Well, after a week of worrying about my Mom, my father passed away Sunday, May 29th, at 10:15 pm.

He was one of those coders in WWII with a constant buddy, ready to blow his brains out if the Japs caught 'em.

I know that most of you have no idea about my family history, but my mother and father were married during his naval service during WWII. It was ten years before they had their first child, me. What a bummer. It's a girl. Little did they know!!!!

We are having a Memorial Gathering on Saturday, June 4th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Trying to keep it in the celebration mode.

After all, where would I have learned about Hank Williams, Sr., Patsy Cline, Texas Swing, The Big Bands, Glenn Miller, etc. Louis Armstrong, The Ink Spots, Phill Harris, countless comedy songs on 88?. The big thick discs. Nat King Cole. Buck Owens, He! Haw! Before that, The Grand Ole' Opry!!!!!
Man, my dad was color blind before anybody figured it out.He always walked proud. I will always miss him. He taught me who I was and where I came from. This little girl, a little too brown, a little too sensitive with a big funky nose. Taught to plant the Three Sisters, can, freeze, just to survive.

Because we are "Work hard, Rock hard, Eat hard, Sleep hard, Grow big, Wear glasses if you need 'em." kind of family.

Across the prairie. From Oklahoma Territory from one end. From the Old South from the other. I am truly, Pisces, the fish swimming in two directions. From the Wellivers from the North, the Elliotts from the South. A family of American History. If anything else, I want us to be remembered as Americans. The melting pot. Can you dig it?

Great Grandmother Mother Bear,
Deb Elliott
Say a prayer for the soul of a mudblood struggling to raise a family, party with family and ........Oh'Yeah!.....Work Hard, Rock Hard, Eat Hard, Sleep Hard, Grow Big and Wear Glasses If You Need ' em.

Our thoughts are with you Deb. I lost my father about 13 years ago and I still think of him daily. Your Dad sounds like one of those Salt of the earth people that make up America. You can be proud that he helped shape who you are.

Deb, that is a really beautiful epitaph. Thanks for sharing it with us...your Father was obviously an exceptional guy. My Dad was a pilot instructor in the Navy in WWII, and I think he and your Dad would have gotten along great.
TL

You and yours are in my thoughts and prayers.

Deb, it sounds like you have an amazing family. You and your family will be in my prayers.

Deb,
You brought great honor to your father with your post. I can imagine that perhaps putting your feelings into words like that might have transformed a bit of the grief into something a little more bearable. Tony and I will be thinking of you and your family.
Susan

Way cool, Deb. Respect all the way around. So sorry for your loss. so moved by your reverence. WW

Peace to you and yours

Very sorry for your loss, MB... it's always so hard to lose a parent.

May you and your family find strength and comfort, Deb.

You said some great stuff there, I'm sorry for his loss.

Thoughts and prayers are with you and yours MB. Sound like your Dad was a true American.... It's men and women like him, that are the reasons why we have Memorial Day. They deserve to be honored as you have done with this post ... Stay strong girl.

E

Sorry for your loss,MB. Sounds like a man I would have loved to meet. Keep the faith

Gary

My condolences, MB.

Hunter

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.
Deb

As so many of you have, I'm sure, I have learned so much more about my family and my father's life from family that I am so much more honored to be his daughter. Many more clues to our past. The part of all of us that is woven into the fabric of the United States of America.

Rock on.

Hope to see you at WebbFest or at least at Knucklehead's. May God Bless all of you, my friends and companions along this road of life.

Deb