Memories of Julie

from Laura:

I remember aunt julie laughing a lot, and also how she'd mail me stickers for special occasions.  I also remember how she knew a lot about rocks, so one time when we were in Arkansas by a river, I kept picking up rocks and asking her if they were diamonds, emeralds, etc.  funny.



from Becky

Laura is right - Julie knew a lot about nature. Not only rocks, but flowers, trees, herbs.... She and Noel used to have a little vacation/hunting house near the AR/MO line. When I was prob in college, I spent a weekend with her there. She took me all over the hills and "hollers" and introduced me to the older folks who had been there forever. They loved her and loved to see her coming! That's where she taught me the names of so many trees and wildflowers! Don't know how she knew so much having grown up a city girl. She was quite an awesome nature photographer! She had a fancy camera before fancy cameras were cool! Lol.

When David and I moved into our house on Starlite, Julie walked me through our yard and identified every plant, tree, flower---I wished many times I'd written down what she told me. I'm def not from the memory dept!

Oh, and when Papaw taught her to drive, it was on an old dirt road. The whole fam damily would ride along! He'd always holler "stay in the ruts"!! That was the family joke forever!! Bill Boy got the same treatment when they taught him to drive, and Julie would chime in "stay in the ruts!" by the time I came along, the roads were paved. But they still loved to say "stay in the ruts!" to me. Lol
And I've noticed that both Lissa and Will have her laugh!!!

I, too, sure miss her AND her laugh. So it's fun for me to hear them laugh!! :)

from Bill Boy:

Since Julie was the oldest I always had the advantage of her experience. She always gave me good advice about what to expect when I began a new grade or moved from elementary school to junior high and from junior high to high school and then to college.  Her academic over-achieving was sometimes a mixed-blessing for me but I always took full advantage of her high IQ whenever I needed help with homework.

Of course Julie and I had to consol each other when Becky came along and became the center of everyone's attention.  However, once we accepted the fact that Becky was going to stay, we all got along very well.

As a kid I assumed Julie knew everything because she always seemed confident and she always excelled in everything she did.  However, she also acted very proud of me and made me feel special.  As adults we lived miles apart and didn't see one another often enough.  But we thoroughly enjoyed being together whenever we had the chance.  Her sense of humor and love for people were contagious.

I've never seen Julie happier than when Lissa and Will were born.  I know Julie has been keeping an eye on things and I know she is so proud of the wonderful adults Lissa and Will have become.   Our lives have all been blessed because of Julie's influence.


from Jakeb:

Aunt Julie was a wonderful person.  She always seemed so full of life and happiness.  I can honestly say I never saw her without a smile.  I got to visit her a couple of times during college when I went up to see a razorback game.  She talked to me about the welcome wagon stuff and I could tell that she was very passionate about it.  I can't think of a better person to welcome new people to town.

from Laci:

I remember at Thanksgiving time I always wanted to make a turkey out of a pine cone. Laura and Lissa would usually do it with me. Most of you adults would just say "oh that's neat", but Aunt Julie always made me feel really special about it. She'd go on and on about how creative I was.
I also remember her great laugh!


from Nathan:

I remember when I was around 10 she happened to be in Texarkana around my birthday.  She  took me to the mall by myself to pick out a new pet for my birthday.  She told me I could pick out whatever pet I  wanted.  On the way there we discussed several different pets, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc., but then she mentioned parakeets. She talked about how you could teach them to talk, I thought that we be cool so that's what I got.  I remember her great sense of humor.  Always enjoyed going to visit in Fayettville.
from Pam:

I remember Julie's laugh.  It was a very special sound.  I also remember how jealous I was that she had such a green thumb.  I especially loved her flower garden in the spring.  All those beautiful bulbs she had planted.  She was also a great cook.  When we would visit, she always had some wonderful soup or other dish that was out-of-this world.  I sure miss her.


from Will:

Well, unfortunately, I don't remember a whole whole lot about my Mom, since I was only nine but I will share something the sticks out.

My friend Sam and I were being stupid kids one day and we were across the street from my house on Sunset, and we were pretending to throw tennis balls at cars coming down the street. Well, this was fun until one car decided to slam on the breaks. Well, Sam ran to his house, and I ran to mine scared to death. Well, the guy chose to follow me, and after I made it inside and sat in front of the TV(after all, I was so so innocent...) there came a loud knock on the door. Mom answered the door and the guy begins to complain about her son pretend throwing tennis balls. I figured I'm about to get a spanking or a nice yelling at. Instead, Mom proceeds to tell the man to mind his own business and quit complaining about her son. She closed to door on him, and looked at me, smiled, and said "Don't do that again" Nothing else happened. It just struck me that she decided to protect her son from the accusations of a stranger, which were true, than get me in trouble.

I have been told from many people that she loved me very much, and I do feel grateful that she was my Mom, if only for a little while.

Love you guys,
Will


from becky part 2
That is so Julie!  I can totally see her doing that. She actually handled a situation similar to that on my behalf when I was little. And I was probably just as innocent as you, Will. Haha. I've thought of it often over the years.

Thx for ending the day with YOUR memory! I think I can speak for all of us and say: that's very special to us!!

And I believe what Uncle Bill said today -- she is keeping an eye on things and is smiling down on you and Lissa -- and now Christena!

Love ya much!!
Aunt B