GRAVEL HILL CEMETERY - APRIL 25, 2009

We went to Oklahoma and came back to Benton in the same day, so needless to say we were pretty worn out.

The last couple of times I had been to Benton I had tried to get out to Gravel Hill but something had always come up. Gravel Hill was a Baptist church and cemetery I had been to many times in my early childhood, and where many members of the Ashcraft family were buried. I don't think anyone else was too enthused about it but Saturday, Mama, Daddy, Laura and I drove out there and got to spend a good bit of time poking around, taking pictures and gathering information for future genealogy research.

OKLAHOMA AND AUNT PAT'S MEMORIAL - APRIL 24, 2009

On Friday, April 23, I traveled to Mama & Daddy's. I arrived around 9 PM and didn't have time to do much except go to bed, considering we were leaving for Oklahoma early the next morning to attend Pat's Memorial Service. We got on the road fairly close to the time we planned to and had a fairly uneventful trip, thank goodness. We did take a short detour through Ft. Smith to see some of the houses Mama, Daddy and I had lived in when it was just the three of us, almost 50 years ago (impossible!!!). Our final destination was Tulsa, but we stopped off in Muskogee to see Pat and Gina's home. It was a beautiful spot that was in the country but still close to town and sat on the edge of a bluff with an unbelievable view. It was a very peaceful place.

The memorial service was very unique and special and was a true celebration of Pat's life and her profound affect on the lives of the people who knew and loved her. I had never attended a service quite like it, but felt extremely honored to have been able to be a participant.