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“Life has been good and I don’t fear the night
It’s part of God’s plan and I know it’s all right.”
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Okie, my aunt and the author of that special poem, passed away peacefully early this morning, September 7, 2015. Okie was 98 years old.
My husband Peter and I had spent lots of time with Okie and her huge family, when we were visiting in New Hampshire this summer….Okie was such a pleasure to spend time with!
Okie had talked with much of her family yesterday, via speaker phone, as they celebrated the wedding of one of her beloved grandchildren, Kevin, in Maryland.
Okie was still alert, still writing more poems for her writing group, still watching and reading the news and still social…just the way she would like things to be.
Okie’s poetry, thoughts, insights are in her own blog: “Poems by Okie, 98 Years Old and Still Writing” I encourage readers to link into that site to read Okie’s special, wise and insightful ideas.
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Okie was a very special person in many, many people’s lives…
she will be deeply missed…………..
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A wedding gift Okie gave to my husband Peter and me, 30 years ago…
a lovely needlepoint that hangs above our bed
Irish Blessing…. “May the Road Rise to Meet You…”
yes………until we meet again….
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May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand
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…because hiking through the woods and being in nature was so precious to Okie….
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“Memories: To My Sister Kay on Her 75th Birthday”
written by Okie, to Kay (Kathy’s mother) 20 years ago
They both lived such rich and full lives…
(Kay, 96 years old, is still alive, although not nearly as alert, nor in as good health, as Okie seemed to be)
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“Sisters, sisters…take my hand”
One of Okie and Kay’s favorite chants,
from when they were little girls growing up “on the farm”
a lifelong chant that they continued to recite to each other
“Sisters, let us be
friends forever til the sea
Gather waters, floods the land
Sisters, sisters…take my hand….”
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Pocket Perspectives 
Thank you for sharing these beautiful words and your beloved Okie!
Sent from my iPhone
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thank you………….
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What a lovely reminisce this is. I feel like she has gone gently into the night to walk in sunlight over the hill. You will miss her presence in your life and still always have her with you, in memories, in her words, and pictures. A gentle hug to you dear friend.
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Thank you, Joss, for your lovely words,reassurance and sentiments…I deeply appreciate them… thank you… Kathy
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My hugs to you Kathy. I remember reading posts by your aunt; she is an inspiration for the rest of us. May her spirit continue to soar.
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Thank you Marie….it’s been a big loss. Yes, may her spirit continue to soar!
We were there in New Hampshire for 5 weeks this summer and saw Okie lots of times…a joy to spend time with her. She was fine…quite healthy and completely alert, cheerful, competent and engaged… so alive!….so, we were surprised that she died. She really was an inspiration to so many. Here’s something I really enjoyed putting together last week…. about various ways she inspired my husband, daughter and me…to keep that inspiration going. https://poemsbyokie.wordpress.com/inspired-by-okie/
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I can imagine the void that that is felt when someone as vibrant as your aunt leaves the world. I checked the link to Okie’s inspirations, and I smiled when she commented one of the candidates at 73 was a bit too old for public office. 🙂 It’s a blessing that even with your aunt Okie gone physically she continues to inspire. Her spirit remains alive!
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Yes…………… ❤
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