You have been a great friend to me for 32 years.  Even though we were thousands of miles apart, I could always count on you to have a listening ear.  The world is a little darker without you in it.  I will miss you, our talks, and our love for George Strait.

I don’t know what to say... I love you and miss you like so many people do.  You were indeed the sweetest, most selfless person I knew.  I can’t believe we were texting Tuesday afternoon about dinner plans and later that day you were gone.  Addison said, ” how do you sleep or be OK after someone you love passes away?” I don’t know how to answer that.  I wish we had one more day to hug, hear you laugh, or vent to each other.  I will cherish our memories and see you in heaven my dear friend.  I took time for granted and I wish I could go back and see you.

Many of us lost a beautiful light in our lives today. My precious friend, Larami Cathey Wingate, is with Jesus.  She was the one I trusted to rock my babies and love them while I worked.  She always listened, always cared, always loved.  I’m so blessed to have known her and grieve her loss deeply.  Love to Kyle, Kolton, Kailey and the rest of her family and friends who will always miss her.  Rest well, Larami... you fought long and well ❤️.

Part 2 of 2:

I’ve learned a lot from Larami, and I hope that someday people will say that they see many of her traits in my life. Sometimes it is almost painful to watch her struggle to get up from the sofa to go get a drink in the kitchen. Any of us would gladly do it for her, but that’s not her way. After seeing her strive to do so many things that most of us take for granted, I’ve resolved not to let anyone else do something that I can do myself. I’m certain that I will struggle with many challenges in life; we all do. And there are times that I will need help from others, just like Larami needed help taking care of her children for the initial weeks following her surgeries. But I take the daily challenges in stride and fight the temptation to sit back and watch others do what I could.

Larami has also taught me to appreciate what is really important in life: my trust in God and my loving family. While several of my friends complain about rules imposed on them or their lack of the latest hot item on their wish list, I think of how fortunate I am to have my good health and to have some amazing friends and family. 

Larami’s character was tested yet again when she was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer two years ago. Refusing to act as if she had once again been dealt an unfair blow, she instead reassured all of us that she would be okay. The chemotherapy took her long blonde hair but not her spirit. I took to heart her acceptance of her changed appearance. As a teenage girl, appearance could matter a lot to me. But her example has encouraged me to worry less about my looks and instead look to develop myself as a person.

Yes, Larami has had a significant influence on me. While I have not had to endure near the struggles that she has faced, her never-give-up attitude and ability to stay upbeat has taught me to appreciate what I have and to take on challenges with an eye to what I can learn from them. Larami didn’t sit out the dance: neither will I."

A&M entrance essay, written in 2011 – read at the funeral, part 1 of 2:

“Arthritis is something that old people get, right? The stiffness in getting out of bed in the morning, the swollen joints, the pain – all things typically associated with adults as they age. Sadly, for thousands of children those unpleasant experiences begin early in life. Such was the case for my cousin Larami. Larami was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis when she was just two years old, spending much of her young life in and out of hospitals and treatment centers. Yet for all that she’s been through, she is one of the strongest and most positive people I know.

I was the flower girl at Larami’s wedding when I was four years old. I didn’t know anything about arthritis at the time. All I knew was that, with her long blonde hair and dazzling white dress, Larami was the most beautiful bride I had ever seen. I look back now at the pictures of her twirling me around on the dance floor and think about how hard it must have been for her to have been on her feet for so many hours. She could have sat out much of the dancing: everyone would have understood. But Larami isn’t one to sit out a dance.

You see, Larami is the last person to complain about pain and the last person to expect others to treat her differently because of it. In the last six years, Larami has had both hips and both knees replaced. The doctors are talking now about replacing an elbow in the near future. Yet when you talk to her, the focus of her conversation is on how blessed she is to have her husband, children, and extended family in her life. She doesn’t dread the future or the next surgery: she just looks forward to getting past it so she can get back to her regular activities. She even insists on abstaining from using her handicapped parking privilege, preferring to save those spots for someone “who really needs it.”

Part 2 of 3:

I still have the spiral notebooks that we would exchange between classes for our super-secret way of writing each other about the boys, you know the boys that wouldn't give us the time of day. Haha, the joke was on them, we showed them by not marrying any of them! Anyway, Larami suffered secretly with multiple illnesses, we would go visit her doctor back then who was the late Dr. Battles right after school. We had a routine on those days that we didn't have a game of some sort, we would pull into the Sonic and order vanilla cokes and be on our way downtown to Dallas. She never shared with me how serious it really was until later, again she was fine. So I let the questions float away. We would spend hours at her house playing with Pearl, her Boston Terrier, she would be in her closet (remember I said she was weird) writing yet another English essay or help me edit mine, we would be in the kitchen snooping for whatever her mom created the night before. We spent days and nights watching her sister, Lindsay play ball like a master. I remember one weekend going to her grandparents' in Stephenville, to visit and we decided we were all gonna paint our toe nails. I would paint hers, she would paint mine and we would both paint CC's, her grandmother. But when it came time for me to do her nails I had to almost have a magnifying glass to see her pinky toe nails. They were almost nonexistent and I told her and she laughed so hard at me!! There are really so many stories of us, I would have to write a book. I loved her, I still do and always will. There were many years that we didn't call or write. Either she was out of state or I was out of state and busy, trying to catch up was essential to both of us. We made time for each other when we were close enough. We never lived in the same town again since we graduated high school. But we always knew where to find one another.


Part 3 of 3:

This last April, I spent 10 days with her while she was in the hospital yet again. Those days were for me more than her. Of course, I was there to help, but she helped me by letting me see all those questions that floated away get answered. I held her hands, rubbed her feet, put lotion over her arms and legs, and even attempted to brush her teeth once. I brushed her beautiful hair as much as I could without hurting her. I kept her up to date on her daughter, Kailey that was at home. I stayed at her house in Mont Belvieu so I could do whatever she needed. I fed the chickens, gathered eggs, let the dogs in and out, got Kailey to wherever she needed. I filled in my blanks by sitting with her at the hospital, she had her cooking shows on and we would just listen. Then she got released and went home. The next few days were hard because she had to have someone with her. And she didn't want anyone to be put out so to speak. I refused to go home. I stayed. I pulled her up out of bed and watched her wiggle to the bathroom. She told me stuff that I will never share and that was so heart wrenching I couldn't help but walk to a different room. Still our days were numbered. I had to get back to my stupid job and she needed to get stronger without me or anyone else. I cried as I always do when I leave because she did need me and I knew I had to let her be strong and do the work. 

The last few weeks have been crazy God sent and filled with miracles. She had so many great friends that helped her in some form or fashion. She had her mom the entire time. Her dad was perfectly placed in her life. Lindsay and Kyle never left her side. She spent last Tuesday texting so many, just normal talk. But it wasn't normal for any of us that had the pleasure. She got her call from Jesus, she had done her work and it was enough. And in my eyes Larami was that good and faithful servant that God calls us to be. She served us all. Until we meet again Larami, I know you're with me.


Part 1 of 3:

Larami was the epitome of selfless. Anytime I would call her and ask how she was "doing," she would always say "fine!" You see Larami never wanted attention. Well except when it came to Kyle, her husband of 22 years, then she wanted all of his attention and of course he gave it to her always. But she was just the kind of person to give and never take. She helped so many people in too many ways to count. She loved with no fear, no expectations. I was her best friend for 31 years. Don't get me wrong, she had many best friends. Everyone she knew could say the same thing. I know Kyle and Lindsay topped her cake though.

I remember the day we met, we were only 14 years old. The summer of 1988, not long after she moved from Colorado City, TX to my home town of Cedar Hill, TX. We were in the gym getting ready for volleyball season two a day training. She was our new athletic manager sitting in the bleachers with her frizzy blonde hair in a hot pink scrunchy and I noticed her hot pink socks that matched the rest of her outfit. I thought to myself, this girl is weird, she matches like Barbie and isn't afraid to show it. So being a girl at a new school myself, I thought ok I can either make a joke and laugh at her or make a fool of myself and make her laugh at me. Well she must have had the same thought. Because as I pulled myself up to her bench, she looked at me like I had a lot of nerve sitting next to her. But I introduced myself anyway and we exchanged pleasantries and spent the rest of our time listening to Coach tell us exactly how we were gonna die over the next two weeks before school even started. That was the beginning, the middle part was what really melted my heart with this woman. We spent so much time in high school together that we just automatically became best friends. 


Part 4 of 4:

To mom and dad-Thank you for giving me the greatest gift I could ever have in Larami as a big sister-I could not have hand picked a better version. The life, the memories, and the character that yall created and instilled in us have molded us into who we are today as sisters, moms, wives, friends, etc.

To Kyle-I don’t know that I will ever have adequate words of appreciation to say to you for loving Larami so big. When you vowed to love her through sickness and health, you meant it like no one else I have ever witnessed. You have knocked it completely out of the park and I will forever be indebted to you for that. Vacations, holidays, life in general. You have more than nailed it when it comes to providing and loving Larami, Kolton and Kailey and done so all while being a faithful servant to God. I could honestly write a book about you, but I’ll spare the audience. To everyone else that’s here today and even those who couldn’t be here but wanted to be, thank you for being part of our tribe, more importantly, thank you for loving our Larami.

How will we do holidays? Maybe we will lose a few pounds since you did all the cooking. Uncle Pat has already said that he isn’t eating anyone else’s appetizers and Aunt Karen won’t enjoy wine with anyone else at Thanksgiving.

I guess it’s time for me to wrap this up. Go live it up in that big log cabin that you always dreamed of. We can have virtual dates to watch the Price is Right every morning at 10:00. I’ll never say good bye, but I’ll see you later and you damn sure better have both of us a real stiff, tall, double crown and coke waiting when I get there.

In the words of your all-time favorite that you have traveled all over the country to see in concert (George Strait), when we get there, you’ll be there.

Always Your Biggest Fan-

Lou Lou


Part 3 of 4:

Irene-Wow. Where do I even start? You are our sister from another mister and will be until the end. There are many stories I could tell, but probably shouldn’t. So I’ll briefly mention the time you taught me how to drive a stick shift, only after you and Larami were taking me to a basketball game and got 2 speeding tickets on the way to Cleburne. After the 2nd one you pulled over and said if we’re going to get there, I was going to learn to drive a stick shift. Larami always loved to tell that story. Thank you for being you and such a faithful friend to my sister. She loved and adore you beyond measure.

To Kolton-I want you to know how proud your mom was of you and the path that you’re on in furthering your education. She loved that you’re an Aggie, a chicken lover, a dog fanatic, an eagle scout, a hunter, a loyal friend and the list goes on. I always admired you and your mom’s relationship and how open yall were with each other. The love there is so obvious. I know you will only continue to make her proud. She absolutely adored your group of bros that would come over and love on her on their way upstairs. She thought that was the neatest thing. And speaking of bros, Josh, she is beaming with pride knowing you flew in from Cali to be here-you have always secretly been one our favorite friends of Kolton’s-don’t tell the others!

To Kailey-Your mom has always been crazy about you. You might have been known to give us a run for our money, but that’s what we love about you! She loved all your random art projects/experiments that you would do around the house and would always send me pictures! She loved that you’re an animal lover, especially horses, that you love all things outdoors and shared her love of the beach. She also admired your friend group Team KEMAH, which she thought was the neatest thing. If we could hear her now, she would tell you to lean on them and let them love you through this tough time. She loved those girls as if they were her own.


Part 2 of 4:

You have always rolled with the punches and in the process remained the most selfless, non-judgmental and most loyal friend to not only me, but to anyone that came your way. You’ll be happy to know that I tweeted JJ Watt about you 2 nights ago, not expecting a reply. Well, to my surprise, he responded. He offered his deepest condolences and said it sounds like if there were more people in the world like you, this would be a much better place. I and thousands of others couldn’t have said it better. Our tribe has always been big, loyal, faithful and fun. I know you can see all of the people gathered here to celebrate your life and offer their love. It’s unreal, but it’s all you. I know you have probably rolled your eyes multiple times in the last couple of days (because I know you), and you never wanted to be in the spotlight or wanted any attention, but this outpouring is a direct effect of the impact you had on thousands of people’s lives.

Now on to some fun stuff!!! Knox got his watch off the charger yesterday morning before he left for school and called Kristen to let her know we were all coming to see you and he was so excited about coming to see Antler! Knox and Kohen were both just so crazy about you and Kristina and I vow to never let them let your memory fade. Their aunt rocked.

Many times last night the story was shared about how mom and Sonoia used to put me, you, Angie and Amber in the yellow station wagon with the woodgrain down the side and drag us to every antique mall within a 100 mile radius. They would leave us in the car while they shopped and we would duck down in the backseat and use your twirling baton to honk the horn at all the old people that would walk by and then we would duck and just roll in the floor laughing. And don’t worry, I added you and Angie’s Halloween costume pics to the slideshow where yall were dressed as hobos one year and candy canes the next-not sure how Amber and I dodged that one. Paybacks are hell!


Letter read at the funeral... part 1 of 4:

To my Ace, our Antler, our Larami and the best sister that I could have ever asked for-

Disclaimer: Since Mom and Dad and so many others are here, I promise I will keep this clean and won’t share all of our secrets, just a few.

I have prayed my entire life that you would be writing this for me at my going away party instead of me writing it to you. Larami, we are so empty and I am completely lost without you here. I have picked my phone up at least 700 times since Tuesday at 4:00 to text or call you to tell you the smallest thing that happened because, well, that’s what we did. For 41 years of my life, I have never not had you in it, not a single day, not a single minute. Unless you count the time when I buried you up to your neck in that dirt pile in front our house in Colorado City and you almost suffocated-sorry about that one. Things will never be the same here. They will never be normal like the last 41 years have been. God gave me you. I needed you way more than you needed me, even though, to many, it appeared the opposite. I have also prayed many, many times in my life that God would give me some, if not all, of your medical shenanigans. Now that you’re in Heaven I know you can do many things that you weren’t able to do while here and you are healed and pain free and for that I’m forever grateful, but I’m just so sad without you here and that will never go away. The stories and scars that consumed your body, told the most incredible journey of the strongest woman I have ever known. For all that you endured, there was never a single complaint. You taught, not only me, but so many others, what it is truly like to be a fighter, a survivor and how to show faith and perseverance though all things. Every diagnosis that reared its head, I always had no doubt you would conquer it. There were a few questionable times here recently and Kristina would always tell me, “have you met Larami? She’s got this” and you did.


I loved my mom and I never really said it much, but I did.  I'm always going to remember the great times we had together and all the funny things she did, like when she used to get mad at me for asking what's for dinner.  

The day she died it happened right before I got home from school and when I got home I thought she was at the store or something.  That day I was looking forward to telling her a lot of things.  After I got home from school, I went to my friends house and sent her a picture thinking she would get it and think it was funny.

I love you mom and will always miss you.  Also, I want you to know that I will carry on the tradition of watching all the Santa Claus movies over and over every Christmas.

She was sweet, funny, strong and loving.  She absolutely loved shows like Reba, Family Feud, Friends, Chopped, and The Pioneer Woman.  She also liked going to the beach and taking care of her chickens, plus the fan in our living room.  She laughed at us girls on the 4th of July when we tried to sleep in the pool (in blowup rafts) even though we never went to sleep.

Your mom was like a second mom to me and it'll never be the same without her.

Larami was one of the most amazing people I had come to know.  She was stronger than anyone I'd ever met and had such a kind soul.  She had been through more than I could have ever imagined and still had a positive personality that could light up the room and make everyone's day by just being herself.  And it's one of the reasons I adored her so much.  She was the kind of person you could go talk to about anything no matter what it was.  I never felt judged by her and she was always willing to give me advise when I needed guidance, even if I wasn't her own kid.  I never go tot tell her, but I loved her for that.  I was always happy to see her and give her a hug when I went over to the house and I'm going to miss that a lot.  I'm beyond grateful to have had her in my life and experienced what a wonderful person she truly was.

I write this with great sadness over the unimaginable loss of my close friend, Larami.

This beautiful woman, inside and out, was a wonderful friend to me, supporting me with her gentle and caring nature since the day we met in 2011 when we moved here from Florida. We spent the best of times volunteering at the school, laughing as she unselfishly gave her time and talents like she did everywhere. And she was my rock through the rough times. We spent many hours alone together doing simple things like watching cooking shows or making memories such as preparations for our daughters first Homecoming experience. I always admired how she never judged or forced her opinions on anyone, but offered valuable and truthful advice that I will surely miss.

My friend was loving and real. She was an exemplary wife and a wonderful mother to her two children and they laid a strong foundation for them. The many people who love her children will watch over them, as she is, and make sure that they have a great life, full of her values and wishes. 

Larami was a mother figure to my daughter as well and earned the utmost respect from her. She treated mine like her own and her beautiful spirit will live on knowing how much she loved her.  

It’s almost impossible to put into words the importance of our friendship and how much Larami meant to me. She positively influenced my life in so many ways and I will miss her with all of my heart. Larami, thank you for your friendship, I will never forget all of the time we spent together.

Eileen Porter

Thank you for sharing a part of your life and journey with us. 

Friends as long as I can remember, not one childhood memory of Colorado City that didn't have you in it. You were my buddy, my best friend, and the one I told all my secrets to. I miss you already I’m sorry I wasn’t a better friend. This is not goodbye, it’s see ya later.

Now a little backstory... I had friends and then I had FRIENDS growing up.  We all went to school together forever and one of my earliest memories was in kindergarten when my best friend and I was running down the hallway at Kelly Elementary from the cafeteria to the classroom holding hands because she needed to take her arthritis medicine and accidentally left it in classroom. As long as I can remember, she was always fighting one thing or another. Your memory will always hold a place in my heart, I love you girl.





Larami leaves behind a beautiful family. Please pray for them.  As she struggled with her health, we all looked forward to better days. I had a mental list of things we could do.
 Such a sweet caring person. I will never forget that when she found out I had wet carpet and a sick husband following Harvey, she had Kyle and a friend right over to take up the carpet. Precious family. 
Love and prayers

Kyle, I was so saddened when I saw this on FB this morning.  I don't know that I ever met Larami, but I know you and your family and I am hurting for you and them.  As you know Rhonda has suffered for years with many diseases.  God has seen fit to leave her here for now and I am very grateful.  I cannot imagine life without her.  But God is always right in what He does.  I am praying for His comfort in ways we cannot even fathom.  Just know that we are praying for yo and the girls.  
Your friend
Mike and Rhonda Thomas

I met Larami in the summer of 1977. 
Larami being the same age as my daughter Angie they quickly became friends. I loved Larami as if she was my child. I am so devastated by her death but, I know she is pain free & was met at the gates of heaven by Jesus, CC & Wendall her beloved grandparents. 
2 Corinthians 5:8
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”
Larami, we love you & will forever miss you. Until we meet again big girl. ♥️
Tony & Sonoia 


OBITUARY

Larami Lin Wingate

29 October, 1973 – 3 September, 2019

Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services

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