Julia Ann Logan Braunlin

Julia Ann Logan Braunlin, 85, died on Friday, June 15, 2012 at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA due to heart complications. She and her special needs son, Carl, had moved to Winston-Salem, NC in 2011. She was born in Greenup, KY on November 5, 1926, to Samuel Vernon Logan and Melissa Vina Truitt. She was a former resident of Sciotoville, OH and Nitro, WV. After graduation from Minford High School in 1945, she was accepted in the last cadet nursing class before the end of WWII at the Sisters of Mercy School of Nursing. She graduated in 1948 and began her career as an RN. After raising 7 children, she returned to her nursing career and earned her BSN from WVU in 1984. During her career, she served as Pediatric Unit Supervisor, ICU nurse, and Night charge Psychiatric Nurse. She retired in 1994 from the Charleston Area Medical Center.

Surviving are her seven children, Julia Conley of NC, Walt Braunlin of TX; Bill Braunlin of MA, Charlotte Bergdahl of MI, Maria Theresa Riemann of NC, Carl Braunlin of the home, Wilbur Braunlin of MD, 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was a gift from God and her love touched many lives. She will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be on Friday, June 22, 2012, from 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM prior to 2 PM funeral services at Frank Vogler & Sons, 2951 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC with Rev Elizabeth Forrest officiating. Burial will follow at the Crestview Memorial Park, Rural Hall, NC. On-line condolences or floral tributes requests may be at www.frankvolglerandsons.com

The following is an excerpt from her grandson's, Nicholas Sooy's valedictorian speech to his class in June 2012. She was so proud of him.

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying;

And this same flower that smiles today,

Tomorrow will be dying.

You see, time is not on our side when it comes to rejoicing. But time can teach us something. Time teaches us to truly appreciate our lives. You don't know what you have in life till its almost gone, or so the saying goes, and time is there as our friendly reminder that things are going, and that life won't wait for us. So why wait for life to go then? Let's appreciate what we have right now. Today is the only day to live, and it is a good day.

The recognition of today as the day to live is what it means to seize the day. Many people float through time, saying they will appreciate things later, have time for fun another day, show their love tomorrow. In reality, you have a limited amount of conversations with everyone you know. A limited amount of waking hours left, so live it up! There is no other moment than now, and you will never experience a bit of your life that isn't in the present.

So as we mark this day, think not so much of the past- though it guides us and grounds us, nor of the future, though it directs us and drives us. But keep the present in mind while you are living it, and remember the past and future when they help make the present moment more enjoyable.

The present can be the most enjoyable moment if you make it. Breath deep. Look around. Feel the life flowing through you. Know that feeling and know that it is worth living for. Know that the world is awaiting you to come and experience it, to change it, to love it and that it all starts now.