Welcome to Betty Jane's Beloved Hearts Memorial

Memories of Betty Jane

Mom...I wrote the following poem in tribute of you, for the very way your life touched mine through my child's eyes so long ago. That influence carried on into my adult life. Even now, so many years after your passing, I still feel your presence in my heart. I will love you forever, mom. Forever and beyond. I'm writing you, sweet mother, I'm your one and only girl It's eleven years this very month you departed from this world You had 3 boys ahead of me, you raised us all with pride In each of our hearts this very day is where you still reside You've left a deep impression of the way you used to be Your gentle loving kindness - has spilled over into me I watched with child's eyes and saw the sweetest things you'd do You made me who I am today, I thank you through and through I used to watch you gather up the flowers from the church And take them to the shut-ins, and those with other hurts You delivered many flowers, to church members who were sick Sometimes you took me with you, where we'd sit and chat a bit I remember Alverda Harris, and the crippled hands she had Yet she still crocheted like Betsy Ross, that big American flag And Remember Roland Abel and his favorite Methodist hymn? Number 17...How Great Thou Art.....I still can hear him sing And remember Dwayne that little boy you taped as he sang the song "Here Comes Jesus, See Him Walking on the Water"...and it wasn't very long That little Dwayne had drowned and died, at Union Lake one day and you gave that tape to his sweet mom, and touched her heart that day When I was 6 in our Methodist church you had me join the choir And even now so many songs still lights my heart on fire I miss you, oh so much, sweet mom...I'd like you here with me I'd sit and chat all day with you, sipping our favorite tea I'll never forget those last few days as the cancer wore you down We knew your time was drawing near, so the family gathered 'round As your breaths got longer and longer between each one you'd try to give We said The Lord's Prayer aloud to you, you didn't have long to live I read The 23rd Psalms to you, The Lord Is My Shepherd, somehow--- my voice stayed strong and I didn't cry, as I read those words aloud And next I took your Bible, and read the verse you held so dear About your "Wings as Eagles" that you often said that year "Ye shall run and not be weary, ye shall walk and not be faint" From your wheelchair you often quoted that, to me you were a saint When I softly read that verse to you about your eagles wings I gently whispered to you......."Mom, it's time to go get your wings" I couldn't believe my mom was gone, in my eyes you were so strong I thought you'd even conquer death, but alas I was so wrong But you linger on inside my heart, and forever there you'll be And in every act of kindness I give, you live on again through me. ----written 9/7/07 by your daughter, Karen Marie In loving memory of Betty Jane Doran, 9/15/31 - 9/10/96 *** Mom, your dear friend, Ellis, gently reminded me that part of my poem is actually incorrect. What part? Oh, you did conquer death. Boy, did you ever. You're at the feet of Jesus, bright shining as the sun! How could I not think you conquered death! It's everything your whole life pointed to - your final reward in Heaven, you get to walk with Jesus everyday! Ellis touched me deeply the day he shared this with me... Amen, mom. Amen... And mom....you wanted your funeral service to be a celebration of your life, didn't you, and that's what you told the minister that summer before you left us. You told Bo, you wanted a very upbeat service, with happy songs, not sad tearful ones. You told him to make sure the VICTORY IN JESUS chorus was sung, with everyone clapping their hands at the end of your service, so we all sang it for you, mom. We sang it for you that day... In that same spirit, mom...I have the song "I'll Fly Away" playing here for you, as I know in my heart, you flew away from me on your "Wings as Eagles" that gentle night, to fly away to your eternal home.... And I'll never forget, either, you laying in the hospital at the end of May, 1996 on the very evening of the day you learned the cancer had spread. You sang words from the song, "It is Well with my Soul". I wrote that down in my diary that weekend, that you stood firm in your faith, that you had confidence that all was truly well with your soul. I knew that whenever the time would come for you to cross over, that at your funeral service, I just had to hear that song sung. So Jim Hughes, lovingly, as though with the gentle eyes of Jesus Himself, sang that beautiful hymn for you at your final farewell service. I can't even begin to express how much hearing that song meant to me that day. Rest well, with the angels, mom where all is now eternally well with your soul. 09/15/07: Good Morning - Happy Birthday, Mom....Love, your daughter. I still have the refrigerator magnet you gave me, "Daughter, you may have outgrown my lap, but you will never outgrow my heart." It is still on my fridge, mom... Happy Birthday in Heaven today... 11/16/07: They are closing my office down 12/31/07 mom. (As it turns out, we were all released on 12/07/07 mom...) But be my guardian angels, you and Dusty both...Help me find a new life for myself in 2008, and a new job....Be with me, just as you've been with me each step of the way here in 2007, okay mom? 03/23/08: It's Easter Sunday mom, and I thought I'd come by for a visit. I miss you so much on the holidays. Especially now that I live alone. The silence sometimes is overwhelming. But I do have Smokey now, my little girl kitty, and she helps give me something to look forward to coming home to. She's no love snuggler like your Mittens and my Dusty were, but I love her just the same, my little Smokey-girl. I finally got a new job, on March 10th. So that's one answer to prayer. It's at a medical review company, and guess what mom? I type up written reports based on doctor's summaries. So, I actually get paid to write for the first time ever. Oh, it's not creative writing, mom, as it's all based on the facts of a case. But all my typing, grammar, spelling, and writing skills of being able to look at something, and write it in a more fluent way while still remaining true to the facts of the case presented, is right up my alley. Once I'm done my part of the writing, it then goes to an RN before the report is finalized, to make sure the medical facts I've included are all correctly worded. I really love the job, mom. You'd be proud of me for being paid to write for the first time in my career. I'm just so sorry so much of the rest of my life is so fouled up. Things just didn't turn out the way I had hoped for myself mom. I'm so very sorry as I feel in some ways I've let you down. I try, though, to be the type of person you want me to be inside mom, regardless of all the other things I feel I've messed up in my life. If I measure my success by the things I've accompiished in life, so far, I've failed miserably. But if I measure any part of my success as to my ability to reach out to people and touch them in a time of need the way I saw through my child's eyes that you used to, then perhaps, you'd be proud. I've written a lot of poetry for people over the last year, and I know your eyes twinkle with pride at each new poem. I wrote the above poem for you.....for both of us, mom... I wrote it somehow for both you and for me.... Today, Easter Sunday, my visit is with mixed emotion. I'm so proud to be your daughter, but I'm so sorry my life hasn't turned out very well, mom.... I hope, though, that you are proud of the person I am inside. Ok mom? I love you.... Celebrate Easter there at the feet of Jesus, together with his angels. It's the truest and purest place to be, isn't it mom, to celebrate Easter.... I almost wish I were there with you, mom... But celebrate today there in your mansion, just over the hilltop, like you used to sing about so many years ago. I love you mom... I'll love you always. 05/11/08 Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I will always remember your last moments next to me, when you took your last breath. I think you left me the gift of your loving and caring heart, you've helped mold and shape me even still. I know that is part of the legacy you wanted, to know that you would be a positive role-model for me that would last MY lifetime, not just YOUR lifetime. And you have, mom. You've left me a legacy of love that is immeasurable. I thank you deeply today, mom, for all you taught me by your actions in life. I still feel your love in my life, and today, I just wanted to say how much I love you and appreciate you for all you ever did for me. Happy Mother's Day, sweet mom. Happy Mother's Day in Heaven. 06/15/08: Give daddy a big kiss for me for Father's Day today, ok mom. He passed away August, 1991 and then you joined him in September, 1996... This is for you, Dad...I appreciate everything you did for me. From co-signing my first real "car loan", to teaching me how to fish at Grassy Sounds and all those "Night Fishing" weakies we used to catch off the pier at like 2am with the night light on... Oh, do you remember? We'd fish for hours on end, most times in silence daddy, but I hold those memories oh so close and dear to my heart... And of course I remember you taught me how to play Rummy, too... We'd play cards in the afternoon at Grassy, you in your "Captain's Chair" and me on that black bench at the dining room table... And I remember some of the simple things, too....like sharing our love of The Waltons, Little House on the Praire, M*A*S*H, and some of the other TV shows... And of course I remember your special recipies of Old Fashioned rolled-out Chicken Pot Pie and that oh so velvety Chocolate Sheet Cake you used to make! I still remember all these things, and more, Dad. And boy, nobody could make homemade ice cream like the recipe of "Wonderful Coffee Ice Cream" you used to make... I will never forget... Happy Father's Day today, Dad.... All my love... your daughter, Karen 06/18/08: Wow. Hey mom, if you and dad were still here with us, today would mark your 53rd wedding anniversary. All I can picture, is you two being reunited in Heaven, and celebrating your special day at Jesus' feet, in a place of pure light and perfection. I could ask nothing more for you both today. 09/10/08: I can't believe it's been 12 years, mom. I remember your last moments like it was yesterday... The last words I whispered to you, "Mom, it's time to go get your wings..." and, it seemed in that very moment, your last breath was taken, and you were at peace... I long for that peace in my life, dear mom. I miss you so much, your reassuring voice on the phone, your laugh, the way you'd pray and everything would feel like it was all going to be ok. How I'd love an afternoon ride to the shore with you, and walk on the rock pile at Cape May...I'd take you for that ride now, mom, if you were here with me. I'd love to take you on the ferry across the Delaware Bay... And mom, please watch over my friend this week. You know who... and Thursday he needs your angel wings to wrap around him and support him through every moment of the day. I've been on my knees this week praying every night for him. I know you are at Jesus feet...so please, on Bobby's behalf... just reach out for me and touch the hem of Jesus' garment, and bless all the events that will unfold these next few days... Watch over Joyce, too... And Carol and Ellis... I love you, mom...and I wish I were more like you in many ways... you were so outgoing, so open with people, and easy to get to know. I ask a simple request, keep your angel wings fluttering in my life, will you? I could use a touch of your love right about now. I could really use a sign, mom... I miss you so much tonight, mom... You have mounted up with wings as eagles...and for that, I am so very happy for you... I love you, mom. 09/15/08: Happy Birthday Mom! With all my love, your daughter, Karen * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ....For anyone who would like to visit Rainbow's Bridge, I am "Dusty's mom" at Rainbow's bridge website: http://RainbowsBridge.com/residents/DUSTY101/Resident.htm

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