In Memory of Uncle Richard Warren 1958-2009

On June 30, 2009, while we were furniture shopping, I got the call from my stepdad, Jim, that my Uncle Ricky died at work just a couple hours earlier. Of course I was surprised and devastated, especially since he was one of my youngest uncles, but also after the death of my Grandpa just two weeks earlier, it was hard not to dwell on the worst possible scenarios.
As I started coming to grips with this tragic loss, we attended his funeral on July 3. Elliott was graciously babysat by Bethi Goss, my dear sweet friend from church, so I could sing "Amazing Grace" and Brooks could be a paulbearer. At the funeral, I saw our large family grieve over this sudden and unexpected death of a loved one. It was then that I really started to grieve and really start healing.


Aunt Brenda Warren, my uncle's widow


My dear cousin, Sarah, who I grew up with and was closest to of all my cousins, and her husband Robert Dix.


Sarah's sister and my cousin, Lesa. I think her husband may have taken their four boys home by the time I got this snapshot with her.

Here is a link to a local newspaper report on the accident. It doesn't have any pictures, but it tells what happened, if you want to check it out.

http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090702/NEWS/907020313

A sort of family reunion...

My mom's cousins, Patty, from Sycamore, IL and Karen from Eldon, Missouri, by Lake of the Ozarks.

Aunt Brenda (Montgomery, IL) and Gloria (Roadhouse, IL). Aunt Brenda is mom's sister and Gloria is her 2nd cousin.

Amy Christensen, recently engaged to Drew Merry as of August 1, her birthday. :)

Uncle Jerry and Aunt Cheryl (Pontiac, IL). Jerry is mom's brother.

Jillian, another distant cousin-type relative, and Katie, my cousin's daughter (Sarah and Robert are her parents)

Aunt Shirley came up from Missouri as well, and is my mom's oldest sister.

Uncle James and cousin J.D. are part of Aunt Teresa's family.

Uncle Choppy, Aunt Ann, and my cousin Alesha. Uncle Choppy is my mom's brother.

My cousin Rodney and his wife Sarah. They have a 3 1/2 year old named Annabelle who plays with Jillian and Elliott sometimes when we are all at my mom's house. Rodney's sister is Amy and his mom is my Aunt Sherry.



My cousin David and his wife, Diane; David's parents are Choppy and Ann

David and Diane's two boys, Andy and Alix. Andy is almost done with his Bachelors in Education and wants to be a history teacher. Alix told me he is "staying out of trouble" ;)


Ashlee and her boyfriend, and their son Ayden.

Ashlee and her younger sister, Alyssa

Cousin Peter and his wife, Debbie (Peter has a sister named Debbie Jo, so his wife became known as Little Debbie since she was younger). They are son and daughter-in-law to Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Gladys.

Mom and cousin Mark, who was the one who helped us improve our bathroom at the townhouse. His sister is Debbie Jo and brother is Peter.

Cousin Peter's wife, Debbie (aka Li'l Debbie), 2nd cousin Denise, and cousin Debbie Jo, Denise's mom. Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Gladys are Debbie Jo's parents.

Aunt Sherry (Oswego, IL) and Aunt Teresa (Sheridan, IL), both my mom's sisters

(In the background is one of Peter and Debbie's sons, Aunt Gladys, and Uncle James)

Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Gladys, the globe trotters (well, maybe just RV'ers of the contiguous 48 states)

My dear, sweet friend Bethi offered to help babysit Elliott while we attended the funeral in Morris, IL. It was a long day for us, but Elliott had a great time! I'm thankful that we were able to visit the night before so it would be familiar to Elliott, and boy did it pay off! No tears! Well, that, and I think Bethi is a whole lot of fun! :)

Elliott played with Beatrice, Bethi's daughter for part of the day, when they weren't taking turns taking naps. She has a playpen just like Elliott does!

Susan, Brooks, Bob, and Mom (Bonnie)

Bob, Mom, Jillian, and myself after the funeral was over.