Memories of a dear Friend

I have so many memories of Mary Evelyn Clodfelter, she was such a special friend to me, and to so many others. We went on many trips through the years. I always had fun when Mary Evelyn, Florence Allen and I would take off together. Sometimes we went with the Lunch Bunch and had a more than one car, other times it was just the three of us. One time when we had gone to Quaker Lake for dinner when it was Family camp weekend, I told Scott (our Minister) that it was girls’ night out. Over 260 yrs worth of girls, and we were all in one car. The top picture is from a Carry In lunch with Amelia, John J. and Mary Evelyn. Second pic was a USFW gathering at Quaker Lake.

 If I drove Mary Evelyn would always ride shot gun, Florence would sit in the back. She used to hum, and I remember one time, saying that Florence must be comfortable when I drive; she’s so relaxed she hums. They told me she hums when she’s nervous and to watch out if she starts singing the words to, “Must Jesus bear, this cross alone.” Apparently that was a sign of real trouble.

Florence had a favorite trick that she played on me, she would tell me how to get to where ever we were going, but coming back I had to find my own way. Problem was I didn't pay attention we'd be too busy chatting. Poor Mary Evelyn would suffer in silence, I knew she was longing to tell me the way. She didn’t like being lost. Nina and Mary Evelyn enjoying lunch at Quaker Lake. Florence picking out appetizers at Quaker Lake.

Mary Evelyn was a faithful attendee at our USFW meetings, our main fund raiser is our Chicken Pie day. We always bake around 250 pies, and it’s a lot of work but the fellowship makes up for it. As I’ve aged it’s really hard to stand in one place for several hours, I thought one time I should ask to be “aged” out, I looked and there was Mary Evelyn and Florence, still showing up. They now sit at the table and take care of the customers that come in to pick up pies, there are just so many occasions when I will be looking for Mary Evelyn and feeling such a pang when she’s not there.

We were in the same Sunday school class, and we sat side by side on a love seat. I couldn’t bear to see the empty seat beside me last Sunday so I parked my pocket book there. My most precious memory was during class one Sunday, we usually start by all of us, just chatting together. Tom Gray who teaches the class, was talking about his Mom and how in her nineties she said, that she didn’t know why she was still here, all her friends had gone? Mary Evelyn reached across the seat and took my hand, she said we make new friends. She had no idea how that touched my heart.

I think of her now, joyful in heaven, meeting up with all her old friends, and family members that had passed. Her body whole again, no more pain. We all miss you Mary Evelyn, I know your family miss you most of all, I just know we will all be together one day. I know it’s customary to say, “Rest in Peace”. I think you will be enjoying your new life, not resting but having fun, and watching over us.

Love You.