Happy Birthday Linda
Today is Linda's birthday. I think it is very appropriate that we celebrate her life of giving, on her birthday.
From Linda's family, Mike, Amy, Tammy and Kathy her sister, thank you to everyone who been such an important part of Linda's life.
We all have stories to tell on Linda, and fortunately for us, she gave us many great loving memories to share.
Many of you remarked to Linda that her strength, determination and perseverance through this 3 and a half year ordeal, gave you strength and encouragement. Of course she didn't see it that way. She said she just went day to day, trying to do her best, living her life as she thought God wanted her to. She was not happy with her illness, but she was at peace with whatever the outcome was going to be.
We all know that though imperfect, as we all are, she looked more to help, than to hurt. I remarked to her that she was a sounding board, a source of wisdom for many. People knew that if you asked Linda for help, she was there for you. There are many of you who were the beneficiaries of Linda's small favors, advice, errands run, helping folks get to the doctor, even when it meant a trip to Tulsa or Oklahoma City.
The family wants to thank some folks who were especially helpful and loving to Linda and Mike through this process. Kathy Justice Larbi, one of Linda's lifelong friends, provided a second home for Linda and Mike while she was in Houston for treatment a few weeks ago. Kathy also was our email contact for updates about Linda's journey. Kathy couldn't be with us today because she is at her son's wedding. She sends her love.
Mike and Linda's across the street neighbors, Nancy and Joe were truly God's angels for many years for the Kern's. Through shared prayer, food, fun and tribulations, Joe and Nancy have been there for Linda and Mike - thank you Joe and Nancy, from all of us.
Linda and Kathy's cousins, Kenny and Kay Speers have been a constant source of encouragement, humor, support and travel companionship. We all wish to thank Kenny and Ginger, Kenny's wife, especially for being here this last week or so.
Personally, I will be eternally grateful to Linda and Mike for helping her sister Kathy and myself to become husband and wife. After Linda and Kathy's mother died when she was 23 and Kathy was 19, Linda looked after Kathy like she was her mother. Thank you Linda. She helped many of us through troubled times and shared our exciting, hopeful, happy times as well.
People also knew that you had to be honest with Linda, she could see through the, excuse me, the BS. She couldn't tolerate deceit, but she loved helping. Linda also was very grateful for all the help you have given her and her family over time. Her friends here in McAlester and all over the world were great joy and inspiration to her. Thank you.
This wonderful human being, was also the local animal kingdom's great hero. As her daughter Amy said the other day, the animal kingdom knew her address. They must have shared it through the critter grapevine. Amy mused that animals wandered down Redbud lane, looking around and spotting 1532 saying, yep, that's Linda's house, let's go there. At one point, Linda made a home for 4 dogs and 6 cats. She also has found homes for many animals and has been a big supporter of local efforts to help her animal friends. Her yard was designed for her animal friends. One of their great delights was sitting either in the "Dog House", Mike and Linda's great sun room, or on their back patio, watching the birds at the feeder or the squirrels running the fence. At one point, she found a dove that had a broken wing. Mike says she took the bird to the vet who clipped the wing, patched it up and Linda took it home. She and that bird had true communication. When Linda would coo to the dove, it would coo back, just for Linda, no one else. They comforted each other. That was the Linda we love.
Of course her great joy in life were her children, Amy and Tammy. I know she was so happy that each have wonderful husbands and proud they have chosen occupations of service to others. Mike also has shared that although her illness was tough, it has given them more personal time together, to pray, to share life's tenderest moments and to revel in all God has given them.
Us in her extended family, will truly miss her as our hub, the center of family gatherings. We were all blessed to be here last summer for Tammy's wedding. That was such a wonderful time for us and Linda. But we shared many such moments in time with Linda. It's been fun sharing, remembering those times these last few days together.
I do have one nit to pick with Linda though. I am just a real gullible, trusting sort. When we were with Linda, and she and her sister, my wife Kathy, would tell me they were going shopping, I believed them. I was sure that meant they were going to the nearest Wal-Mart or shoe store. Linda's "shopping" time was renowned. Kathy and Linda loved being together shopping, at a casino. Sitting together, putting pennies, nickels and quarters in those slots, sharing what their kids were up to was a great past time.
We will surely miss Linda. But she is now in a greater place from which to help us. We believe she will always be a great part of our lives.
Again, Linda's family wishes to thank all of you for being here, for all the kindnesses shown, food shared, stories told over these past days, months and years. You all have truly been a blessing to the Kern family.
Mike, Amy and Tammy have asked me to read this poem to close:
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Gone From My Sight
by Henry Van Dyke
I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship, at my side, spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud, just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone". Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all.
She is just as large in mast, hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout,
"Here she comes!"
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Today, we thank God for Linda as a gift to us on her birthday. May she rest in peace. And may all her shopping in heaven, bring big winnings to all the animals and people we will help in the future, in her name.
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