Grandma on her front porch - 7/2007
My paternal grandmother, Doris Upton, passed away on Friday. She lived in Carmi, Illinois so I didn’t get to see her much when I was growing up. I remember many years where we used Dad’s two weeks vacation for a summer road trip to visit family. We would stop in Wichita, KS to visit with my Mom’s family before arriving in Carmi for the 4th of July Hutchcraft family reunion. I remember spending time at my great aunt and uncle’s cabin on the Little Wabash River, running all over the place with cousins galore. I remember one of the adults giving each of the grandkids a quarter and we’d run down the street to the local market. (We really would run – and it was 90 degrees and 90% humidity.) Each of us would carefully consider what candy we wanted and we’d return with a small brown paper bag filled with our booty. When we were really lucky, we got to make the trip more than once in a day! I remember lighting bugs. And mosquito bites (LOTS of mosquito bites). I remember shucking piles of corn in the back yard. Trash was burned in a 55 gallon metal barrel. Grandma was an avid crafter – ceramics, crocheting, plastic canvas, and card making. I think I can attribute some of the joy I get from crafts to both of my grandmas.
I feel fortunate that we were able to travel to Illinois a couple of weeks ago. (See the post about that trip here.) It had been two years since I had seen Grandma, and she had never met our little girls. She enjoyed seeing them and I think the entire nursing home staff had been told we were coming.
Goodbye Grandma. I love you.
Grandma & me - July 2007
Janet,
A beautiful tribute to your Grandma Upton, and some of your memories of times with her and family. I am thankful God’s timing for your visit enabled you to be with her, along with your dad, recently.
love,
mom
Your mom told me about your grandma dying. I was so sorry to hear that. She was a great lady. I have some fond memories of her myself from times when we visited your family.