On November 26th of last year (2008) Grammie passed away of cancer. It was shocking to the entire family, because Dea was so healthly and strong - and in a way that is also the reason that it has taken me so long to change this page. I just cannot accept her being gone - and it has been over 7 months.

How can a woman, so full of life, always working around the house, going outside and doing yardwork at 92 years old - just die? It isn't right.

First her sister Mable, then her sister Violet, both pass away from cancer; and within a months time. Then a year later her oldest sister Mary passes away. Within Aunt Mary's life she had cancer.

But Grammie, it hit her out of the blue; it started with pains. She was seeing a local doctor and they couldn't find anything. FOR A LONG TIME. When she finally switched doctors and went back to her old doctor - he ran tests on her - and found "C". It was bad.

Six weeks later she passed away here at home, where she wanted to be. She had the choice to be at hospice or home. So we started at hospice, and finally Dea wanted to just be at home. I think probably like Great Grandma was (her Mom).

It is so hard to write anything about her. Maybe after a year or so I will be able to actually "write" about her. For now, it is just to hard. Dea was my rock, my second Mom, the person that I could talk to and tell her ANYTHING about. The funny thing was, we told each other stories, that we never told others about. It was just special. God I miss her.

ORIGINAL STORY OF DEA:

Since I was a small child, one of the things that I can remember about my Grandmother, was her working all day. Dea was a beautician, and she had a Beauty Shop downstairs in our home for years! In fact, when she turned 83, THEN she decided to retire! So in our old house, she was a beautician for 50 years, and before that who knows how long.

Dea always has to be active, or she just isn't satisfied with her day. Now that we are settled in our new community, and it has fully grown, Dea's favorite times of the year are Spring and Summer. She adores to be outside in the yard with her flowers and plants.

You would think that after Ninety-two years, she would like to relax, and take life as it comes; but not her!

She still is very current on all types of politics. If you try and sit down with her and have a civilized conversation about today's issues, chances are that one of you will leave the table steaming! Right, Uncle Nick?

Dea comes from a huge family of five sisters, and one brother; and Dea is the forth in line! There were Aunt Mary, Aunt Emily, Aunt Mae, Dea, Uncle Nab, and Aunt Vi. Most of them are still kicking strong - It must be that good family blood!

Besides gardening, Dea loves to cook sweets! She once told me, "When I was younger, I didn't care for anything sweet; but now, I just have this sweet tooth." So what does she enjoy to cook now? Cakes, cookies, you name it. Sam and I love it. We feel like we have gone to heaven!

When Dea isn't working in the garden, or baking in the kitchen, she just has her regular Pinnacle Club that meets each month, at a different location.

So I guess you can say, that Dea is still going strong!