Kittie, My Sister, My Friend

I wrote this in Feb.2007, for Kittie's memorial service. I still miss her so very much.  She was the last of my family to leave.

   Almost 78 years ago we became sisters and as far back as I can remember,we have been best friends. We were proud to be coal miners daughters. We grew up through hard times,but we didn't know it. However, it made us appreciate everything later in life.

 At a very early age I became her mother figure, even though I was 9 years younger. She was the prettiest one in the family. When new babies were born, if they were pretty, they looked like Kittie.  If they were a little ornery, they were just like me.  Anyway we stood by each other in happy times and sad times. I always wanted to protect her and help fight her battles. If you don't believe it, ask her boys. She would do the same for me when she could.

 She was a classy lady,always proud, had beautiful hair. There were times we'd be waiting to take her to the hospital, and she would say "where is my pick?"  She could be a little bit hard to please. The clothes I'm wearing today, I sent to her for her birthday a couple of years ago.  She loved them EXCEPT,the pants were too hot and the tank top wasn't right. After she went to Millers Merry Manor, she said I could have them back, the pants and tank top but she was keeping the shirt. So here they are Kittie,I'm wearing them in your honor.

She loved to sing [we were like our mother that way] We sang when we were happy or sad or whatever was in between. Even after she lost most of her voice, she still tried to sing with me.
 In the last months there were times when I had to get tough with her but that's what mothers do.
She was a favorite aunt to all her nieces and nephews. Until she was forty years old, they were the ones for her to "dote" on. Then suddenly she had three wonderful boys of her own, She would always say her life truly began at forty. These big guys and her five grandchildren were her life. Her kids and my kids were "our" kids.

I know I will think of things I should have said here, but it would take too long. So many times in the past few years, she would say,"Lois it's just you and me against the world." I'm truly thankful that we had those years to travel that road together, sharing our deepest thoughts that are only known to us.