Great Grandpa Jimmie

You have been so blessed to have your Great Grandpa Jimmie in your life for almost your first 2 years! :) Your Grandpa Jimmie loved you SO much....you were his great-granddaughter, and you were so special to him. You definetly had him wrapped around his finger. ;)

Your first middle name "Bonnie" is after Great Grandpa Jimmie's wife's name. Great-Grandma Bonnie. Unfortunately, you never met her here on earth - but we know she has ALWAYS been watching over you. And now, Great Grandpa is watching over you with her.

Your Great Grandpa was an amazing cook. He made the most delicious bread!! I got his recipe from him a long time ago - but I never could make it as good as Grandpa. He made amazing Christmas Candy, and your Auntie M really LOVED his vegetable soup.

Your Great-Grandpa was wonderful at snuggling with you - and showering you with kisses. He gave fantastic hugs and had a gorgeous smile!

But, your Great Grandpa also had an ornery side....he loved to pick on you and me and everyone else. He passed this trait on to your Grandpa and your daddy -- so watch out! :) It was Great-Grandpa if he wasn't tickling you or laughing at with you. ;)

Your grandpa loved to share snacks with you - he had these cookies at his house that you loved to eat

 

Every time you were around your Great-Grandpa would light up!

 

Thursday, January 31st your grandma called us and told us that they wer headed to Fort Scott to see your Great-Grandpa in the hospital. See, your Great-Grandpa was battling cancer for some time. We got to have plenty of visits with him since we knew for quite a while. We knew that this Thanksgiving, and Christmas were probably our last with him....so it helped us all feel like we were able to say good-bye.

On January 31st - the nurses had called and said that they weren't sure how long Grandpa was going to last. So, we decided to go to Fort Scott as well and see Grandpa. I'm so glad we went. We visited with Grandpa briefly - he slept most of the time we were there -- you hung out in the waiting room most of the time with some family, while your daddy and I hung out with Great-Grandpa. But before we left Great-Grandpa woke up long enough to say good-bye to us. You were so cute and waved bye, said "love you", and blew him a kiss. Great-Grandpa actually smiled and chuckled a little while saying that you were so "precious"! :) Your daddy and I both told him that we loved him and we'd see him later. He told us he loved us to.

This is an amazing last memory to have of Great-Grandpa and I can still see how he lit up, despite being exhausted and so sick, when he saw you there in front of him.

 

Great Grandpa passed away early morning of February 4th. He was ready to go and he was ready to go meet Great-Grandma Bonnie. When we went to the visitation you kept walking up to Great-Grandpa and telling us he was sleeping. You would shush people to tell them that he was sleeping! Great Grandpa and Margie got you a little puppy dog to cuddle with to always remember your Great-Grandpa. We laid Great-Grandpa to rest on February 7th.

 

Eliana, I cannot express enough how much your Great-Grandpa loved you - and even though you may never remember him, being as young as you are....I want you to know that you and him had a very special relationship! You are very lucky to have had him here. And you're a very blessed little girl to have him join Grandma Bonnie as one of your Guardian Angels - I know Great Granpa and Great Grandma will always be by your side.

 

I love you little girl,

Mommy