, 1926, the daughter of Clara and Adolph Grohman and sister of Clarence, Michael (Mitchell) and Carl Bennett Grohman.  Mildred spent her life in faithful service to God, her husband, her four children, their extended family and many friends.  Mildred graduated from Bastrop High School and moved to Austin to work for the State of Texas Highway Department where she met W. Harvey Smith, the love of her life.  After they were married in 1946 they made their first home together in Austin before following Harvey’s job to Wyoming, New Mexico and then El Paso, eventually coming back to Austin and making it their home.  

In 1977 they moved to the Texas Hill Country where they were active members of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Marble Falls.  Mildred loved her fellow parishioners and viewed them as extended family - she joyfully served her Church as a lay reader, a Eucharistic Minister and in many other ways.  

Mildred was a strict water conservationist, devoted recycler and friend to the environment many years before those became popular.  She was an avid gardener and had such a green thumb that Harvey would say she could put a stick in the ground and it would grow! She loved wildflowers and hummingbirds and spent many hours making red sugar water to feed those who were lucky enough to find themselves in her backyard.

Mildred and Harvey celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in May 2012. The loving couple moved back to Austin in July 2012 to be nearer to their family.  Mildred was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer shortly thereafter.  Her family was blessed to be with her for the precious final months of her life.  Preceding her in death were her parents and three brothers.

Mildred is survived by her devoted husband W. Harvey Smith, and her family she loved so dearly:  daughter Jean and husband Jimmie Plentl; daughter Glenda Flanagan; daughter Sandi and husband Ollie Crinkelmeyer; son Danny and wife Lisa Smith; grandchildren Jennifer and her husband David Koenig, Neely and her husband Carl Meyers, Nicole and her husband Matt Johnson; Whitney Davis and her father Lodney C. Davis, Clint Flanagan and Mollie Flanagan and their father Lloyd Flanagan; and seven great-grandchildren, Randy, Bradley, Kelly, Austin, Mia, Livi and Madi, as well as a large and wonderful extended family.  

The family wishes to extend love and gratitude to the many close friends and family of Mildred and Harvey as well as to the staff and caretakers from Home Care Assistance and from Hospice Austin.

The services are as follows:

Visitation on Sunday December 30 at 3 pm followed by Rosary/Vigil Service at 4:30 pm 

Cook-Walden Funeral Home 

6100 North Lamar Blvd, Austin TX

Funeral Mass on Monday December 31 at 10 am followed by a light lunch

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 

105 FM 1431 Marble Falls, TX

Graveside Service 2 p.m.

Forest Oaks Memorial Park

6300 W. Wm Cannon Drive

Austin, TX

Blessings of Christmas

Christmas is not a day, it is a season and a spirit in the air.   The majority of our immediate family gathered yesterday at Mom and Dad's house and spent most of the day.  Grandson Austin was with his Dad and Nicole, Matt and Mia spent Christmas in Northern California with Matt's family this year. 

Mom was able to open her eyes and greet each of us and then would fall right back to sleep.  We would take turns sitting with her.  Her heartbeat still seems strong, she has good circulation in her feet and toes, and there in no pneumonia present in her lungs.  Her breathing is very shallow, but consistent.  She seems contented and comfortable, as long as we stay on-time with her meds.

Dad has declined, in my opinion, considerably over the past week.  I am not so sure that he has not had a mini-stroke.  The strength in his left side (his "good" side) is greatly dimenished, his is much less attentive and expressive, has difficulty swallowing, and refuses foods, so he is very weak oveerall.  He did perk up a little bit yesterday when it was time to pass out our Christmas envelopes from him and Mom.  We turned his recliner so he could watch the activities of the day, which mostly consisted of gathering around the snacks on the table!!  Danny fixed him a red beer and he did drink a few swallows of it.  He also ate a small Coke float that I made him in the afternoon.  He did a lot of napping, but I know he really treasured having us all here.

All of us kids and our familes will re-convene at Glenda's house on Saturday so our children can celebrate the holiday together and we can exchange gifts. Togetherness is big in our family and Jean, Glenda, Danny and I plan to focus on that for the remainder of our lives! We were appreciating each other yesterday and realizing that our children don't have the blessings of multiple siblings, so we need to continue encouraging them to nurture their relationships for future supoprt!! 

I pray that each of you had a safe and blessed day with loved ones.  I promise to keep you all updated on Mom and Dad to the best of my ability!  God's blessings!  Sandi

Our Mom is the most amazing person I know!!

On Wednesday, December 19, Mom popped open her eyes and said that she wanted to get up! We were leery, but we absolutely did as she requested and helped her to sit on the side of the bed!  That was her most lucid day in over a week!  From the side of the bed then, she wanted to sit in the wheelchair and go into the living room with Daddy!  That made her so happy and he was totally shocked! It was priceless to witness! I don't think I would have believed it if I hadn't seen it! She didn't stay up long, no doubt she is weak from being bedridden, but she got back in to bed with such a since of accomplishment!  She took a VERY peaceful and long nap afterwards!

She was up a few times on Thursday also, but hasn't asked to get out of bed since Thursday.  I do believe that being up did clear away some of the cobwebs and she has been more "herself" since.

Mom and Dad were sleeping so soundly yesterday that I slipped out and did some Christmas shopping and went to Austin's kindergarten Christmas party!  Both were a real treat!  As I was headed back to Mom and Dad's house, the caretaker called and said that Mom woke up and said she wanted a beer!!!  I cracked up!!!  So, no doubt, I went and bought a six-pack of Bud and took it to her!  She had such a mischievous smile on her face when I walked in and said, "So, I hear you want to drink a beer!"  When I held one up and told her that her wish was my command, she laughed and drank about 3 little sips!  That was all she wanted, and the smiles were worth a million dollars!!  And, to her, so was the good burp!  Made her feel better, and that's what it's all about!!!

Mom is staying very comfortable with the aid of liquid morphine and a morphine pill administered off and on throughout the day and night.  The caretakers are repositioning her every two hours to keep down the risk of her developing more sore spots.  She drinks a few sips of Boost once or twice a day and ate a tiny bit of watermelon yesterday.  Oh, and don't forget the beer!!!!  It is nutritional, right?!! Well, at least the additional calories didn't hurt her!! 

Dad, sadly, continues to be in a steady decline.  He has made it clear that he has made the decision to be ready to go when Mom does by often refusing his medications and by drastically reducing his nutritional intake, and, as a result, he is sleeping about 20 out of 24 hours.  He is very thin.  Our cousin said in an email that Mom has been holding on while waiting for Dad to catch up with her!  Talk about having an "aha moment" when I read that!!!  Yes, praises Jesus, that is exactly what is going on!!!  None of us kids like watching what is happening with Dad, but we must accept his wishes. I look to our precious Lord for guidance, and know that Dad is doing the same thing.  

Forgive me for not sending out Christmas cards this year. Mom, Dad, all of our family and I wish each of you and all your loved ones a blessed Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!  



Love, Sandi