Our final entry as we had our mother's celebration service yesterday and it was lovely despite the challenges of the pandemic. I received so many emails and texts so we know many of you were able to celebrate with us safely and remotely so thank you!

Despite our mother's rapid deterioration, she was able to pick all the scriptures and music. The organ sounded like a little taste of heaven.  It was traditional yet personal...three of her grandchildren acolyted, cousins ushered, dear friends read scriptures, the Gum children's musical video was shown (dear family friends and whose father had come to visit from Austin and played it for her), and the vibrant flowers were arranged partly from her garden and with such love.  We had a private family service immediately following where we spread her ashes in the church garden beside our Dad. "You are dust and to dust you shall return".

St. Clement's is such a special church full of a legacy of family love, education, and service. My mom not only loved the worshipping, mission work , school, and beautiful sanctuary,  but she benefited from deep friendships through her anchor group and years of Christian service.  Reverend Ron Thomson helped officiate and hard to believe that he baptized, confirmed,  and married me, and then buried both my parents. Now that is some history. Ron was calling and joking the past few weeks while he looked at two paintings my mom painted for him and Doris. What a rich legacy of Christian love and ministry!

We followed the service with a beautiful dinner at Cinco and Katie's home with food brought by some of their friends which was not only delicious, but included Katie thoughtfully setting the table with my parent's African napkin rings!  It was a special day honoring and celebrating a wonderful mother, grandmother, family member, friend, teacher, and citizen!

As you can imagine, this week has been emotional. I vacilate between crying and laughing. It was so strange to arrive at "912" and my mom not be there. Oh how I miss her and our daily talks! The girls have some voice messages on their phones that have warmed my heart which included comments ranging from the joys of ice cream to pursuing artistic talents.  My eyes have been so watery as I have read through all the cards (and even some of her recent phone's texts) sent to her and our family on the impact she had in big and small ways. We have also found letters written between my parents and boxes of keepsakes as she was very sentimental and loved family and community history.  It has also been fun as I have had the opportunity to fulfill some of her wishes and give some of her friends her paintings, cookbooks, and paint brushes.

Fortunately and unfortunately, my grieving has been mitigated by a long "to do list". Our mother lived in her house for 42 years and I think it has more storage than any house I have ever seen! It is too full and honestly very overwhelming.  Jim has been amazing and that great combination of comforting and hard working as we have tried the past few days to try to get some things in order so the three of us and our families can have many of these family treasures. Forrest, Emily, Jim, and I will be returning over a number of weekends to try to help as we don't want Cinco and Katie bearing the burden.

Well.....a  too long last journal entry, but all of you have been so thoughtful in reaching  out in love like you have. This site is such an efficient way to share and more importantly to THANK YOU for your love... displayed both to our mother and us.  Our prayers are two fold: 1) we learn "to adjust" to this life without the force of Elizabeth Ragsdale Feuille and 2) it is not good-bye, but "until"...........

"No ear has heard. No mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

Virtual love to all of you with blessings and appreciation!

Love,

Mary Elizabeth (on behalf of the Frank and Elizabeth Feuille IV Family)