It is the 6 TH of July, 2021 & I feel just awful.  Tomorrow marks the 1 year anniversary of having to put Millie Jo down after 5 years together. I miss her terribly, but I miss you even more. I STILL cannot believe you are gone Jo.  So much has happened during the course of the past year +. The world literally shut down back in March of 2020 due to COVID-19.  HUMBLE ISD had Spring Break & then we NEVER returned. 20-21 marked a year of hand-washing & mask-wearing while @ KMS.  It was an odd feeling. There were no planes flying over the house & it was just too quiet. People around the world were very ill & dying......ALONE. Yes, that's what I said........ALONE. NO ONE could be with their loved ones.  It was heart-wrenching to hear ALL of the stories. People lost their jobs & had no way to support their families. Hand sanitizer, Lysol & toilet paper flew off shelves at the grocery store & everyone seemed to be in a state of sheer panic. It was hard to watch & live through, especially without you & Millie Jo. A vaccine was developed & distributed world-wide to hopefully give us a sense of peace & safety to return to some normalcy. Covid-19 is NOT gone & it is something that we will have to live with going forward. I wanted to share with you that Landon was baptized at Holy Rosary Catholic Church.  He went to Chris & Lisa to express his desire to do so. Also, Landon was  adopted by Chris & Lisa which is just AWESOME. I am so proud of Landon as he continues to grow up into the young man he is becoming. He will enter the 8 TH grade in the fall & will start exploring which high school to attend & courses that will be available to him. I know you are as proud of Landon as I am. Chris & Lisa are doing a tremendous job of raising him & I know God has great things in store for his life moving forward.  Seems as though me spending time with you on paper has made me feel some better & more centered.  Thanks for being there. I am FOREVER GRATEFUL.  
love, Rebecca

I heard your voice in the wind today
& I turned to see your face;
The warmth of the wind touched me as I stood silently in place.

I felt your touch in the sun today
as its warmth filled the sky;
I closed my eyes for your embrace
& my spirit soared high.

I saw your eyes in the window pane
as I watched the falling rain;
It seemed as each raindrop fell
it quietly said your name.

I held you close to my heart today
it made me feel complete;
You may have died..…..but you are NOT gone
you will ALWAYS be a part of me.

As long as the sun shines.....
the wind blows.....
the rain falls...…
You will live on inside of me forever
for that is ALL my heart knows.

I miss you Jo Ellen Maxfield.  I haven't journaled on this page in some time, yet I have spoken to you daily for the last 5 + years you have been gone. I keep your birds & squirrels fed throughout ALL the seasons of life.  I look up often & see a plane that has departed for a destination or is coming into IAH for a landing & think of you. I speak with Lisa often & just celebrated Landon's 13 TH birthday. He is in the 7 TH grade, plays soccer & continues to make outstanding grades in school. You would be so proud of your great-grandson:)  I always tell Landon I love him x 2, because the love you had for him lives inside of me. I am beyond GRATEFUL for the 12 years of friendship we shared. God brought us together against ALL odds.  We were the best of friends & I will NEVER forget you. 





Today is 01/05/2019, and no ordinary day because it is your birthday. You would have been 80 today, so to honor you, your life and the 12 years of an incredible friendship, I asked Alexa to play songs by Celine Dion.   The first song "Because You Loved Me" was one of many favorites. 
You were my STRENGTH when I was weak
You were my VOICE when I couldn't speak
You were my EYES when I couldn't see
You ALWAYS saw the best in me
I am EVERYTHING I am BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME.

I am FOREVER GRATEFUL for each day you were on this earth and I will cherish every moment I had with you.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JO ELLEN. 
MISSING YOU and LOVING YOU  TODAY and ALWAYS!

PS  I also celebrate your daughter Lisa whose birthday is also today.  You would be so proud of her and Chris and the outstanding way they are  raising Landon Michael Heathcoat, your great-grandson. 

It is January 2, 2019 and soon-to-be your birthday as well as your daughter, Lisa.  You have been gone for 3 1/2 years but NOT from my heart, only from this earth.  You are my sweet angel in Heaven, and I talk to you every day doing my best to honor your life, memory and legacy.  I miss you and have a constant ache in my heart and a longing that will NEVER go away.
I see you in EVERY LITTLE THING ALL DAY. 
Every beat of my heart reminds me of the love and devotion we had for one another.   You had a way of RAISING ME UP to more than I could be. The best place in the house is the side board where your life is honored.  It represents your heart of gold, the sunshine you brought into my life, your love for the birds and squirrels, coffee,  the Tazmanian Devil, wrapped soaps. Coca Cola, the God that brought us together and the Best Wishes shop which is no longer in KW.  I used to frequent the shop because it gave me a sense of comfort and somehow helped me as I mourned my deepest cry.   Before Dana closed her store she gave me a little Christmas Tree with bits of snow.  It is beautiful just like you.  I keep it up ALL year along with the little tree Lisa, Chris and Landon gave me the first Christmas I spent without you.  This Christmas did NOT feel any different than the one 3 years ago.  Against ALL odds, we formed a friendship that would stand the test of time, distance and the storms that life dealt us both. We weathered EVERYTHING we faced TOGETHER.
KINDRED SPIRITS, KINDRED SOULS, THE BLESSING OF A LIFETIME and MY BEST FRIEND FOREVER.  
You were and will ALWAYS be the PERFECT GIFT from above that GRACED my life with your Laughter, Wisdom, Kindness, Love, Devotion, Courage, Pain, Light and STRENGTH to rise above ALL you endured.
I am FOREVER GRATEFUL for the 12 years HE gave us both. You are and will ALWAYS be the BIGGEST and BEST part of me Jo.     

It has been two years since I laid you to rest, but it STILL feels like yesterday.  I just watched the video tribute that was made for your sweet service on 5/30/15. I have NOT posted an entry on this page in months, but I journal every day. I talk to you and see you in everything I do, everywhere I go and in every song I hear. You brought a light so great to the world that even now, that beautiful light STILL shines.  I went Tuesday and laid flowers out for your parents, Gary, Johnny and you. My journey to your final resting place will NEVER be easy. I played the three songs Lisa and I chose for your service and added Forever Grateful by Sandi Patty. There were no planes that soared above the sky that warm afternoon. It was just you and me....... and I miss you with every step and breath I take.
You left your BLUEPRINT in my mind 
your HANDPRINT on my heart
and your IMPRINT on my soul. 
Wherever I am, THERE YOU'LL BE.

Good Morning my friend! As I sit here in the house, I am reminded daily of the difference you made in my life for 12 years. I just viewed the photo gallery set to music that was displayed at your funeral service. The pictures of you, your family and of us brought you to life. I cried an ocean of tears. You live inside of me Jo, with every step and breath I take. When I am at home everything I see reminds me of you. When I go out, everything I see reminds me of you. When I listen to KSBJ, or the songs I have on my phone, everything I hear reminds me of you. You were the biggest and best part of me. I have spent the last year grieving so deeply and I never could find anyone that wanted to listen, to be here or help me through,  so I had to find ways of helping myself and surrounding my broken heart with anything I could find. Pictures, words to songs, the birds in the back yard, sending love packages to Landon, keeping up with everyone's birthday, seeing planes come and go from IAH, talking with family in Tennessee, going to the cemetery to lay flowers and spend time with you, opening the guest book and writing a post, finding comfort in the sayings on Pinterest, and just talking with you. The moments we shared are precious and priceless. I miss you every second, of every minute, of every hour,of every day and my heart has felt it ALL during the last 365 days +. I will keep missing you for the rest of my days on this earth. I truly believe you are the ONLY who knows where I am at, the emptiness I feel and my deepest cry. You graced my life for many years and for that I am GRATEFUL. We enjoyed each other's company, we traveled well together, we loved doing the simple things in life like watching TV, driving across the Lake Houston Bridge, going out to eat at Tia Maria's, Red Lobster, Vernon's Catfish Kitchen, Pappassitos, making a trip to Walmart or Walgreens, drinking coffee, reading the paper, working the crossword puzzle/jumble etc. TIME was very important to us both, and there just NEVER seemed to be enough. To continue your legacy is an honor and privilege. Your heart for those with NO VOICE was huge Jo. Most importantly, you raised us ALL up to be more than we could be. Your LOVE, your LIGHT, your COMPASSION, your HEART OF GOLD and your PERSEVERANCE to STAND BACK UP when faced with adversity will ALWAYS SHINE in me, Lisa, Chris, Amber, Chad, Carolyn, Barbara Dee and Landon Michael Heathcoat.
IN MEMORY and IN CELEBRATION OF SOMEONE WHO MADE THE WORLD A BRIGHTER AND BETTER PLACE.
Jo, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY HEART'S SAFE PLACE. I love you, Rebecca

Good Morning Jo! HE IS RISEN! It is Easter Sunday and 10 months to the day you left for Heaven. I have NOT come to this page since the end of January, but I journal ALL the time in my heart. Seems as if life is moving in slow motion for me. I recently discovered a website entitled PINTEREST. It is a collage of thoughts and feelings about any topic, so I decided to create a board and title it MISSING MY FRIEND! It is as though everything I read speaks right to me about you, my deepest cry, and that I am understood. Example: "to the world I am fine. When I am alone I am the REAL me. I'm heartbroken and I miss you. You were a part of my life......my very being and you will ALWAYS be in my heart" It is so quiet today. I don't think your birds are awake yet. I fed them yesterday, gave them fresh water and fed the squirrels that STILL think it is okay to raid the bird feeders. The signal lights are working at Hidden Pines and Northpark, the Costco finally opened, Spring Break has come and gone and MARCH MADNESS is in full swing. There hasn't been anything on except for basketball. Spring Break was very lonely without you. I did NOT feel very good at all so I just stayed home with Millie Jo. "They say that time is a healer, but as time goes on I seem to find it just as hard to face the fact that you're gone. You'll NEVER be forgotten and everyday I shed a tear, but it is only because I love you and wish you were still here". To keep on going since you've been gone is the HARDEST thing I have ever done. I am trying to cope in my own way, and long for you each day. My heart aches and my soul mourns. Sometimes it's better to keep silent than to tell others what you feel, because it hurts badly when you come to know that they hear you but CANNOT understand. You WERE loved, you ARE loved and will ALWAYS be loved. I just hope you can feel my love in Heaven. It is sad how you were such a big part of my life and now you're just gone. I miss you each and everyday with every step and every breath. YOU WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MANY TEARS HAVE FALLEN.... I carry you with me, safely tucked within my heart. YOUR BEAUTIFUL LIGHT STILL SHINES AND ALWAYS WILL. HAPPY EASTER MY FRIEND.

WITH EVERY STEP AND EVERY BREATH LISA, CHRIS, AMBER,CHAD, LANDON, AND I MISS YOU!

WE LOVE OUR JO!

Good Morning Jo! Exactly 8 months ago today you were laid to rest. Tears are  falling like rain as I recall the limo in the driveway, your sweet family from Tennessee at the house, the way your sweet service unfolded, the song selections that Lisa and I chose, your beautiful blue pajamas that you requested to be buried in, the sprays from your family and I, the funny stories that were told, the pictures that were chosen...I remember everything so clearly. Everything here doesn't feel right. You are gone, Buttons is gone and I am trying desperately to carry on, but it has been by far the hardest 8 months of my life. It is so hard to put in to words how I feel. It is an emptiness I have never experienced before and a  loneliness that far outweighs its definition. The latest news is as follows:
Celine Dion lost her husband, the Cleveland Browns got rid of Johnny Football, SUPER BOWL 50 is next weekend and it is time to do my taxes. It won't be the same without doing yours as well. You would get so frustrated with ALL the questions Turbo Tax would ask. It was ALWAYS an honor to help you in ANY and EVERY way. I am lost without you my friend. We loved doing things together, most of which would have been insignificant to most people, but NOT to us. I adopted a dog back in December. Her name is Millie and I added Jo, so it is now Millie Jo. I have not said much about her because I have felt guilty. She is everything Buttons wasn't. Millie is definitely a lap dog and you would have loved her so much. The loneliness you felt everyday would have been healed. I often wonder if you sent her to me to help me with my grief. I need to feed your birds and squirrels today. It is the weekend but I do NOT enjoy them anymore since you left for Heaven. I spoke with Lisa last week and everyone in Tennessee is doing well. Amber and Chad are both in school, and Landon is continuing with his Quest class which challenges him with harder work. I know you are beaming with pride to know that. You were Grandma, Grams and Granny Jo. You were a mom, a cousin, a friend and my world, heart and soul. When I see a plane I say "that's for you Jo" I would give anything to have ONE MORE DAY with you. I would give anything to hear your voice, see your face and just spend TIME with you. TIME....we never had enough, but we made the most of the time we had, you and I, side by side. There are many miles between us, but you are NEVER more than a heartbeat away. God brought you into my life to gently remind me what is good, loyal and true. Finding you, knowing you and loving you was a journey like no other. You will ALWAYS be by my side, on my mind and in my heart. I will ALWAYS long for you and ALL that you brought to my life. I wouldn't change a second, a minute, a moment, an hour or a day. Our time together was special because we gave each other our best, 24/7, no matter what, when or where. I will honor your life for the rest of my days on this earth and remember your resilience, your strength, and the perseverance you endured to overcome overwhelming obstacles in your life. I miss you and ALWAYS find you in my day.......in a bird, a plane, a song, the wind, the rain, the sunshine, the moonlight, the shadow on the ground, the TV shows I watch. A baby Clydesdale was born recently and I instantly thought of you and your love of horses. The baby's name is Mac. Hopefully I haven't left anything out that is noteworthy. I love you Jo Ellen Maxfield, my deepest joy and my deepest cry. My plan is to visit with you at the cemetery later today. That will ALWAYS be a hard place to go, and why? It is a REALITY I must face. Thank you for making a difference in my life, my heart and raising me up to more than I could be. That my friend will be your legacy to ALL who were blessed to know you. Your beautiful light STILL shines.......and ALWAYS will.

Good Morning my friend! I hope Heaven is treating you well. One of the many joys I had when you were here was to go get you breakfast @ McDonalds.  You loved their pancakes and sausage so that is what I got. One day I went and they had already stopped serving breakfast. I was heartbroken. Now, get this: McDonalds sells breakfast ALL DAY!  Can you even believe it? Just so you know, the Texans and Kansas City Chiefs played last Saturday and we lost miserably, 30-0. Alabama won the National Championship game against Clemson 45-40 and NOTHING feels right in the world because you are gone Jo. I miss you with every step and every breath and long for your company every day. Do I believe in loneliness? I do now, and it gives me a glimpse of what you felt everyday. I struggle to move forward my friend. I miss you and ALL that we did together. What was music to my ears? US! We are apart but you are very much in my heart, and I carry you with me everywhere I go.  I see you in every bird and plane. I watch our stand-by movies and sitcoms, all the while thinking of the beautiful life that was lost and gone too soon. Lauren has been very ill and in the hospital, but is home now. I miss everything about you and wish you were here. Wherever you are is where my heart will ALWAYS be. Over and out.

Good Morning Jo. I am at work but must write this post before I start my CRAZY DAY.....when I journal on this page it is an attempt to log ALL that has occurred since losing you. I don't necessarily post an entry because I think anyone else will read it, but it is more of a way for me to cope after such tremendous loss. Before I submit, I ALWAYS go back and proof what I have written, but as you can see from several earlier entries I STILL end up with mistakes. I am careful about grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. but somehow end up having to go back and correct my errors. Just wanted you to know that I tried with ALL my heart to celebrate your 77 TH birthday by watching two episodes of Big Bang Theory and the season premiere of Dance Moms, but not having you there was too much for my broken heart. I did forget to tell you that the Humble/Kingwood area is getting a Costco..........once again, after you left for Heaven!  Bless your sweet heart........I need to feed your birds Jo because a squirrel ate ALL the food while upside down! 
Friends are like stars.....you don't always see them but you know they are ALWAYS THERE!

OK...spelling error! The Texans are the AFC South Champions and THEIR record (NOT THERE) was 9-7 this year.  Sorry Jo!

All of us are wishing YOU a HAPPY BIRTHDAY.......CD, BD, LISA, AMBER, CHAD, CHUCK, CECILE, CHRIS, LANDON AND I. We love you and miss you with every step and every breath.

So I do NOT forget:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

THE TEXANS are the AFC South Champions!. There record was 9-7 this year and will play the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend at home!
Foster and Clowney are both injured, so what is new!
Seems like since you have been gone things that needed to be changed when you were HERE did NOT happen, so.......
A signal light will be put in at Hidden Pines and Northpark Drive!
Tabs are now on the mighty Zip Loc Bags!
________________________________
FYI: Wanted you to know that Landon was selected to be in a special program called Quest at his school if I'm not mistaken to do more challenging work! He is SO SMART GRANNY JO! 
YAY LANDON!!!!!!!

With every step and every breath you are deeply missed and will ALWAYS be!

It is January 5 TH, 2016 and it is your daughter's 53 RD birthday. Today, I celebrate the life of Lisa R. Moffat and everything she was to you and is to me. I sent Lisa several reminders of your 76 + years of life to keep in Tennessee. Lisa is so very special to me and we will forever be connected because you graced me with your life for 12 years. Happy 53 RD birthday Lisa. I honor and celebrate your life today as well as your mom's life since you were both born on the same day. The best way to honor you both is to place a picture of the both of you in New York at the Empire State Building! You both had so much fun, made memories to last a lifetime and were so happy.
Here's to you, Lisa Renee Moffat!
Here's to you, Jo Ellen Maxfield!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Good Morning and Happy Birthday! Today would have been your 77 TH birthday Jo! The only problem with that is you are NOT here to celebrate. If I had a chance to give you a card on this 5 TH day of January it would go something like this: 
It's your birthday, but honestly there are NOT enough days in the year to celebrate ALL the wonderful things you were to me........YOU were someone I looked to who was ALWAYS there to hear me out, YOU forgave my faults, and could ALWAYS say just the thing to make me laugh. YOU were my CONSTANT in a world of change----I turned to YOU often for your sound judgement and heart of gold. YOU stayed as true as the day I met you. YOU are the person I most admired, loved and had respect for, because I thought the world of YOU. In spite of distances that separated us and demands of everyday living that at times kept us apart our friendship NEVER changed except to grow stronger. Even now, from Texas to Heaven I feel YOU with me 24/7. It would take more than a day to celebrate YOU, for everything YOU were to my life. I am forever GRATEFUL to have known YOU and have had YOU in my life for 12 years. Through ALL the seasons we remained the best of friends and stood the test of TIME, so today I celebrate YOU, Jo Ellen Maxfield. Happy Birthday! I miss YOU with ALL my heart and soul!

Good Morning Jo! Today is Chad's first birthday without his Grams. That word TIME......there never seems to be enough, yet that is what I wish...to have TIME with you. Today is also the day you were laid to rest 7 months ago. Birthdays have come and gone, Thanksgiving and Christmas have come and gone, ALL of which have been without you! I wish you were here Jo, every second of every minute of every hour of every day. By the way, the Texans have clinched a playoff berth, which doesn't mean a whole lot because we won't get very far anyway. Your birds are enjoying the cool weather and the bird feeders, including the tower feeder which for some reason was NEVER used. I see you in everything I do and in everywhere I go. 4/19,5/27 and 5/30 and ALL the days in-between  will NEVER be the same. My thoughts and heart will always drift back to those days and the tears will come. When Amber's birthday came back in November my journal entry stated that I lit a candle , but for whatever the reason, there was NOT........so, I will light a candle today for Chad and for Amber, both of whom are your grandchildren.  They miss you Jo......we ALL do. The new year is quickly approaching but there is little to celebrate, at least for me. I lost the biggest and best part of my heart when you left for Heaven, and I will NEVER be the same. Keep smiling and shining that beautiful light of yours......you will ALWAYS be my sunshine.  Happy 32 ND Birthday Chad Dumas!

It is the 27 TH of December, 7 months to the day that God called you home. It is STILL very surreal to me that you are gone. I look for you in every part of my day, I see you in every part of my day and I feel your presence in every part of my day.  With the sound of every step and every breath my heart  longs for you.  We had a connection heart-to-heart and soul-to soul that defied time, distance, and changes in our lives and in ourselves. It has been said that a soul mate is NOT the person most like us in all the world, but the person whose light we shine the brightest.  Our friendship steadied us and gave us the assurance that we would ALWAYS be there for each other.  I can feel you with me, I can hear your words of advice and support on bad days, I see things you would find funny and hear you laugh. We shared a  closeness in ALL the ways that count-in spirit, in understanding and in heart, so no matter where you are in the world, you are in my life for keeps. You made my world a better place by reaching out, leaning in and being who you are.  You, Jo Ellen Maxfield, were unique, one of a kind and a true original.  I wouldn't change a day, an hour or any moment of my life for 12 years.  I don't know how many miles there are from Texas to Heaven, but it is too many. Life without you took away my sense of belonging and a shelter from the world.  You kept me grounded, ALWAYS stood beside me, ALWAYS listened, ALWAYS had my back,  ALWAYS went the extra mile, hung in there with me when things came up that took time away from our friendship, and NEVER judged me when I got slightly off course.  Our friendship was priceless.............and so very precious to me.  I miss "us"......FRIENDS FOR ALL TIME.  Thanks for staying with me through the HARD, the HAPPY and ALL the in-between. Your beautiful life will be celebrated and honored for the rest of my days on this earth.  It did NOT feel like Christmas without you................and it was felt in Texas and Tennessee. You are missed and loved with every step and every breath.  Goodnight.

Good Morning Jo!  Six months ago today we laid you to rest.  That will ALWAYS be hard to type. You clearly left us with so much...joy, faith, humor, inspiration, courage, compassion, kindness and love.  You left us with these so that we can carry on your legacy.  There is so much of you in ALL of us because you touched our hearts deeply with your words and actions.  I went out to the cemetery yesterday and it is so hard for me. I took a towel, my phone and sat with you for a while. I could hear the planes but due to cloud cover could NOT see a one.  I talked with you, I wept and then played two songs.  There is something about Josh Groban's music that hits me hard and reminds me of the time we had together...from 06/18/03 - 05/27/15. It was quite a journey for both of us and one I will NEVER forget.  You were the best part of those 12 years and the biggest part of my world, my heart and my soul.  I keep your birds and squirrels fed and watered.  I keep in touch with family in TN, SC and here in Houston.  You helped mold and shape our lives so that we could continue down the trail you left behind...one bright with HOPE for us ALL to follow.  You are missed, loved and longed for every second, of every minute, of every hour, of everyday.  Losing you......... deep, personal and felt with every step and every breath sweet Jo!

Helen Keller once said:

" What we have once enjoyed, we can NEVER lose.  ALL that we loved deeply becomes a part of us"

It has been six months since you left for Heaven. Thanksgiving was celebrated across the miles from Memphis to Houston yesterday, but it just wasn't the same without you. You raised us ALL up to stand on mountains, and calm the stormy seas. We were strong on your shoulders and you raised us up to more than we could be....that is your LEGACY my friend.   We ALL leaned on you for your strength and wisdom and for that we are forever GRATEFUL!  You loved us, you were there and you cared 24/7. MISSING YOU with every step and with every breath.

Happy Birthday Amber Kay Dumas!

Your granddaughter's first birthday without her Grandma:(

I light a candle today to celebrate her 29 TH birthday. She misses you Jo!

You would be so proud. She is in school, has a job and is taking very good care of the toodler!

Happy 29 TH Birthday Amber!

Her beautiful light STILL shines........

and ALWAYS WILL.

Six months ago today was a defining moment as you fought to get well. Lisa and I were at the house getting ready to come to the hospital and you were at Nexus on dialysis,when all of a sudden you decided to stop everything. You were in respiratory distress. I saw on many days what dialysis did  and it literally sucked the life out of you. The procedure was long and it seemed like forever before it ended each time. You would ask me how much longer? and I would tell you the time remaining on the dialysis machine, but little did I know that it NEVER coincided with the clock on the wall. There were so many variables when trying to extract fluid due to your BP and heart rate. It was a defining moment for us all because it was then that we realized that ALL treatment would end and Hospice would begin:( I am on my Thanksgiving break, but it just does NOT feel right because my world as I knew it is gone. I loved you, me and the B....otherwise known as us! We lived for this week just so we could have some time together. My heart aches and longs to have both of you back at home. I am LOST and LONELY but very THANKFUL that you graced my life for 12 years. You were the most devoted person I have ever met and that devotion ran deep. I carry you with me wherever I go. I see you everywhere I look and I feel you with every breath I take because I celebrate every moment I had with you. My heart is in a thousand pieces as I continue to struggle with your loss, and the loss of Little Bit (Buttons) My life, my heart and my world will NEVER be the same after losing you, Jo Ellen Maxfield and Buttons.

Good Morning Jo! September 12, 2012 is a day that will never be forgotten, because that is the day Buttons came in to our lives. She was by far the most unusual dog either of us had ever had, but we gave her a home and learned to love little Ms. Buttons. You wanted a lap dog to ease your loneliness since I was gone so much but that was NEVER to be. It is with a heavy heart that I tell you Buttons went over the RAINBOW BRIDGE on November 16 TH, 2015 @ 4:00 AM. After you entered the hospital on 4/19/15 Buttons was left more than ever. Her little personality started changing week by week as we waited for you to get well and come home, but that was NEVER to be. I really had to baby her in the weeks that followed. Buttons missed you 24/7 and I would pick her up often, sit in your chair and weep. I prayed fervently for you to heal for 39 days, but it was NEVER to be. Your 76 year old body betrayed you at every turn as did little Ms. Button's body. Her front legs wanted to move, but her hind legs wanted to go elsewhere. She would just circle and then fall and cry not understanding why this was happening. I felt helpless. She and I traveled to an emergency vet clinic in Humble. Buttons had spells like the one I described above over the summer but somehow she would work through it and it was temporary. She was desperately crying for help, a cry I had NEVER heard before and it just broke me. I knew it was time to let her go, 6 months after losing you. Buttons was an extension of you Jo and I poured ALL of my broken heart and soul into her little life after you left for heaven. As my tears fall I am reminded of how cute the two of you were together in the toodler. You were both my greatest joys and are now my deepest cries. In her own unique way she loved you, mourned your loss and wished you had come home. I did NOT take her to the groomer anymore because it proved to be just too traumatic. I bathed and cut her myself, neither of which she was thrilled about. She started eating Sweet Sue canned chicken,, 98% fat free along with her hard food. That seemed to work well on her sensitive stomach and as you know she LOVED chicken. I also found her some freeze-dried chicken treats which I would crumble on her food. She was good girl and tried so very hard in the days that followed after losing you. I have requested cremation of Buttons so her ashes can be brought home.  BUTTONS..... FAITHFUL FRIEND that brought us both HAPPINESS, COMPANIONSHIP and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!

UPDATE:  I made a mistake in my post this morning......The KANSAS CITY ROYALS BEAT THE NEW YORK METS in GAME 5 of the WORLD SERIES on Sunday, November, 1 ST, 2015. The score was 7-2. It was their first championship in 30 years!

Good Morning Jo....it is Monday and I am feeling your loss more than ever. I wanted to let you know that we got a lot of rain last weekend due to moisture from the gulf compliments of Hurricane Patricia. We were inundated with rain once again this weekend. I had to work ALL day Saturday so I missed most of it. It was a dreary and rainy weekend outside and inside my heart, The World Series is going on right now. The Kansas City Royals who beat the Astros in a 5 game series are now facing the New York Mets. Mets are down 3 games to two and the series heads back to Kansas City for Game 6. The Texans who LOST miserably to the Miami Dolphins last week won yesterday, but it was a boring game. We played the Tennessee Titans. I spoke with Landon last night....I sent him two action figures for Halloween. He received ALL A's on his report card and is being challenged by the books I sent him for his birthday. You would be so proud. Spoke with Amber and Lisa as well. Lisa was making taco soup. She misses you Jo.....we ALL MISS YOU. 
WE ARE LOST...when we can't SEE you, TALK with you, SMILE at you, WALK with you, LAUGH with you and SHARE with you. You are STILL with us....and we share TIME with one another in a place where TIME stands still. We feel sheltered in your love. Beyond our sight and touch we are STILL TOGETHER. You were loved so deeply that it became a part of us. It has been said that GRIEF is a journey from face-to-face to heart-to-heart. Your presence is felt inside our hearts and resting on our shoulders. Memories of you are everywhere. The tears at times flood my very existence. Your life was celebrated 5 months ago.....and then you were buried between your parents and brother, across from your son Gary. There is a deep sense of loneliness that follows me everywhere. The biggest and best part of me left when you were called home. Trying to grasp the reality that you are gone has been deeply painful for Ms. Buttons and I. You were our world, heart and soul. We miss everything about you, yesterday, today and ALWAYS. Thoughts of you will be forever in the heart of my heart. The time change occurred this weekend and we fell back an hour. The days will be longer still as I continue to grieve your loss. Every moment EVER spent with you is cherished and I AM GRATEFUL. YOU were so precious to me inside and out. I will NEVER forget you Jo Ellen Maxfield!  We stood by one another on the mean winter days and shouted together under the rays of the summer sun.  Thank you!

All is quiet at home this morning, but the silence is once again deafening. You would NOT have been up at this time, but you were here, and that was ALWAYS a great comfort to me. I felt safe....Safe in His Love that kept our hearts strong and our deep devotion one to the other even stronger. Buttons and I miss you every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day. I will try to catch you up on what has been happening. The Astros were in the playoffs but lost in Game 5 to the Kansas City Royals, and I believe the Texans FINALLY won a game. I don't watch TV much because it just makes me miss you more. Since I have NO QUIET in my day, I come home. take care of Ms. Buttons and then go to bed. I am so weary inside and out. My tears fall like rain at the drop of a hat, and as of late they have been many. I usually feel your loss around the 23 RD of each month ALL the way up until the month is over. That time to me stands still as does my broken heart. I am collecting supplies for the 3 RD annual food drive for Melrose Park Neglected Dogs. I remember so vividly how proud you were of me as I took on this endeavor. The Sampson Project was a huge success and I had your support from start to finish. I wish you were here Jo. Life will NEVER be the same. I have suffered tremendous loss and I feel it with every song I hear, with every journey I make and with ALL that my eyes see. Landon turned 8 last Friday and it was his first birthday without his Granny Jo:( I sent him $8, some books and a Minecraft Lego set. Lisa says he loves it:) When I wash, go to the store I am reminded of the efforts you made to do both. You fought through your physical limitations and pressed on. Everything you did you did out of love for me, Buttons and us. I AM GRATEFUL, Buttons is GRATEFUL and WE are GRATEFUL and feel so blessed beyond measure for ALL you did 24/7. Prior to 4/19/15 you were an independent woman who drove, ran errands, could breathe w/o oxygen and did NOT ever use a walker. The medical personnel who treated you were in disbelief. You were strong Jo Ellen Maxfield. You taught me a lot about life, living and survival. You stayed with me through the calm. the storm, the dark, the dawn, my greatest joy and my deepest cry. You helped me keep things in perspective and ALWAYS let me know everything would be ok. The thing is, NOTHING feels ok now. I carry a quote with me that says until you are broken, you don't know what you are made of. It gives you the ability to build yourself ALL over again, but STRONGER THAN EVER. I know I am loved no matter what I'm struggling with today. God loves me anyway. That is the kind of love you had for me Jo. No matter what, you loved me anyway....unconditionally. How blessed was my heart and soul.

Four months ago yesterday you were laid to rest. That is a hard sentence to even type. It has been said "TO KNOW ANOTHER, AND TO BE KNOWN BY ANOTHER---THAT IS EVERYTHING"---Florida Scott Maxwell The silence here at home is STILL deafening as I continue to mourn your loss. The pain is deep,wide and I feel your absence at every turn no matter where I am or who I am with. I find it hard to do anything or go anywhere because my heart is so heavy. Losing you has been the hardest part of my life. The days are long and hard to get through. The brokenness I feel has been exhausting. I try to move but I'm frozen in time. Everything I do takes so much effort. I have to force myself to get up, get dressed and report to KMS. My heart is in Heaven with you because you were the biggest and best part of me. I am LOST without you Jo Ellen. Time stands still once again. Amazing Grace came on the radio yesterday @ 3:31 PM. I had gone home to check on Ms. Buttons...that song ALWAYS hits me hard to the very core of my being.   Your friendship graced my life with warmth, joy, gentleness, strength, comfort and companionship. I have NOT succeeded at every effort I have made, but I AM A WINNER..........I HAD YOU FOR A FRIEND!

At 1205 AM four months today I lost you and the biggest part of me. Since you have been gone, my life has NOT meant much. I have to learn to live my life without you in it and that has been incredibly painful. Your sweet daughter left me  a message several days ago stating that your marker was in and had been placed in the ground.  I burst into tears because we have both been waiting for that day to come so that your final resting place could be complete. You have been honored with HIS AMAZING GRACE. Lisa and I took a lot of time and care to make sure your marker was as you requested and it is perfect. Going to the cemetery will be hard today, but I want to take new flowers out to you, your family and just sit with you for  a little while. Buttons and I, as well as your birds miss you like crazy. I will ALWAYS be GRATEFUL that there was YOU, that after ALL you had been through in your life there was STILL YOU........one of a kind. The WARM smile in the midst of an ordinary day, the CARING word, the KIND heart......the one I counted on for quiet and steady support. You knew how to give the simple things that ALWAYS mattered the most. Our TIME TOGETHER was invaluable.....and just in case you do not know what you meant to me....THE WORLD! You were a strong, beautiful, determined, resilient and selfless woman. You met life with open arms and faced each day with wit and wisdom to carry you through. You were the sunbeam that ALWAYS managed to breakthrough on my rainy days. Your friendship brightened my life 24/7 Jo, and I will NEVER forget you and ALL the ways you celebrated my victories, cried over my disappointments and had my back during challenges. You were just the friend I needed....ALL HEART! Today I remember the life-long friendship we had, the strong shoulders that I could stop and lean on for a while if I needed to and for being there wherever and whenever I needed you. We were connected heart to heart and soul to soul. You will ALWAYS be a part of my life, each and every day, 24/7. Thank you for letting me into your heart. I love you with ALL of mine.

Today is my 58 TH birthday and YOU are NOT HERE. That would have been the perfect gift. My day was very quiet and very lonely. I wish with ALL my heart that you were here. Losing you changed everything, but TIME has changed nothing. I still miss the sound of your voice, the wisdom of your advice, the stories of your life and just being in your presence. I miss you just as much today as I did 
the day you left for heaven. I JUST MISS YOU. I can feel your heart in mine wherever I go and whatever I do. You were my sunshine day and night and made such a difference in my life. I will celebrate every moment I was blessed to have with you and will forever long to have you back home with me. You were so loved, cared deeply about and held in the highest esteem. You kept me grounded, helped me keep things in perspective and ALWAYS had my back. Thank you for being there time and time again Jo....I am forever GRATEFUL! Goodnight.

NO MATTER WHERE I GO OR WHAT I DO

 I CANNOT HELP.................

MISSING YOU!

It is August 30 TH, 2015 and my tears are falling once again. 3 months ago to the day your sweet family and I were preparing to honor your life, bury you and say goodbye.  That day is so clear yet so surreal. The limo was waiting to take us all to the funeral home. Lisa and I had NOT seen you since 1205 AM on May 27 TH. What awaited us was the most beautiful person in ALL the world, lying peacefully in blue pajamas, finally free from IVS, tubes and machines.  We loved, we cared and we were there for 39 days, fighting with you and for you until the final round.  No matter where we look, your light still shines and ALWAYS will.  Buttons, the birds and I continue to mourn your loss, as does Lisa, Chris, Amber, Chad, Landon, Carolyn, Barbara D. and Chuck. We were ALL blessed by your presence, your words of wisdom, your laughter, your heart of gold, your tenderness for animals and your will to fight through anything. You woke up every morning and wanted to have a purpose, so no matter how you felt, you managed to press on.  You changed my life in so many ways. You showed a lot of FAITH in me,  and helped me work through problems that otherwise might have made me give up.  I remember your acceptance, your patience, your kindness, how much you cared and your unconditional love. Time and time again you touched my heart and I am GRATEFUL to have had a friend like you...authentic, rare and wonderful.  My heart will always be where you are, and I will treasure you forever.

All is quiet this early Sunday morning....Tiger is playing golf this weekend, the Texans are back in action and I start my 32 ND year in Humble tomorrow, and my 36 TH year of teaching. This has been the longest and loneliest summer of my life. There is a deep void that cannot be filled by anyone or anything. Yesterday I got up at 6:00 AM , did my annual compliance course, groomed and bathed little Ms. Buttons, went to the store and picked up my RX from none other than Walgreens. My life is going to get crazy starting Monday, 8/24/15 but it is NOT going to stop the longing to have you back. August 30 TH is right around the corner, and it is STILL so surreal to me that you are GONE. Buttons and I have been hanging on for dear life in hopes that the heaviness of everyday would go away. You were an amazing woman Jo and I do NOT say that lightly. You raised ALL of us up to more than we could be. You were good for us and to us 24/7 and we are LOST without you. Back in '03 when we met, I longed to prove how much I cared. You were in such a dark place after so much loss in your life. I was on a mission and determined to see you through the storm no matter what, but the journey took a very long time. We walked that journey together and it was an honor and privilege to do so. As long as we were together the rest always fell into place. I talk to you everyday and my tears fall without fail. Losing you was life-changing and life as I knew it will NEVER be the same. It is going to take a very long time for my heart and soul to press on......until then, I will continue to battle the emptiness felt every second, of every minute,of every hour,of every day. I love you, miss you and will continue to savor each and every moment with you in my heart and soul.

Good morning Jo! I am sitting at home missing you and wishing with ALL my heart you were here with Ms. Buttons and myself. Reality has hit me hard, because the "toodler" is gone, and I now have your death certificate to close out business with your IPhone and cable, neither of which will bring any joy.  I am LOST without you.....the one person I felt whole with is gone. I could share with you who I really was. You knew me better than I knew myself. You knew where I came from, ALL I had been through and everything I dreamed about. I could tell you anything, ask anything of you and knew you would do anything for me and for us! You were my sunshine and my shadow....absolute, enduring and constant. You believed in me, accepted me and respected me. You never let me down my friend. I LOST a piece of my heart and soul which is why there can be NO TIME LIMIT for grief. You understood what I hoped for, believed in and what I was committed to. I gave my whole heart to you and in return I received acceptance, unconditional caring and love. Spending time with you chased my cares away and put a smile on my face. You ALWAYS knew what I needed and when I needed it in a way no one else could. So you see, I am blessed to have ever found you, my friend of a lifetime, my girlfriend, my best friend in the whole world. You enriched my life everyday, everywhere. I can tell myself all day that you are pain free, you can breathe, you can walk and that ALL your chains are gone inside and out, but that is little comfort for my shattered heart. Trying to carry on without you is something I will NEVER get used to. You filled my days with joy, purpose and meaning because gifts given from the heart touch the heart. We laughed, we cried, we cared, we loved, and we devoted ourselves one to the other. No one will EVER be able to take your place...no one. Longing for YOU, every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day.

Tomorrow I will report for duty @ KMS. I am feeling very anxious about that because at the heart of my life was you and you are gone. Nothing in my life would have meant much had it not been for YOU. Not my work, not my hobbies, not my long term goals and not my dreams. I went to the cemetery today to visit with you, and the flowers I placed on your gravesite June 25 were GONE. Your son's flowers were also gone. NOTHING is sacred anymore Jo. I went to Wal Mart and bought new flowers and a new temporary vase which had also disappeared. My whole world was shaken on May 27, 2015 and I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that you are not here anymore. Buttons and I are LOST and just bumble along these days. I was prepared to take care of you and get you back on  your feet this summer, but that was NOT to be. I miss you, your heart of gold, your tender spirit, your kindness, your voice, your laughter, even your silence because it was something I was comfortable with. We shared something very rare. I am better for knowing you, loving you, and caring for you.  It was an honor and privilege each and every day. I was never bored when with you and you NEVER got on my nerves. As long as we were together, everything else just fell in place. I am doing my best  to savor every moment with the best person to ever come into my life. I miss you so much it has made me weary physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Wishing you were here heart and soul.

I am sitting here frozen in time, thinking of the day you were honored and buried. There are several things about May 30 that need to be noted:
1. You requested to be buried in blue pajamas.... there was one pair of blue pajamas in Houston waiting for you at none other than Neiman Marcus.
2. Lisa went to Flowers of Kingwood and ordered the most beautiful sprays I have ever seen......one from her with Mama on the ribbon and one from Landon with Granny Jo on the ribbon. Both sprays had blue throughout. Chad, Amber and I had a white cross with red roses and finally a spray of red roses covering the casket. 
3. The program Lisa and I chose for the funeral was blue with a white dove on the front.
4. The songs chosen: The Prayer sung by Andrea Bocelli/Celine Dion, What a Difference You've Made in My Life by Ronnie Milsap and Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)by Chris Tomlin.

Why is ALL of this important? Because it was to HONOR YOU AND YOUR LIFE.
You looked so beautiful in those blue pajamas and it was the sweetest service we could have ever hoped for. Everything just fit together the way it was intended to be. A reception was held at our house and that is where YOU were most comfortable. It is also the place you NEVER had a chance to come back to. That will ALWAYS break my heart. Buttons and I are making a desperate attempt to move forward but it has been far too painful to do so. I have cried many a tear, and I know it will NOT bring you back, but that is where my heart is.....longing for you and ALL that you were to me. I start back to work on Monday, and I am feeling very anxious. Why? You are NOT here. It is NOT a day we EVER looked forward to, but I knew you would be waiting for me at the end of the day...at the end of every day. You and I were deeply devoted to each other and gave our best 24/7. When I first met you your question often times was Who are you and where did you come from?  My answer...a friend who loves you and cares about you right where you are. A friend who will be there if you call and will see you through it ALL.  I tried to pop popcorn but I broke down, I guess because I knew you loved it so much, along with your BFF and a Coke, but more importantly I thought about the EFFORT you made to go get it. You did a lot for me, for Ms. Buttons and for us. Nothing went unnoticed or unappreciated.....EVER. Thank you for waiting, for staying and for being there time and time again.  I am forever GRATEFUL for the years we had together. I miss YOU....the best thing to EVER happen in my life. There is no greater gift in ALL the world than that of a LOVING HEART. No matter what complicates my life one thing will always be pure and simple.....I love you, heart and soul!

Just so you know: 

$$ was donated to the Wildlife Center of Texas in your name from Sandra and Lisa in lieu of flowers.  What an honor!

I know you are NOT an Astros fan, but Craig Biggio was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame over the weekend.

Lisa is ordering your marker for the gravesite.  She and I will anxiously await completion and placement.

Went to Carolyn's and had lunch and a visit. She used me as a guinea pig with two new recipes...Chicken and Rice Casserole, and a Peach Cobbler using peaches from the tree Shelley planted.  She and Lauren have both been ill quite a lot since you passed away. Carolyn REALLY misses you Jo.

1 week left before I report to KMS for the 2015-16 school year.  NOT looking forward to a year without YOU!

This I know for sure...............my world, my heart and my soul will NEVER be the same.  BUTTONS AND I ARE LOST WITHOUT OUR JO.........WISHING YOU WERE HERE.

Today I light a candle for you....a precious life gone too soon.

It has only been two months since you left us, but it feels like a lifetime. When Lisa called in the early hours of the morning to let me know you were gone it brought me to my knees. I made my journey back to the hospital to be with Lisa and say goodbye to you. When I entered your room for the last time you had no needles, no feeding tube, no bi-pap, no monitors, no dialysis..it was just my beautiful Jo, finally free from ALL those chains. Set free and at peace because of His Amazing Grace. You left this earth in no pain and fell asleep peacefully with Lisa by your side. Lisa washed your face and spent time with you in the stillness of the moments that followed. I sang Softly and Tenderly to you, stroked your hair, your face and held your hand one last time. If you were here the last two months TIME would have flown by, but without you TIME has NOT moved. I think I can speak for everyone that WE MISS ALL OF YOU EVERYDAY 24/7. We were KINDRED SPIRITS...KINDRED SOULS....my life forever changed by an unexpected friend 06/18/03. I AM GRATEFUL. I MISS YOU with ALL MY HEART and ALL MY SOUL.

It is July 26, 2015 and the silence inside and out is deafening. Two months ago to the day I spent my last day with you but that NEVER went through my mind as I sat with you for 9 + hours. If someone would have told me I was spending my last day with you I would have held your hand a little tighter and prayed a little harder. I had a lot of time to reflect on our friendship......I turned to you in the highest of highs and lowest of lows in my life. You NEVER failed to give me what I needed, whether it be understanding or a kick in the pants. I always felt loved and protected. Now, I feel quite anxious because you are not around anymore.  The silence is no longer comfortable. We had a great time together and I think we would rather go no place with each other than someplace with anyone else. Coffee does not taste very good anymore. I barely get two cups down and then I just feel sick. Our summer shows that we have watched have just gotten weird and it is NO fun to watch them anymore......Extant, Under the Dome and The Last Ship. Amber sent me a poem yesterday called When I Lost You, and it speaks volumes as to where my heart is today: I pray that God will give me strength and somehow see me through as I STRUGGLE with this heartache that came when I LOST YOU!

Good Morning! As I continue to mourn your loss I am constantly reminded of YOU all around me. One year ago to the day you and I traveled over to Connect Hearing to see about hearing aids. When we arrived we were greeted with paperwork to be filled out and you just fussed and fussed about it. I think you were just a little anxious, but when we were greeted by Dr.Evelyn Williams you seemed to settle down and so the lengthy process began. You sat right in front of Dr. William's desk, and I sat over to one side and tried to process ALL that was happening. You  had a consultation, Dr. Williams steadied her hands and pulled wax from both of your ears, a hearing test on both right and left ears, and then......fitted for hearing aids, both of which were programmed digitally by computer. I sat amazed at the entire process from beginning to end. The sweetest and most priceless moment came when your hearing aids were placed in your ears for the first time and I asked "Can you hear me"? I looked at you and you nodded. It was a moment in time I will NEVER forget. We celebrated at Spring Creek Barbeque and were very GRATEFUL that God brought Dr. Williams into our lives. I had to learn to talk with you using a much softer voice. We had stopped going to the movies because there was such frustration with hearing devices that NEVER worked, in addition to the fact that it was so expensive. We never got the chance to try them out at a theater:( I want you to know how proud I was of you that day for being so bold and making the decision to get some help for your ears. I know how hard that was for you. Thank you for allowing me to share that with you. I am convinced that my connection with you was meant to be.....my once-in-a-lifetime. Our connection was heart to heart and soul to soul. Each time I think of you I realize how lucky I was to have found you. You were a part of my life each and every day and I thank you for your love. I miss my lifesaver and my lifeline. I miss your voice, your laughter and ALL the many ways we spent time TOGETHER. Our stand-by movies have been in abundance, the tower bird feeder that we could NOT get a bird to touch has been a hit, especially with the woodpeckers and Buttons and I miss you. It doesn't take much for my tears to fall like rain. You shielded me from my hurts and disappointments and warmed and brightened every corner of my world, 24/7. You were the blue sky in my grey and my sunshine night and day. . I miss the simple things....I miss everything. We were tried and tested and still we stood side by side... you weren't just my BFF, you were the biggest  part of my heart. I love you!

Part II:  the latest and greatest news:

Tiger Woods was miscombobulated at the British Open and missed yet another cut!

There is a new Oreo on the horizon...a new, thinner, "grown-up" Oreo...whatever that means!

Your birds are having a ball in the back yard...male/female woodpeckers, male/female cardinals, male/female blue jays, the thumb birds etc.

I set a new bowling record on the Wii of 287! 

Lisa, Chris, Landon, Amber, Chad, Carolyn, Barbara D and myself miss you terribly...a precious life gone too soon!

Exactly 3 months ago today you were sitting in your chair, struggling to breathe and just feeling awful. My heart was breaking to see you in respiratory distress so I called 911. So much has happened since 4/19/15. I am still missing you and wishing you were here. My world is very empty without you. The hand you first offered me in friendship is STILL what steadies me when I am shaken and what inspires me when I have doubts. So often your patience and advice gave me the perspective I needed. You were my constant support, comfort and companion. You raised me up when my soul was weary so that I could stand on mountains or calm a stormy sea. You were my Zelda......tough but tender, soft at the edges, strong at the center and a heart and soul with attitude. Of everything you taught me, and you taught me a lot, what mattered most was that you cared......I felt completely comfortable around you, and could tell you anything and just be myself. I NEVER imagined my life without you in it, without your support and your strength. Whether it was one of those times I was feeling on top of the world or one of those days when NOTHING went right, one thing NEVER changed and that was coming home to my safe place.....YOU! Letting go was so hard Jo, but I am thankful that you are no longer in pain, that you no longer struggle to breathe, and that the mental and emotional anguish that you carried for so long has finally been lifted. Your chains are gone my friend and you are free. You have found that perfect PEACE that we ALL long for and His AMAZING GRACE.
There is one friend in the life of each of us who seems not a separate person but an expansion, an interpretation of oneself, the very meaning of ones' soul. -Edith Wharton You were that friend to me.

Losing you one month ago today was the hardest day of my life. I have tried to surround myself with pictures, music, good memories, family, your birds, Buttons and ALL that reminds me of you, but what I know for sure is that I MISS YOU with every fiber of my being. Whether I visit with you here at the house or at the grave site, the emptiness consumes me. Did you know that we met 12 years ago, on 6/18/03? We were preparing to sing in the Second Baptist Church 4 TH of July Extravaganza complete with honoring ALL five branches of Service: USCG, USMC, USARMY, USAF and USNAVY. Barbara wants me to come sing next Sunday but it would just be way too painful. She said you would be so proud of me. You were my soul mate and it was a privilege to know you, share myself with you and walk together on the paths that took us in so many directions. I turned to you for trust and you gave it...I looked to you for answers, for encouragement, for inspiration. You lifted my spirits when I was troubled and shared my joys as if they were your own. You gave me reassurance, kept me calm, gave wise counsel and shared your sweet family in Memphis, TN. with me. The time spent with you were by far the best years of my life. I guess that is why everything is so hard now.... because with every breath I take, every place I go, every song I sing or hear, and  everything that surrounds me in the house is a constant reminder of the hole in my heart and life. I will honor your memory the rest of my days on this earth. You always said you felt like a bad penny, but to me and the rest of those who knew you thought of you as a rare gem that stood out amongst the rest...beautiful, resilient, strong, one-of-a kind and the most gentle soul the world has EVER known.

GRIEF IS THE LAST ACT OF LOVE WE HAVE TO GIVE TO THOSE WE LOVED. WHERE THERE IS DEEP GRIEF, THERE IS DEEP LOVE! I hurt through and through because I MISS YOU....it is a hurt so deep it is difficult to breathe at times. I miss everything about you Jo. It is a time to honor you...a beautiful soul gone too soon. The US Open was on this past weekend and we would have gotten a kick out of Tiger Woods and his inability to play golf any longer. He did NOTHING well and missed the cut by miles. I have found comfort sitting in your lazy-boy chair and in your chair at the kitchen table, otherwise they are empty and I realize just how much I miss your company, your companionship, your courage, your tenderness, your cooking, drinking coffee together, eating meals at the same time, watching the birds......did I say birds? It wasn't too long ago that the birds had gone elsewhere, but they are back ten-fold. Blue jays, cardinals, even the woodpecker. WISH YOU WERE HERE. Buttons and I are LOST. You gave us both so much of yourself everyday and we are so GRATEFUL! I now know how lonely you must have felt day in, day out waiting for me to get off work so we could spend some time together. I never had to feel alone because you were here 24/7...it was me that was gone far too much. This time of year was what we both longed for...I am so sorry that you did NOT have the chance to come home and spend the summer of 2015 with Buttons and I. It has been incredibly painful. I am trying to savor each and every moment ever spent with you. You will be cherished and loved for the rest of my days. I keep a Memorial Tear around my neck, on my key chain, and on my badge as a symbol of love and loss. Love for those that knew you will NEVER end, because what began in the heart lives forever.

Good Evening my dear Jo! I just came home from the cemetery. My mission was to place flowers on ALL of the Archer grave sites, but today was different, because it included placing flowers on your fresh grave. My heart broke as I sat in the sun talking to you. Time is not moving quickly at all, but if you were still here and we were out and about the time would fly...it always did. Two weeks ago today I spent my last day with you. The nurse had called @ 4:00 AM from Nexus ICU and told me your blood pressure had dropped significantly and I should come on up. Lisa was desperately trying to get a flight out of Memphis to be by your side. There was a lot of urgency concerning TIME...a pastor from Woodlands Church came up and prayed with you and I and in the stillness of the hour I still could NOT imagine that this day would be our last. I held your hand for 9 hours and stayed by your bedside. I cried, I sang, I prayed and waited for Lisa, all the while listening to you breathe and watching the monitors. You were NOT in pain, and you were NOT struggling to breathe, and for that I am GRATEFUL. Barbara D, Carolyn, Jack and June were all there to see you too. It was definitely a VERY HARD DAY. I picked up Lisa from IAH at 2:15  and we were back at Nexus within the hour. Lisa was now by your bedside and would remain until God called you home. Bless your heart. I spoke with Lucia at Kroger and told her about your passing. She loved you.... I am trying to carry on but this has really taken a toll on my heart because the wind beneath my wings is gone. Today I light a candle for you my dear sweet Jo. Still missing you..............

I have desperately tried four times today to make an entry into this book, because you see, that is the only way I will be able to cope with this tremendous loss.  I keep hearing your voice and seeing ALL that you endured in both hospitals as you fought valiantly. My heart broke every time you were in pain, in distress and the effort it took just to breathe.  Through it all, you were still my Jo.....my friend, my constant companion no matter what, no matter where. 24/7 you loved me, cared for me, went places with me, ate meals with me, drank coffee with me, shared your family with me, supported me, encouraged me, gave me time and waited for me to come home over and over again.  There is an emptiness I cannot even begin to describe to anyone but it is there, it is real and it is painful. Summer is here and you are not:(  That was our favorite time of the year...you, me and Ms. B. It has been said that GRIEF NEVER ENDS...BUT IT CHANGES. IT IS A PASSAGE, NOT A PLACE TO STAY. GRIEF IS NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS OR A LACK OF FAITH......IT IS THE PRICE OF LOVE.

I buried you on Saturday, May 30 TH but you are very much alive in my heart.  What made Jo so special to me?   I will tell you.......she was a true hero. And why?  Jo got out of bed every morning, going about life's daily tasks, unnoticed, unassuming and unsung. She took on responsibility, gave out credit, and ALWAYS looked for a way to solve a problem. She spoke kindly, endured patiently, enjoyed easily and faced each day with a simple strength.  Jo had a heart of gold and would go the extra mile 24/7. She sought a life of freedom, took the road less traveled, marched to the beat of a different drummer and gave her love so freely along the way.  It was an honor and privilege to know and care for Jo Ellen every second, of every minute, of every hour of every day. I watched my friend fight so hard for 39 days until her 76 year old  body gave out. She was tired and just wanted to rest.......I know Jo is in Heaven where she feels no pain, she can breathe w/o a machine and fellowship with family that were waiting.  Jo will ALWAYS be the biggest part of me, and I will ALWAYS love and miss her with ALL MY HEART AND SOUL!  I will NEVER forget you Jo Ellen Maxfield!  Here's to you!

Grandma, I would give anything to be able to talk to you again. You would be so proud of mom if you were here. She did an awesome job these past weeks. I love you so much and you are constantly on my mind. Watch over us until we see you again granny Jo. I love you very much

My thoughts and prayers are with your family,Lisa. Your Mom meant the world to my mother and I am thankful that mother had her friendship throughout her life. All their cackeling and talking that lasted for hours showed what what a wonderful friendship they had and will last forever. She was always so kind and thoughtful and will be missed. All my love. Shelly

I had the pleasure to know and love Jo.  She will always be in my thoughts and prayers every day.  She was truly one of Gods blessings !  To her family and friends, keep her memories alive.  Talk about all of those stories we all have about this and that shared with her.  
Her cousin Cecile (Greenwood SC)

As I looked through the photo gallery, I looked at Jo Ellen's eyes and I could see the love she had in them.  She sure smiled through her eyes.  It always brought a big ol grin to my face when I'd see her name pop up on my phone.  I knew I was about to have Texas sized conversation and always came away feeling better about things.  I was reminded each time that she was a native Texan and that Texas was No.1.  lol.  I watched her eat bar b que in Memphis and the look on her face when Lisa told her it was slaw on her sandwich.  She made us some Texas bar b que on our next trip.  I watched her shoot pool and laugh with Chad in the house behind Johnny's.  She took the keys to my brand new Mustang and off she went.  I think she was the only one to drive it besides me.  She always forced Lisa to make a trip to come see me when she was in town, of course that was after a trip to Tunica (which came first lol).  There are so many memories of Jo Ellen that will remain alive with me. She always, always,treated me like a son and I loved her for it. She was a strong, opinionated, loving,woman and I know that she is in heaven with Mama Dee's, Johnny, and Gary and suffering no more.  Heaven is a much better place with Jo Ellen there. When I saw her name come up the other morning...I thought HEY!!! Jo Ellen, and when Rebecca shared with me the news I was saddened and shocked.  She was an awesome lady.   Lisa, Rebecca, Chad, Amber, Chris, and Landon you will all be in my thoughts as you get through these next difficult days.  RIP Jo Ellen and I love you!!

Lisa I have not walked this path yet and cannot fathom this place you now journey, but I am praying for you. So sorry for your loss. Glad she had a daughter like you!!!

Lisa what a beautiful tribute to your mom. You are a good daughter and I know your mom knew how much you loved her. 
Love and prayers.

Hey Mom! I love you and miss you with ALL my heart and paws! I am so GRATEFUL you rescued me, gave me a loving home, provided me with a place to rest my head, patience when I was out-of-sorts and a good meal everyday. You will never know how much that has meant to me......I will NEVER forget you!

Buttons

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Jo Ellen Maxfield

5 janvier 1939 – 27 mai 2015

Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home & Cemetery

Montrez votre soutien

Envoyez Vos
Condoléances

Partager
L'avis De Décès

Obtenir les mises à jour

Prestations de Service