It's hard to believe, but it's been two years since we lost Nana. It's nice to see the circle of life starting again with friends, but my thoughts turn to her...



My grandmother passed away on February 16, 2003 in a nursing home around the corner from my house here in Houston. My mother and I were with her. We read the Bible to her and held her hand. She slowly and peacefully left us. In one of the strangest moments of my life I felt the air move as someone walked into the room and stood next to us. When I looked up to see which nurse or aide it was, there was no one there. I'd never had a supernatural experience in my life before, and I'm not sure whether or not I really had one then, but it was one of the most memorable moments in my life as someone came to take Nana away.

Here's her obituary:

Margie Lettie Gallion; taught Sunday school

Mrs. Margie Lettie Gallion, 90, of Houston, TX and formerly of Nutley, on Feb. 16 at the West Oaks Geriatric Center, Houston. Mrs. Gallion was an active member of Nutley’s Vincent United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school and was a member of the United Methodist Women. Originally from Rich Creek, VA, she lived in Nutley and Virginia before moving two years ago to Texas. She was the mother of Janice Grube, Gloria Booth, R. Harold and Glenn; sister of Mabel Wahlgren, Alma Bips and Sylvia Valenzisi; she is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Services 11 a.m. Feb. 26 at Vincent United Methodist Church. -- S.W. Brown & Son Funeral Home, 267 Centre St., Nutley.

Nana's tastes ran more to Slim Whitman, Boxcar Willie, and bluegrass than to British pop, but there's this song by Squeeze that just describes her perfectly.

I know what you're saying, Rob will find any reason to plug a Squeeze song. Hear me out. Here's the song:

Some Fantastic Place

(Difford/Tilbrook)

She gave to me her tenderness
Her friendship and her love
I see her face from time to time
There in the sky above

[snip]

So simple her humility
Her beauty found in grace
Today she lives another life
In some fantastic place
She showed me how to raise a smile
Out of a bed of gloom
And in a garden sanctuary
A life began to bloom.
She visualised a world ahead
And planned how it would be
She left behind the strongest love
That lives eternally
I have the hope that when it's time
For me to come her way
That she'll be there to show me round
Whenever comes that day
Her love was life and happiness
And in her steps I trace
The way to live a better life
In some fantastic place

(c) 1993 EMI Virgin Music Ltd.

Now I know that this sort of sentiment can apply to just about anyone's lost loved ones, but this line: She visualised a world ahead, And planned how it would be stops me in my tracks.

Nana planned her funeral. She wrote out the whole service. What hymns we were to sing, what readings there were to be...It was remarkable.

I was chosen to read the 23rd Psalm. I had kept her Bible and gave her mine to take into the casket with her. It was the Bible I bought before I went into the Navy, we figured she would like that. We wanted to keep her everyday Bible and pass it down. It was the Bible she used to teach Sunday school from. There are notes written into it, various newspaper clippings, even a picture of President and Mrs. Reagan in there. She thought the world of them.

And I think the world of her. I was blessed to have a grandmother for so long. Most people my age lost their grandparents a long time ago. I had her in my life for years.

I still picture her as in one of the pictures we put up of her. She was smiling and making biscuits, like I'd seen her do a thousand times. I know she's making the biscuits up in Heaven, waiting for us to join her...

Rob,Through my tears, I thank you for your beautiful words. I miss her terribly, but know she has left so much of herself in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The words of the song are perfect.All my love, Mother

we all miss aunt Margie ... and uncle russell ... nice thoughts and a great tribute

Thanks from a distance cousin

Hi Rob

I remember Margie & Russell. My father James A Wilson was her brother. He died in June 96. Hus wife Marie died in 98. My father used tell us stories about staying at their farm. I know my father was 1 of 13. Ten sisters and 2 brothers. I was doing some google on Rich Creek and wilson family and thats how I came across your blog. I have some old pics of my father and family. I will scan them and put them up on webshots.com http://community.webshots.com/user/tomjwilson

I live in Bloomfield NJ. I am married(just short of 30 yrs). My family is Eileen(wife), Tom(27), Brian (25)married, Kevin(18) & Caitlin (16). Here is my email address tom.jwilson@verizon.net. I am interested in the family history.

Thanks

Tom Wilson