This page is dedicated to the memory of my best friend,
Claryce Taylor Cupp, who left this world to be with Jesus on
August 29, 1997. She lived life to the fullest as a Christian
wife, mother, grandmother and friend. We shared many happy times
over the years, some of which I would like to share with you later.
In 1960 when we moved to the small west Texas town of Ranger,
Claryce was one of my first visitors. She came by one morning to
welcome us to town and invite us to church. Since her husband was
a local funeral director and operated the ambulance and my
husband had just started his medical practice, they both had to
work long, hard hours, some times late into the night. Since we
had that in common and since we belonged to the same church and our
children were about the same age, we soon became the very best of
friends. Our children also became friends and our husbands too.
She was as close as a sister to me. Even after they moved away
in 1972, we still kept in touch and visited often. She was
someone I could talk to and share my thoughts with. I will miss
her greatly.
FRIENDSHIP
The people who pass through our lives
Are put there for a reason
Some stay around for a long, long time
Some for just a season.
You came and left too soon, too soon
I wanted you to stay
My life will never be as bright
Since you went away.
You made an impact on my life
By always being there
For me or any one who had
A heavy cross to bear.
I'll always remember the joy you spread
By the smile upon your face
I know where ever you have gone
Will be a brighter place.
I look forward to seeing you again
For this I always pray
Whether on earth or in Paradise
I'll find you someday.
...by Pat Gohlke August 2,1999
SOME OF OUR FUN TIMES
One thing Claryce and I were good at was getting
out of town on shopping trips and not having any cash with us. On
one such trip to Ft. Worth we went to Neimans to have our hair done,
get a manicure and facial. Then on the way home we stopped at a
fast food restaurant for lunch. Before we ordered I looked in my
billfold and discovered that I didn't have but a few coins in
cash. She did the same thing. We scraped together what we had,
then I went out to the car and found a few more coins. We had
enough for one hamburger, one order of fries and two glasses of
water. We were laughing so hard we could hardly give our order.
I guess it really wasn't that funny to any one else. You just
had to be there.
Another time we went to Abilene and on the way home we stopped
to buy some donuts to take home. After driving a while we decided
that we wanted to eat them before we got home, but we needed some
coffee to go with them. So we stopped in this restaurant, sat down
in a booth and ordered coffee, then we tried to sneak the donuts
out so that the waitress didn't see them. As usual we were giggling
and acting silly and I think that the manager was watching us
suspiciously. The worst part was when we went up to pay for the
coffee, neither one of us had a cent. I asked if I could write a
check. We laughed and laughed, but the waitress wasn't at all
amused. Back then a cup of coffee was about a quarter. They
finally let me write a check for a dollar and I told them to keep
the change.
