As anyone who knows our family is aware, we have a different way of coping with situations such as funerals. We all look at it as a natural part of life and deal with it in our usual "no one can handle the details as well as I can" attitude. I was in charge of hotel reservations, so we would all be at the same place and we wouldn't need to decide whose location best suited our needs. So, as is our usual modus operandi we took over the "breakfast area" our first night to begin our work on the funeral arrangements and program.
You can tell the worker bees by the fact that they have a computer in front of them. Anyone without a computer in front of them is a supervisor. One would think with all these people and equipment we would have completed our tasks in short order. But, the way we second guess ourselves and the fact that it was only Wednesday and the funeral wasn't until Friday meant we had more than enough time to work on everything.So, the next night after we returned from the funeral home we moved our merry little (though expanding) band to one of the conference rooms in the motel. Needless to say, we were able to finish our tasks, even though some spent their time snacking, watching NASCAR on TV and simply sitting around talking.
The next day we all caravanned to Gotebo, where the funeral was held. Considering the size of the town (don't blink takes on a whole new meaning) the Baptist Church there was lovely.
After a very nice service, we went to the Gotebo Cemetery for the interment. 
As I said, we have a different way of dealing with death. I think it's more relaxed than some because, as with Dad, we know he's in a better place and that we will see him again some day. I know that he always wanted his grandchildren to be comfortable with these things, because the cemetery is where he used to take some of them to play when they were young.
After the funeral we were all invited back to the church where we had lunch. The church in Oklahoma City Dad and Phyl attended sent some of the most delicious food, and since it was about a two hour drive for them, it was no easy accomplishment.Traveling Pig came to Oklahoma with Cathy, Kelly and Nic. He went everywhere with the family and he was most upset by the luncheon. In the photo you can see he is grieving the loss of his kindred and is just one step away from joining them.
On our way back to Weatherford (where we were staying) we made a couple of stops. The first stop was at the Odessa Cemetery where we thought some of our relatives might have been buried.
We saw quite a few old gravesites. It was strange trying to figure out how some members of a particular family could have died within days of one another. Sometimes we forget how lucky we are to have medicines that can save so many lives, especially the children. We did find a couple of Harris family names that sounded familiar. My grandmother was a Harris and we know there were a number of Georges in the bunch. It would be interesting to find out if this one is related.
When my mother's family lived in Gotebo they attended Sharon Missionary Baptist Church. It is where they got the name for the church the family organized in Long Beach many years ago. This building was built after the family went to California, but it is on the same property as the original church built in 1909.
Friday night after we returned from dinner we decided to observe a custom that the family started when we used to go to the races in Long Beach. At the races there was always a concession selling all types of cigars. I would buy a variety and then in the evening we would usually go the jacuzzi and whoever wanted to, would light up. I never smoke one, but I like the smell. Kelly, however, has become quite the cigar aficionado. It was quite a task finding some place in this small town to buy cigars. Once again, we made a request of the motel staff and they allowed us to move furniture from the inside pool area to the outside patio area so those that wanted to could smoke. So if you're ever in the Weatherford, Oklahoma area and need a room for the night, please go the Holiday Inn Express -- the staff is wonderful.
Saturday morning everyone that hadn't left yet decided since we had the time we should really go to the Oklahoma City Memorial. It was quite an experience and we were lucky enough to get there in time for the Park Ranger's talk about the site and what all the different elements stood for. They have left up a part of the fence that was initially there because some of the families requested it so they could leave up some of the momentos originally posted.
When we finished at the memorial it was lunch time and, of course, Scott knew just the place to go. It was in an area of town called, Bricktown, and it was the Bricktown Brewery. I've yet to figure out how, no matter what city we find ourselves in, Scott always knows a place to go. Well, why we were waiting to be seated I tried to get a picture of these three:
I told Brian to put his head down, because it looked like he was being Mr. Snutty with his nose in up in the air and this is the picture I got:
Once we were seated I tried to get a nice group picture, but you know how that goes. Would you believe this was the best of the bunch I took.
On our way back to Weatherford (where we were staying) we made a couple of stops. The first stop was at the Odessa Cemetery where we thought some of our relatives might have been buried.
We saw quite a few old gravesites. It was strange trying to figure out how some members of a particular family could have died within days of one another. Sometimes we forget how lucky we are to have medicines that can save so many lives, especially the children. We did find a couple of Harris family names that sounded familiar. My grandmother was a Harris and we know there were a number of Georges in the bunch. It would be interesting to find out if this one is related.
When my mother's family lived in Gotebo they attended Sharon Missionary Baptist Church. It is where they got the name for the church the family organized in Long Beach many years ago. This building was built after the family went to California, but it is on the same property as the original church built in 1909.
Friday night after we returned from dinner we decided to observe a custom that the family started when we used to go to the races in Long Beach. At the races there was always a concession selling all types of cigars. I would buy a variety and then in the evening we would usually go the jacuzzi and whoever wanted to, would light up. I never smoke one, but I like the smell. Kelly, however, has become quite the cigar aficionado. It was quite a task finding some place in this small town to buy cigars. Once again, we made a request of the motel staff and they allowed us to move furniture from the inside pool area to the outside patio area so those that wanted to could smoke. So if you're ever in the Weatherford, Oklahoma area and need a room for the night, please go the Holiday Inn Express -- the staff is wonderful.
Saturday morning everyone that hadn't left yet decided since we had the time we should really go to the Oklahoma City Memorial. It was quite an experience and we were lucky enough to get there in time for the Park Ranger's talk about the site and what all the different elements stood for. They have left up a part of the fence that was initially there because some of the families requested it so they could leave up some of the momentos originally posted.
When we finished at the memorial it was lunch time and, of course, Scott knew just the place to go. It was in an area of town called, Bricktown, and it was the Bricktown Brewery. I've yet to figure out how, no matter what city we find ourselves in, Scott always knows a place to go. Well, why we were waiting to be seated I tried to get a picture of these three:I told Brian to put his head down, because it looked like he was being Mr. Snutty with his nose in up in the air and this is the picture I got:
Once we were seated I tried to get a nice group picture, but you know how that goes. Would you believe this was the best of the bunch I took.
After lunch we all went our separate ways and I'm sure that some of us won't see each other again for quite a while. It was good too see those that could come and get to spend time together just reminiscing and catching up.
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