It will soon be five years that you left us. I don't know how I have lasted this long without you. My life has been useless since you have passed. Someday it will end and be forgotten. 
Love Dick

Your birthday will always be remembered by us...as we remember you...very often!  We miss you, mom....Peggy and Tom and family

Your birthday will be here again in a couple of days. I wish so much that you were here for us to spend it together. Love Dick.

It will be four years, tomorrow April 4Th that you left us.  My life has been so empty since then. Time has passed, but I still need you. You are loved by all of us. Dick

Another thanksgiving is here without you. Soon, another Christmas. We all miss you and are lost without you. Love Dick.

Dear Mom,  It has been 3 years since we were visiting you in the hospice...and tomorrow it will be 3 years since we said good-bye till we see you in heaven.  We miss you terribly.  I find Peggy crying once in a while, and when I ask why, she says she misses you! 
Dick also misses you!  I can see it and hear it in him.  Joel and Glenn miss you too...I can see it in the care they have for Dick.
Thanks, Mom, for the wonderful love and patience you had for us.  We will always love you and hold a special place in our hearts in fond memory of you.  Love, Tom and Peggy (grandkids and great grandkids)

Soon it will be three years that you have been gone. Joel and I are going to the last place we saw you next Friday and say good bye again.

We miss you so much, Mom!  The other day Peggy and I saw your picture on your old sewing machine in our bedroom, and we talked about the old days!  We love and miss you!  Tom and Peggy Rickard

Another year has started without you. I met our two new great grand sons over the holidays and they have missed being hugged by you. I don't know how I got this far without you. Love Dick

It has been two and a half years that you left us. I don't know how I have been able to get this far without you. It seems every day I would have a question to ask you. How do I do this or what do I do about that.  I love you and haven't found the answer why you had to leave us. Dick

This is Tom and Peggy Rickard.  We are in Manhattan, Kansas, at Faith Baptist.  Dick just visited us and it was so neat to see how much the people here remember him and miss mom!  This year Dick got to hear Nathan preach to the teens.  I thought he did a great job!  The Teens listened well...and many of them were excited to meet Grandpa.
It is fun to remember the good times.  I remember the kids swimming in the pool at the hotel while mom and Dick talked with us!  
Memories of mom can't be beat!

Your birthday came again July 29 and Joel will come over to the house so we can go to dinner like we used to for your day and his. You are still with me and will always be. Love Dick

Two years have now gone by. I went to the hospice where you left us for the last time. I wanted to visit the room you were in, but it was occupied by another. The passing of time does not make me forget you. Love always, Dick

Dear Grandma, Guess what!  You're a great-grandma again! Jeff and I are going to have a baby in September!  I miss you and think of you often.  Love, Becky

All of your children except Joel came to our house over the weekend. This is the first time since you have been gone that we were all together. It was a nice visit and we all missed you. Love Dick.

This will be the second Christmas that we will spend without you. I am alone now, but Joel came by for a trip to spend Christmas with Peggy's family. There is a bad snow storm tonight so we will do Christmas with the kids next Saturday.
  Sometimes I don't know what to do without you. We spent most of our time together so there are not too many people in my life except the kids. They are always with me in mind and heart. That helps.
  I will never again find the happiness that we had together. All I have are memories. I miss you and love you. Dick

Thanksgiving is here again. You are not with us. We love and miss you. Nothing is the samewithout you. Love Dick and your Family!

It has now been 485 days since you were taken away from us. I still cannot do the things you did for us all those years we had together. The home is nothing like it once was. I just dont know how to maintain my life without you.. We all miss you and need you. Love always Dick.

Dear Mom, It has been very difficult for me to write to you, but today on your Birthday I am thinking of you so much. I want to wish you a Happy Birthday. I miss you terribly .

         Love, Marcus and Paddy

Today would have been your 82nd birthday. You left us too soon and we miss you. Your sister Lucile passed away on the 19th of this month. I went to the service for both of us. Love forever, Dick.

I am feeling very alone again tonight. I remember years ago how we would go up on the roof to watch fireworks. Another of my memories with you. Love Dick

 I have not forgotten you Maggie. I miss you every single day! I don't know what to do without you. Dick

Joshua and Sarah are now married! I broke down at the rehearsal when talking to the preacher just thinking that you should have been there with your children. Love Dick

Margaret, Our grandson Josh will be married to Sarah on Saturday. Joel and I will be there for you as well. Dick

As in the past, the kids had to remind me that our anniversary is on May 20. Tomorrow would have been our number forty!!Even though we were together most of the time a couple of years before we got married it should be closer to 42!
   I miss you every day. I dont know how I got this far without you. Love forever Dick

Mother's day wasn't the same this year with my mother-in-law gone from this life.  I called my mother Mary in Indianapolis, wished Peggy a happy Mother's Day, and thought of my daughters (and future daughter-in-laws) perhaps being mothers in the future....but knew in my heart that Peggy was greiving for her mother, that Dick would be missing Margaret especially on this day.  Joel, Glenn, and Marcus and their famiies would also be thinking about Mom!  

We will continue on in the circle of life where we are born, live, and then die.  I am glad that (as the preacher at Mom's funeral stated) Margaret's passing was just the beginning...of a wonderful eternity with God.

Margaret was a wonderful mom!  She was there for her children.  She loved them and sacrificed for them!  She always had a smile and a kind word to every phone call.

Mom, we couldn't call you yesterday.  I phone call just couldn't reach where you are!  We love you and that feeling of love will never go away.

Love,

Part of your family....Tom, Peggy, Nate, and Mary

Today, mother's day,  all of Margarets children and grandchildren would call her on the phone to wish her well. Dick

It is hard to believe that it has been over a year since my Mother-in-Law Mararet Gray left us for heaven.  
I miss her greatly.  I visited with Dick on Friday night....I missed hearing her voice and seeing her.  
I know that it sure isn't easy for Dick.  But we love him and will be there for him.  
We love you, Dick.

The Rickards   Tom, Peggy, Becky, Joshua, Nathan, and Mary

A year has gone by and we still miss you and love you!! Dick

I miss you Margaret!! Where are you?? Love, Dick

We got married, Grandma! It was so good to see Grandpa, Uncle Joel, Uncle Marcus and Aunt Paddy there! We got some really great pictures, but I missed you. Married life is wonderful and I'm so thankful for wonderful friends and family that we got to share our wedding with. I love you, Grandma! I tried to post something eariler this month, but I must have messed it up somehow. Oh, well, know that I love you and miss you!

Dick,  I am praying for you.  Your friend in Kansas.

Tomorrow, April 4 will be one year that Margaret has been gone. I will go to the hospital to say goodbye to her one more time. It will be difficult to do again. Dick

One year ago today, we had to take Margaret back to the hospital. This time she would never return home. No one knows how she must have felt that she would soon be gone. Margaret never did express what was happening to her. I have to know she felt helpless. My life has been useless without her. Nothing seems to matter to me anymore. We had a good life together. Dick

On Tuesday we get to see Dick in Denver.  We are always excited to see him-not just because we love him, but because he also reminds us of Mom-Margaret Gray.  We remember her with love as she loved us very much.  
Love,
Your Son Tom and family

Today is one year ago that Margaret came home again the second time from the hospital for just a very few days. She had to go back soon after. We have not forgotten her or how much we loved her. Dick

Tomorrow, March 4 will be eleven months since Mom has been gone. I was able to spend today With Joel her son. I also call him my son. We miss you Mom. Dick

February 27 will be one year ago that Margaret was able to come home from the hospital. Unforeseen problems occurred and she had to be sent back to the hospital. We all continued to visit here there. Dick

We got back from Texas the other day, and I remembered that last year we stopped by the hospital on our way home.  It has been a difficult year.  I spent time looking through Mom's sewing machine drawers and remembering all the clothes she made for my children while they were growing up.  I am so thankful that we have beautiful and wonderful memories to keep in our hearts.  We miss you so much, Mom.  I am so thankful we still have you, Dick.  We love you so much.   Peggy

I miss my dear, sweet Grandms.  She meant so much to me. I am glad that I too have her in my heart, and she is just a memory away.  With Valentine's Day coming up it is hard that I cannot say, "I love you, Grandma."  BUT I still have Grandpa....and I can tell him that.   soooo, "I love you, Grandpa, and you mean SO much to me!" 
                     XOXOXO, Mary

It is hard to believe that it has already been over 10 months since my mother-in-law Margaret passed away.  I don't forget her...I think about her all the time.  I say to Peggy, "That lady looks like Mom Gray or she reminds me of her."  

You see, my mother Mary had a couple of small strokes this past week...so it has really brought back last year as Mom Gray was going through so much.  It reminds me of how much I miss Mom Gray.  (I miss my Dad as well...he passed away some 23 years ago.) Several of my friends have lost their wives these past few years.  All these thoughts are in my mind as I think about Mom Gray.  I also grieve for Dick.  I know he is lonely and misses Mom.

Mom was involved in all of the grandkids lives.  She was so happy and proud for Becky and Josh with their grades in college.  She saw Nathan and Mary getting older and taller, and she was so proud of them.  

I believe that Mom is in heaven.  I don't know much about it, but according to the Bible, there is no pain...no suffering...no tears.  I don't know if those in heaven can see us here (there is some indication of that in the Bible in Hebrews 12:1),  but if she can, she is so excited for Nathan that he got a 4.0 for his first semester.  She is very excited for Becky at this moment, as Becky gets near to getting married the end of March to her sweetheart Jeff.  As Josh looks at every house in his budget that comes on the market, she is excited for him and his future marriage to Sarah in just a few months...:)  Mary is now almost 16 and becoming such a wonderful young lady.  Mom is so proud of them.

Mom, if I would hug you right now I would.  If I could talk to you right now, I would say, "I miss you so much."

We loved the way you took care of all of us in the way only a mother could.  We will continue on...to make you proud of us.   We will do our best to leave a legacy that would reflect your love and concern for us.

I love you, Mom!

From your son-in-law 
Tom

I have made a mistake because Maggie has been gone for ten months. She is still with me inside. Dick

Now it is nine months since Margaret has been gone. I have missed her and I am still completely lost without her. I don't know how I will be able to keep going. There is no meaning to my life anymore. Dick

Today has been another one of those lonely days for me thinking about you. Love Dick

Today  will be nine months that you left us. Tomorrow, January 5, will be one year since we had to put you in the hospital. I would give anything to have you back. Dick...

I wished you were still here so we could start out another new year together. Dick

The family members we have had at our house for Christmas over the years are here again and with one additional future granddaughter!!
  It is not the same and will never be again, because you are no longer with us. We all miss you. 
  I need you and don't know what to do without you. We never did finish loving each other. I look at the next year and it frightens me how I will continue. People say it will get easier, but not for me. I have been trying to take each day by itself. I try to make it to bed time so sleep might let me stop thinking about you for awhile. Then as I wake, I try to decide what I can do that day to go on. No one knows how much they will miss their loved one until it happens to them. I really get scared thinking about you sometimes. 
  Not much has changed since you left. Josh is engaged and Nathan is doing well in school. Becky and Jeff are making their plans. Joel and I are planning on going to their wedding in Virginia. Josh will come later. 
  We have another new roof and new grass in the front and side of the house. The backyard will be taken care of next spring. I finally was able to find and fix that squeak in your kitchen floor by the back door. 
  Peggy and Tom and Mary are busy all the time with work. I can barely do some of the things you have done for us over the years. I get tired very quickly now.
  The kids have all left now and I am alone again. It hurts so bad that you are not here. Love forever.  Dick

Now instead of DOING the many things for us, now we REMEMBER her labor of LOVE.

We just recently had Thanksgiving dinner and missed her greatly.  Of course, it wasn't the same without her, but seeing Dick and being around Joel was a good thing.

Now Christmas is coming.  Dick has opened his arms to us and is going to have quite a group there at his home on Christmas eve.  We will greatly miss seeing Mom this year.  

I don't know how you are mananging it, Dick, but please know how important you are to us.  We love you and will be around as much as we can till you tell us to stop!  HA!  

Love to Dick from the Rickard Family

Our world together ended eight months ago today. Dick

Tomorrow will be eight months since you have been gone. I have been so alone for all those eight months. I don't know how you were able to lay in that hospital for all the weeks you did, and without any complaining. The doctors tried to get you back to me, but they just did not know what to do. I have found that all the things you did for us over the years were very difficult, but still I don't know how you managed.  I am afraid that I will hurt so much this Christmas without you and I don't know if I can take it.
  Our lives together were something that few people will ever have. I love you. Dick

We had our Thanksgiving dinner again at the place where we have for the last three years. You were in our hearts and minds.  I miss you so much.
  Dick

Dear Maggie, I am going to take a trip to Arizona again this year to see your sisters. This may be the last time I see them. 
  I will follow the same roads we took together for so many years. To remember all the stops and views we saw, will make me sad because you will not be with me in body. I will talk to you and that might let the trip pass safely. 
  You have been gone for seven months and it seems forever. I will always love you.    Dick

Dear Grandma, I miss you! Wednesday was Grandpa's birthday and Jeff and I conference-called him like we did with you a few times! It was neat for both of us to be able to talk to him and it brought back memories of when you got to meet Jeff on a conference-call. Wedding plans are coming right along: it is 162 days until the wedding! I love you, Grandma!

I know my dear father that yesterday was another one of the very hard days that you will have to endure every year without our loved one.  We want you to know that we are here, that we love you, that you are very important to us.  Thanks for being there for us as well.  
It will only be a short time until another hard day-Thanksgiving Day.  We all must be thankful every memory that we have.  I wish it could be more.
We are looking forward to Christmas.  Becky will be coming.  Josh and Sarah will be coming.  Nathan will be coming.  We are anxious to see them and you again.
We love you!
Tom, Peggy, and the family

Today is my birthday and I will miss the card that you would put under my pillow every year at birthday time. 
Dick

I miss you again tonight. It will get worse as the holidays come around. 
Dick

Dearest Mom,
You've been gone from us for a year and we want you to know...
We thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new.
We thought of you yesterday and days before that too,
We think of you in silence, we often speak your name.
All we have are memories and your picture in a frame.
Your memory is our keepsake with which we'll never part.
God has you in His keeping, we have you in our hearts.
Our love always and forever,
Tom, Peggy, Becky, Josh, Nate, and Mary

Six months have gone by since you left me. Every day you have been gone is painful. I look at your picture and ask why did you have to leave. We had more love to give each other. That you are no longer here, I find many questions that I would like to ask and more things to say to you. All I have are the memories we made together. 
  Love Dick

The last few weeks have been even more intense for me. I miss Margaret more each day. It will soon be six months she has been gone.
Dick

   Mom was such a wonderful wife.  One can tell by the enduring love that Dick feels everyday-he can't let go of her because she has not let go of him!  :) Smile.  

   Her love also has given strength to Dick to keep going for the rest of us.  His love has been seen a few times by words, but mostly by action.  He has traveled several times to see the grandkids (and kids) so I see his heart beat IS others also.  We all have benefited by a meal here or there, but more by his presence of questions and guidance regarding everyday choices.

   Dick, press on.  Keep busy.  Thanks for all you have done for Joel and Glenn.  (They need the time with you.)Thanks for the concern for Marcus during the hurricane.  Thanks for thinking of Peggy regarding the personal items of Mother's.

   Becky and Josh think of you everyday though they are very busy.  I know because when we speak to them, they ask about you.  However, WE hear so little from them as they work and think about the wedding(s) and the future.  We got a chance to see Jeff (Becky's fiancee) while we were in Pensacola dropping off Nathan, and spoke about his future plans.  We got to meet Sarah and her parents (Josh's future).  They were very nice.  

   Nathan is already busy at college.  (Mom would be so proud of him!)  He will be excited to hear from you-I know you all alread have e-mailed.  We plan on sending a lot of "hard copy" and care packages to him, and I can see his face light up when he opens his mailbox in the commons and sees a letter or package.  

   Mary looks forward to everytime she gets to see you, Dick.  She is a lot like Mom.  She loves you a lot.

   Well, my friend, I will go.  You mean a lot to us!  I appreciate the times you and I have had together in which you have given good advice and counsel. I love you.  Peggy loves you!  We all love you.  Keep the "chin" up and stay busy.  

               Love, Tom

It has now been five months since Margaret has left us. Sometimes I look at her picture and a moment of fear comes over me for some reason. It might be that I realize I will never see her again or that I am afraid to go on without her. I catch myself reaching across the bed at night trying to find her hand to hold for a few moments like we used to do before sleep came.
   The children have been so good to me by calling or stopping by to say hello. My son-in-law, Tom checks on me almost every day. That is a big help  and I bet if I needed something, he would be here right now! We all miss Margaret and all we have left of her are the memories. We will never forget that we had a wonderful mother and wife.

This past week has been very lonely for me.  I miss her so much! Dick

Maggie, it looks like we are going to Manhattan KS. this year to visit the friends we made sometime ago and also to visit with the children on their last VBS of the year. They have all asked us to come. Dick

Another month has gone by since Margaret passed away. That she is gone will hurt for the rest of my days. We all miss her. Life for me without her is meaningless.

Dick,
My prayers are with you. I know that you are grieving for your beloved wife. Tom and family will be at our church next week. I would love to have you visit us in Manhattan, Kansas when they are here.
God bless,
Pastor David Byford
Faith Baptist Church
Manhattan, Kansas

Grandma, I gradutated with my Master's degree almost on your birthday! Here's a picture for you! I love you!

July 29, 2011
It is amazing how the time has flown since I first met Margaret-later to become known to me as Mom.  Her birthday was yesterday.  We always talked on her birthday.  She always made my day with her laughter and love for not only my family but also me.  
I will never forget.  Never!  
Dick, we love you and will never forget you either.  You are so special to us.  May God give you comfort during this trying time.  Hang in there!  We get to see you soon.
Love,
Your familly  Tom Peggy  Mary Nate Josh and Becky

Today Margaret would have been 81 years old. We would normally celebrate hers and Joel's birthday at the same time with a nice meal somewhere. This time it will be just Joel and I to remember mom and think about all the many things she did for us over the years. We love her and will miss her.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Margaret Erma Gray

29 juillet 1930 – 4 avril 2011

Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Crown Hill

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