The title of this post was inspired by an email I sent to a cousin this morning in Shreveport, Louisiana.  It was a phrase that made complete and total sense at the time.

What I was describing to my cousin was the daunting task of summing up the life of my Grandmother,  Flo Johnson, in a few measly paragraphs.  I was writing the obituary of my Granny.  It had to be done.  I cringed with every syllable.

Granny’s worn out body gave it up yesterday afternoon.  She was 89.  She passed as the college football games of the day were in full swing.  Man, I miss her already.

So…there I was trying to put 89 years on a few lines of paper.  It is an arduous task that has to be done.  I get that.  And I get that her old body needed rest…and finally got it. Yes…I understand.  It was a blessing that she was able to die in her own bed with her family close at hand.  There was a sense of peace and calm in Granny’s little apartment after the local funeral director did what he had to do and rolled his hearse out of the driveway with Granny in it.

I have some words I need to put together to say at her funeral service on Tuesday.  I will find them.  Putting them out there will be the hard part.

I can’t begin to thank the wonderful folks of Hosparus Southern Indiana.  They were all magnificent with their care for my Granny.  These folks were also grateful for the effort that was put forth by my family members in caring for Granny along the way.

Granny checked out of the hospital on October 25th and lasted nearly a month after she was told her Leukemia was not going to get better.  In that short time I witnessed as dignified and as graceful a tough death as one could. Granny never wavered.  Granny never complained.  She wanted the song “Sentimental Journey’ to be sung at her funeral.  My sister was at her bedside singing that song to her when she breathed her last.  It was a fitting end.

Below is the obituary I submitted:

Coralyn Floreta Johnson

Coralyn Floreta (Flo) Johnson, 89, Depauw, died Saturday, November 22, 2014 at her home.

Born August 10, 1925 in Jackson, MS, she was the daughter of the late Ila Ashley and Fred Harvey.  She was also preceded in death by her husband, Herbert D. Johnson in 1987.

Flo moved from Shreveport, Louisiana to Depauw, Indiana in 1994 to be closer to her son.  Prior to moving to Indiana, she lived in Shreveport for nearly forty years.  In Shreveport, she served as the secretary of The First Presbyterian Church for fourteen years and fourteen more years as the secretary of Agudath Achim Synagogue from which she retired.  Flo enjoyed traveling, spending time with her family, being a positive example for others, and watching football.  She was a member of The First Presbyterian Church in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Survivors include her son, Larry (Tressie) Johnson, Ramsey; a sister, Lula Hodge of Shreveport, LA.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held at Swarens Funeral Home on Tuesday evening, November 25, 2014 at 7PM.  Visitation the same day after 4PM.

A graveside service and burial will be held at Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The family suggests memorial gifts be made to Hosparus of Southern Indiana.

Here are some recent and slightly not so recent pictures of my Granny I wanted to share:

 

Granny with her grandchildren and their spouses.

Granny with with three generations around her

 

Granny with great grandchildren Katie and Matt

Granny and my brother-in-law Steven cheesing it up!

 

Granny and me admiring her spoon collection.  It is a sight!

 

My dear wife, Carrie, and me with Granny last Christmas.

 

I have no idea what had granny so tickled…but I know it was worth it.

 

With grand daughter-in-law, Emily…so what if Granny was only 4’9′.

She packed a great deal of love and life in that little body for over 89 years.

As I finish this post I still feel a bit like I did when I was writing Granny’s obit.  It still feels like I am trying to build a pyramid with a few grains of sand.  She was that large.

And…she would want all of us to press onward. Keep moving.  Keep enjoying life.  Find something else to explore.  Live.

She knew what she was talking about.  The list of countries and sights and sounds she witnessed in her lifetime is an entirely different post.

When I watch football on TV without her, I suppose it is now up to me to yell “GET HIM!” the best I can.

Speaking the Rights.

Danny Johnson