Eunice Richardson

Eunice Irene was born to Roy and Inez Turner on March 23rd, 1923 (3-23-23), in Fort Wayne Indiana.

As a young girl, Eunice had Rickets and wore braces on her legs for two or three years. When her braces came off, her Dad got her a pair of Roller Skates. Eunice skated everywhere! Then she was dancing! Soon, she was singing and playing music on her Accoridan! From those early days on, Eunice's life was filled with music and activity.

Eunice was a Good Lutheran Girl. She said the only direction her father Roy had given her was, "Don't break your daddy's heart!," (which she of course never did). She had a strong maternal instinct from an early age. When the other kids tried to get her to smoke, she told them, "Oh no, that would make my insides dirty, and I want to have babies!"

At the music store, Eunice met Edward Richardson. It was during the time of the Great Depression. Ed had left his home early and was living in the basement of the music store, while working for the store repairing the musical instruments. Ed and Eunice became childhood sweethearts. After Ed finished High School, he join the Navy. When Eunice turned eighteen, she traveled out to San Francisco where she and Ed were Married on November 22nd, 1941. Two weeks later was December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day, and Eunice was launched into her adventure as a Navy wife...

Their union provided four children; John Allen, Dean Edward, Lynn Ellen, and Robert Roy - spread out over nearly twenty years!

The Family moved a lot, mostly up and down the West Coast.

Eunice was great wife and mother. She always made sure we were having a good time! - (Good food, family outings,etc.)

While raising a family, she always made time to contribute to others ... Her community involvements over the years were extensive (PTA and Church Choir, would only begin a long list ...). Eunice loved everyone! She was fun to be around! Always thinking of the other person, she especially enjoyed children and seniors.

Eunice was the Clown with balloons at the Elementary School Carnival! She helped from VIPS (Volunteers In Public Schools), which helped the teachers in classrooms.

For many, many years, she volunteered to lead songs (with her accordion) in rest homes. She hundreds of songs, and her "play list" of crowd-pleasing popular songs was a least 50-100 deep ...

Edward retired from the Navy in '59, and we settled here in Long Beach ...

Roy and Inez also moved here (to be closer to Eunice), and so we benefited from having a more extended family.

During Edward's second career as a State Farm Insurance agent, the family kept returning to Oregon on vacations. After a few years of this, a special piece of property was purchased in Central Oregon. It had a small cabin located on a spring-fed river; and was surrounded by National Forest. It became a special place to look forward to visiting each season ...

Eunice had a "Sweet Tooth." Her grandmother and mother were catering cooks, who were always baking special cakes and pies. Her nickname in high school was "Chubby!" At about age fifty, she decided she really wanted to do something about her weight ...

She joined TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), and something really "clicked." She loved her TOPS Family, and became active in their program ...

It took more than a couple of years, but she lost 64lbs to reach her goal weight! (She continued to stay at or below this goal for the rest of her life).

Ed retired for the second time in '82. The kids were grown, so Ed and Eunice spent more than half their time in Oregon; took up golf, bought a boat and learned to sail, traveled some, and really enjoyed being a "couple" again.

Five years into their "Golden Years", Ed had a major stroke! They continued to spend time in Oregon, but their style of activities changed to adjust for his disabilities ...

Though she was challenged with care-giving, Eunice remained cheerful! (Ed relaxed more and was happy to let her "take up the slack".) Roy and Inez passed during this period as well, Eunice through everything, met the challenges and remained cheerful.

In "91, Ed and Eunice celebrated their 50th Anniversary here at Christ Lutheran. He must have been holding on for this occasion and gathering, because one mother later, Ed was hospitalized with pneumonia. He never fully recovered and passed away three months later ...

The day after his passing, Eunice was supposed to sing a song at one of her TOPS gatherings. She showed up, and sang the Charlie Chaplin song, "Smile." She then excused herself without telling anyone of Ed's death, not wanting to spoil the festive nature of the event ...

The following year, she was diagnosed with Cancer. When she was in the hospital receiving Chemo, she went from room to room cheering up the other patients! (and gave all the nurses "Angel" pins). She overcame the cancer and it never returned.

After her husband's passing and her experience with cancer, Eunice was feeling insecure and a bit lost. (She was very verbal, and was used to having a running dialogue with her life partner...).

Her son Dean moved in the family home within the year, and it seemed to add the stability she was missing. With some assistance from her son, she was able to remain fairly active over the next ten years...

Eunice took good care of herself, but suffered a series of small strokes (TIA's) at about the turn of the Century. Early signs of dementia were noticed, and from then on she needed increasing amounts of support...

Her son helped her to participate in whatever she could, for as long as she could. Even with the progression of her disease, she continued to enjoy dancing and singing, even though her song-list eventually was reduced to two songs; "Smile", and "Believe in Yourself".

When Eunice needed more care than Dean could provide by himself, she was transferred to a small "residential care" facility. Her son continued daily company and support....

When it was her time to go, she was comfortable and in no pain. Eunice passed away peacefully in her sleep...

"Smile"

Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons - 1954

Music by Charles Chaplin - Modern Times theme

Smile tho' your hear is aching,

Smile even tho' it's breaking,

When there are clouds in the sky you'll get by,

If you smile thro' your fear and sorrow,

Smile and maybe tomorrow,

you'll see the sun come shining thro'; for you

Light up your face with gladness,

Hide ev'ry trace and sadness,

Al-'tho a tear may be ever so near,

That's the time,

You must keep on trying,

Smile, what's the use of crying,

You'll find that life is still worth-while,

If you just smile

"Believe in Yourself"

When there's a dream inside your heart

Don't be afraid

'Cause you can start to make your dream come true

If you believe in yourself

Believe you can do most anything

Give it your best, And you will see

Your wishes will come true

If you believe in yourself

When you find your heart's desire

You must give your whole heart to it

And if at first you don't succeed

Keep trying 'till you do it

So make a wish

Then give it your all

Pick yourself up when you stumble and fall

Keep trying 'till you're through

Believe in yourself

Believe in yourself

Believe in yourself

And you'll make that dream come true

Please sign the guest book at www.luybenfamilyd-m.com. .

Luyben Family Dilday Mottell

(562) 425-6401