Monday, April 27, 2009

It takes a great Grandma to be a Great Grandma...

~Oleta May Ball~

I had the opportunity to go to Boise this past weekend for the funeral of my Great-Grandma.  Oleta May Ball was 94 years young!  This was a bittersweet weekend.  It's always sad to say an 'earthly' goodbye to someone you love; but knowing where she is, I know she's happy.  It was good to see all the family who gathered together to celebrate the life of this amazing lady.  She was lucky enough to live a long and very healthy life.  It was fun to hear a lot of her life's stories that I hadn't ever heard before.  Stories of travel, running off to get married at 15 years old, countless acts of service, getting her first and only speeding ticket at age 90, keeping an AMAZING garden into her 90's (mmm....my mouth is watering just thinking of all her berry bushes), selling her 'famous' loaves of bread for up to $85/loaf, only having to go to the Doctor 2 times in her life (once was for the birth of her daughter, which only cost $5.  And that covered a whole week in the hospital!), fulfilling her life-long dream of meeting Bob Barker and being on the Price is Right at age 92, and lots more!  In the last few days before her passing, the doctors asked her what medications she was on and she told them that the only thing she had ever taken was some iron a few years back.  They laughed and told her that she had such a long and healthy life because she had stayed away from Doctors and hospitals!  We will miss her spunky personality, quick wit, funny sense of humor, and getting those beautifully hand written letters in the mail.  She left behind 159 Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, and Great Great Grandchildren!  What an amazing legacy she has left behind.  I know she's happy to be reunited with her handsome hubby and she's smiling down on all of us!  Grandma....you will be missed.   

"God Be With You Till We Meet Again..."    
This was the last picture I had with her.  Jack was just a baby.  It's great because it shows 5 generations!  I think that's a pretty rare and lucky thing!

Here are some pictures from the day of the funeral service.  

This was taken last Christmas!  Isn't she so cute!?  She wanted to sit on Santa's lap!
 (My dad was Santa!)

4 comments:

Alex said...

she sounds like an amazing lady! I am so glad you got to go and be with family and all that. Thanks again for watching Payton and Ry in a pinch

The Gilleys said...

Grandma, Easter, your kids and stories and pictures make my days Tiff. Thank you so much :) I live for your new blog posts. You and your family are so amazing. Love you as big as the beach.

Unknown said...

I love the 5 generations picture. Your mom and your grandparents look amazing. I hope to age like that. Your great-grandma sounds really awesome.

Tiffani said...

what a "great" woman and an amazing life she had! i want to be like her!