Sue Ann and Ken

This little kewpie, doll baby came into our lives just six months after our oldest daughter, Beth, was born. These were the first grandchildren of Beth and George Smith. What an amazing duo these two would become in our lives!

Here was one Easter that we spent together when Uncle Ken was in VietNam. I made matching dresses for you and Beth (poor April’s didn’t get finished). You two had a lot of fun playing for a week.
The next memory was in Missouri. The girls and I rode the train to St. Louis where your mom and grandma picked us up at the train station and we spent a couple of weeks together. You all played many wonderful hours in the cubby hole under the stairs. Then your family came to Washington D.C. to visit us and we all visited the zoo, the museum of natural history, Mt. Vernon, etc. We visited you one Christmas in Missouri. You were the Cowgirls and mine were the Nurses. Again many hours spent playing house, games, and make believe.

When we lived in Colorado, your family and ours took the famous road trip to Aunt Becky’s wedding. One night we stayed in Albuquerque, NM. We had one room with 3 adults and six or seven kids. We ate in a restaurant, swam in the hotel pool and slept. I remember your mom braided everyone’s hair then dressed you in your clothes for the next day and you went to sleep. My girls thought that so cool because I never let them sleep in their clothes. Your mom has always been very practical and organized. The next day when we stopped for a rest someone put an apple seed in the ignition and we had a scary half hour as we tried to get the car started in the middle of nowhere. As we got ready for the reception you girls HELPED Uncle Bub clean the garage. You used hoses and brooms and were stripped to your underwear. I’m not sure who had more fun, you kids or the adults watching you.

Reunions were always a special highlight for us and especially for you cousins. You and Beth being the oldest were always the leaders and helpers - sometimes willingly and sometimes reluctantly. I remember the routines and shows you would all come up with. All of you going shooting at the ranch, the hikes, the games around grandma’s table, the meals, etc. So many, many memories!

And of course Zion reunions, with the ranch gone that part of our lives is only memories, but Zion continues so far. It’s hard to think of an end to this tradition – who knows. It’s so fun to know that I will see you at least occasionally because of reunions. Here are a few more growing years.
As an adult, you have continued to be part of our lives. You are so good at keeping in touch with everyone for birthdays, reunions, and just fun notes. We so enjoy getting together and talking old times, news, church, politics, and what’s happening with Suzette. You are still that cute, bubbly girl who, talks a mile a minute and worms her way into our hearts on a regular basis. The future is bright and the Lord still has plans for you, in His own time frame. Stay close, we love you!