Tim DeOrnellis's passing and funeral January 2021

Emily had a trip to Colorado and Wyoming immediately after we got back from our Missouri trip.  Before she left, Emily, Rowen, and Janet got the quilt machine table put together.

The next life changing event was the death of Tim DeOrnellis.  We would not have believed that would be the outcome of him having Covid, but it was.  So heartbreaking!!  Marlene and Tim had only been married from October 6, 2018 to January 16, 2021 when he died.

Elizabeth, Emily, and Janet made the trip back to Missouri arriving in time for the visitation on January 22nd.  There was always a line of people wanting to express their sympathy to Marlene for over 2 1/2 hours.  I was amazed how she held up.  It was only God's strength!

Tim was a cattle rancher, a County heavy equipment operator, and a preacher, a friend and neighbor to everybody.  He leaves a grieving wife, daughter, son, and son-in-law.  He is safe in heaven and enjoying Jesus' presence and the company of the saints who are in heaven.  His first wife, Glenda, has been in heaven for several years.

His brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son, son-in-law, daughter, and mother

A picture of Marlene and Tim on the slideshow

At the end of the evening, Shawna Wright, who knows more than anyone about Marlene's loss, expresses her sympathy.  She lost her husband to cancer.  Marlene has lost two husbands now, one to cancer, one to Covid.

Tim's work boots and some of the beautiful flowers.

The beautiful casket spray from the family.  What a loss to all of them!

Wesley and Lisa Scoles, Janet, Andrew Owens, Brenda Owens, Elizabeth, and Rebekah Owens

The 23rd was the funeral.  The girls and I drove Mother and Daddy to the funeral.  It was 1.5 hour drive, which went by quickly because Daddy was telling the girls stories about his childhood and early life.  When we got to the church, Marlene came out to bring them in.  It was a chilly, sunshiny day.

Marlene with Mother and Daddy at the casket.

Marlene with Ken and Vicky Thompson.  We have known them almost all of our lives, so it was such a blessing that they came to the funeral.

When I saw Ken and Vicky, I went and talked to them before the service.  I was so glad I had, because they didn't stay for the graveside service.

Emily got this picture of them.

Walter Gene and Dorothy Woods played an opening hymn on their harmonicas.  Walter is our dad's cousin.

Kenny Bergmann talked about Tim, his friend and brother-in-law.  Others spoke too.

Deron Fourman preached the sermon.  He is good friends with Tim's kids.

Dana Fourman sang beautifully.

After the service, we visited at the back with Tim, Brenda, and Piper.

The Albertson girls who were there

The family following the casket out of the church

The graveyard is next to the church.

The vault cover had a farm scene and a picture of Tim on the top.

After the graveside service, the church had a very nice meal for all of the family.

Emily with Rebekah and Leah

Brave Marlene, Mother and me.

A picture of Tim's family that evening, since we had not gotten a family picture three weeks before:

We were so glad three of us got to go to support Marlene.  We wish we weren't so far away from her when she has so many decisions and changes going on.  I would be happy for any of our readers to pray for her.

My dear mother watching us leave the next morning.

Post Christmas 2020 trip to Missouri

Some couch time with Felix, Piper, and Charissa!  We were happy Elizabeth could come with us on this  trip to Joplin at the end of the year.

Jeffrey, Lesa, and Preston got to come from Houston.  Emily is holding Piper.  Most of the time, she is behind the camera, so she needs to be mentioned when she actually makes it into a picture!

Elizabeth and Janet with their Christmas Sherpa jackets

Tim with a tool holder Jeffrey got him.

Piper on the quilt Grandma Janet made for her for Christmas.

Around the table at mealtime at Tim and Brenda's house

It snowed while we were there!

On New Year's we went over to Mark and Terry Taylor's to buy Connie's quilting machine.  (Mark and Terry were my friends from high school many years ago!)  Connie has quilted a lot of my quilts for me for many years.  She was showing me how to do it.

Grandma and Piper.  Piper is wearing the dress Emily got her for Christmas.

We had a Scoles family gathering at The Light, where Tim and Brenda attend church.  Tim's company did the fancy painting on the walls.  Rex and Wanda Scoles (Janet's parents), Rowen, Charlie Owens, and Lyndell Scoles are in this picture.

Wesley and Lisa Scoles provided most of the food we ate.  Brenda Albertson, Lisa, and I were greasing potatoes for baking.  Sharen Scoles was cleaning up after cutting banana bread, and Wesley was preparing three kinds of meat.

Brenda Owens and her dog, Rowen, Mother, Tim Wampler, Lyndell, Lisa, and Sharen

Wesley brought some games we had never played before.  Andrew, Leah, and Rebekah Owens, Tim and Sherry Wampler, and Wesley Scoles

Lesa and Piper.

Andrew, Leah, Rebekah, Sherry, Wesley, Charlie, Tim, Charissa, Brenda, and Elizabeth playing the game.

People joined or exited the game at different times.  Some were just watching.  Rex, Wanda, Rowen, Janet, Lisa, Leah, Rebekah, Sherry, Wesley, Jeffrey, Brenda, Tim, Lesa, Sharen, Brenda, and Charlie

Janet, Brenda, Piper, Sharen, Lyndell visiting.  I think everybody was worried and sober about Tim DeOrnellis being sick with Covid.  He and Marlene didn't get to come to this family gathering.  Instead, Tim was taken to the hospital to ICU on this day, January 2, and he went to heaven from there on January 16.

There was plenty of yummy food!

Jeffrey and Lesa visited with Grandma and Grandpa over lunch.

Janet and Charissa ate with Lyndell and Sharen.  The Owens family is at the foreground table.

Sherry and Tim Wampler, Wesley and Lisa Scoles

Lisa passing out presents to Grandma and Grandpa.  Lesa talking to Sharen.  Brenda and Piper.

Our family has Lisa Scoles and Lesa Albertson, Brenda Owens and Brenda Albertson, and Tim Albertson, Tim Wampler, and Tim DeOrnellis.  It can be a little confusing!

Tim and Brenda wanted snowy pictures after the family gathering.  Since it was snowing again, everybody from a distance needed to get home.

Jeffrey, Lesa, and Preston wanted snow pictures.  They don't get much chance for that in Houston.

Elizabeth played with Felix on his nice rug.

Emily helped Felix get acquainted with their Christmas Legos.

Charissa loves creating with Legos.

Grandpa Rowen entertaining Piper.

Rowen and Janet with Mother and Daddy on Sunday morning before church time.

Elizabeth and Emily with Mother and Daddy Sunday before church time.

We enjoyed this short time with our family over the New Year.  

We had a safe trip home the next day.

This picture is a couple weeks later after we got the quilting machine table put together and the machine with new carbon brushes installed.  Ready to quilt now!