My Grandmother, Florence Iris Wilkinson passed away in her sleep on Tuesday, November 15, 2006. Her funeral was the following Monday on the 21st. She had lived to the age of 95. She was the longest living grandparent to my siblings and me.

Her funeral was in Dalhart, Texas. She had lived there many years. During her lifetime she had accomplishments such as being a cab driver in Dalhart, selling Avon products, and teaching Sunday school class for several years. But more importantly she was the wife of George Wilkinson for over 50 years and mother to eight children.

Her funeral was sad but not too sad. About 100 people attended. My Mom's brother Harold and sister Rosalee attended. Eight of my siblings attended also: Perry, Richard, Kelly, Sharon, Reuben, Sharon, Nancy, Deena and Daniel. Among several other neices and nephews my son Samuel also went to the funeral. As my sister, Deena played the guitar, my other sister Nancy and I sang the old song, I'll Fly Away. A lady named Mary Perkins sang three other songs, The Old Rugged Cross, Further Along and Without Him.

When the preacher told stories of Grandma from her childhood it made everyone laugh.

Then he asked the audience if anyone would like to stand and tell something about Grandma. Several stood. The lady who owned the cab business told of how she enjoyed working with Grandma. Another woman stood and told that when she was going through a very difficult time even though my Grandma was very old she baked a cake and took it to her home. About three workers attended the funeral from the nursing home where my Grandmother had lived for about two years. They told how they enjoyed her and that she would be missed.

Grandma was buried at Memorial Park Cemetary in Dalhart near our Grandpa and our old brother Kenneth.