Today, I attended the funeral of a close neighbor from Menan. She had the same birthdate as my mother, just six years sooner.  She was an amazing woman. She finished her education while raising eight children and then supported her family as a school teacher. Even as a bratty kid, I admired her. She was simply a good person in every way just like my friend, Teri Powell, the elementary school principal who died last January.

It was so funny when I talked with the family before the service. Her son, Bryant, didn't even recognize me. The two of us tore around Menan together as kids and were classmates. He even went on a couple of camping trips to Yellowstone with me and my family. He was so embarrassed that he didn't know me. We had a good laugh and a hug. He lives in California and loves it. I invited him over for a beer while he's here.

On the program, they printed some of her oft-repeated sayings. Here are a few of them.

"Everyone brings joy, of that there is no doubt. Some bring it by coming in the room and others by going out. "

"My face, I don't mind it because I'm behind it. It's the people out front that I jar."

"I'm not as green as I am cabbage looking."