Jimi Ruth Bowen Kelly Smith

Yeah, that's a lot of names. You don't meet someone with that many names everyday. But that's who she was....one of a kind. My Grandmother passed away on Friday, May 13th. She had battled illness and Alzheimer's disease for years, so in many ways, this was a sweet release from her pain. But that doesn't make the loss any easier.

She was such a unique lady. Widowed at 36, she was strong and brave. You didn't mess with Jimi. And you didn't want to be on her bad side. But while she was tough and firm, she was also hilariously funny, sweet and very generous. I'd like to think I'm like her in a lot of ways. I want to be more like her. Not afraid to say what I think, but at the same time very genuine and loving.

I think of her when I smell coffee, and Clinique lipstick. She was always dressed to the nines, and she loved gold jewelry. I hear her in my head when I teach my students, because she was an awesome teacher. She loved to teach, called her kids her "Little Toots" and taught them how to speak correctly. I think of her when I smell bacon, as she always made us bacon at her house. And I think about her when I am crafty, as I know I got that from her.

We buried her in Mangum, OK on Wednesday, after a service in Edmond. I sang "Amazing Grace" at the funeral, and I was worried my voice would crack. But as I sat next to Ryan, he asked me if I was going to be able to sing without crying. I told him if she were here, she would tell me to "Get it together, it's just a song." And I really believe that. She would have loved it, and it wasn't even that good.

I will miss her terribly. I will miss who she was before Alzheimer's set in. I will miss her laugh and her catch phrases. "Ta de ta de ta de." That was a common one. I will miss hearing her call Denise "BD" which stands for Baby Doll.  I will miss hearing her stories about my Dad, and how she'd embarrass him in front of his friends. I will miss her big smile and her generous spirit. She never came to see us without a gift. I will miss playing Spinner with her and I will miss watching her win without even trying. I will miss the abundance of Christmas ornaments we received from her, most of them Texas themed, much to my Dad's chagrin. I will miss everything.

Here she is on our Wedding day. Beautiful, as always! And in yellow, her favorite color.