THE END OF AN ERA

Laurence Hanks was founder of Hanks Excavating

A few days ago I received a very sad call that went from bad to worse during the day and evening. First I learned one uncle had passed away and by the end of the day I learned two of my uncles, the last of my Mother’s beloved brothers, passed away just a short time from each other.  The one thing that provides tons of comfort is that my Mom was there to greet them both and love on them. 

Laurence passed away on July 4.  His daughter said this was the same day her sister, Flossie, named after my Grandmother, was hit by a car and died decades ago.  I hear Harold passed away in the Spring but we weren’t notified.  Both of my uncles had children that passed away before them, a very sad thing for each of them.  The last time I saw Uncle Harold  and Uncle Laurence was at our family reunion in Michigan.  Uncle Harold had lost his only son just days prior to the reunion. 

There are so many memories with each of them and the uncles that passed before them.  My Mom had seven brothers.  She used to hold her hands up and name them in order using her fingers.  I don’t know if I could do that anymore.  My Mom’s brothers became our Dads when my Father passed away.  As Jane reminded me this morning, Uncle Laurence and Uncle Milburn did all of the things that Dads do.  They took the littlest of us girls to all the Daughter/ Daddy dances and Uncle Milburn was the Dad who walked me down the aisle to marry my wonderful husband, Mike, just a short 42 years ago.  Uncle Milburn passed away in 2000.  My Mom was 2 months pregnant when my own Dad died and Uncle Harold took me to Pioneer Park with his children for the summer that year.  When Mom still hadn’t had the baby when we were scheduled to go home, he took us to his house and made us part of his family for more time.  I loved them all and could tell stories about each of my uncles.  My Mom was very close to her brother Laurence and spend a month at his home every summer for 20 or more years.  They were good company for each other.  Mom sat and watched baseball with him every night.

Now they are all gone and we are left with only memories.  The memories are so sweet and to relive them is wonderful.  Jane pointed out this morning that we both married men just like a combination of Laurence, Harold and Milburn.  All three were great husbands and fathers and we looked for men just like them.  I hope the heritage they gave us will continue for years to come.

Today I called Muskegon Florist with a strange request for the summer months.  I ordered a Christmas Cactus for the memorial service.  Why a Christmas Cactus in July?  I learned years ago that you stop watering a Christmas Cactus in October and don’t begin watering it again until mid November.  It pretty much dies then you begin to water it again and it blossoms with beautiful blooms in December.  Unless it dies it won’t put forth blooms.  I look back at the years and remember my Grandmother passing in 1974 then my Grandfather in 1977.  I remember the Christmas Day parties when almost all 52 first cousins would get together in Grandma and Grandpa’s house and party Christmas night.  Bob, Laurence, Harold, Ted, Bill (John), Buster (Earl), Milburn and my Mom gave 52 grandchildren to my grandparents and countless great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.  Just another piece of trivia as well – my Grandfather married Flossie Garvey and made her a Hanks – His sister, Margaret Hanks, married Earl Garvey, my Grandmother’s brother, and they made us a boatload of double cousins.  What a great family heritage to pass on to our children.  A Christmas Cactus is more and more fitting every minute I write this.  We are a blessed family.

Uncle Laurence, left, and Uncle Harold, right, at the 2011 reunion

I know all of the uncles will be missed at the family reunions which have occurred for several years at the church next to Uncle Laurence’s home.  They were held on the last Sunday of July every year.  I have included a picture of the first reunion held in 1928 in the blog article I wrote April 16, 2012.  I hope you will consider going back in the archives and reading all about our family reunions.  By the way, my baby sister, Mary Lisa, was born July 10, 1962 and went to her first family reunion when she was only a few days old.  Mom wouldn’t let a new baby keep her from one of her favorite days of the year.  I don’t know if we will continue to have a reunions but I sure hope so and I hope every grandchild, great grandchild and great-great grandchild that is living will be there along with all the double cousins.  Let’s party!!!