91 amazing years

life has come full circle for my family this past week, with the death of my sweet grandma 2 weeks after Elin was born. on the 16th grandma's heart decided it needed a final rest and she passed away peacefully. she had just arrived in FL hours earlier, to start her winter stay with jimmy at their house there. they flew down with my great-uncle on his jet, arriving sometime after lunch, and grandma was in good spirits that day. she was even putting on lipstick on the jet! i have to point out the significance of grandma's passing taking place in FL since it was truly part of God's plan for her to join His Kingdom after she made it to FL. my grandma has one sister and one brother. her sister, betty, had shoulder surgery 2 weeks ago and would not have been able to travel to NC for a funeral. her brother, earl, suffered a major tragedy saturday (same day grandma passed) with the death of his step-grandson in a horrible car accident. the grandson, andrew, was 21 and in college in FL. there were 6 other kids in the car and andrew was the only one killed, but many others were hurt very badly. andrew's funeral was the day after my grandma's so having both funerals in FL made what seems to be the worst week of my uncle earl and aunt christy's life a tad more manageable. grandma's funeral (it was really a memorial) took place in the same catholic church we had my grandpa's service at years ago. the significance of that is very sweet. and many of my grandma's friends were in FL so they were able to attend. the only people that had to travel to FL were those of us that are younger and more able. my uncle pat came from san fran and mom and i flew down with elin. elin did great by the way, on the plane, front row at the memorial service, running all the errands, etc.

my uncle pat with his great-niece!

my great-aunt betty with her great great niece! betty has renamed elin "betty", but this is no surprise because she also named buxton "buxton betty".

it is very hard to comprehend that i will not see my grandma in this life on earth again, but i am comforted to know that she is with Our Father in Heaven. she lived a VERY FULL life. she was blessed by a strong family unit, a husband of 50+years that gave her 3 amazing children who she adored, more friends than any avid facebooker could imagine, and a 2nd husband whom she married at 80 that took extraordinary care of her up to her last breath.

there are a couple of things that make my grandma's passing a little easier to deal with, besides the fact that her life was so long and good. one is the fact that she has been reunited with her youngest son, mike, in Heaven. i never met mike and have always had an empty space in my heart for him. and being a mother gives new meaning to what it would be like to lose a child, but grandma is with him again and i find much peace and hope in this. second, my beautiful baby girl fills my heart with so much of His grace since part of my grandma will forever be part of her. grandma didn't get to meet elin, but she did see pictures thanks to the time mom spent with her recently, showing her pictures, my blog, ect.

i feel so blessed to have a grandma as wonderful as she was, and one that took such great care of me from the day i was born. i have SO many wonderful memories of her that i will forever cherish. rest in peace grandma. i love you.

Nita Epperson

Mrs. Nita Epperson, age 91, died October 16th, 2010 in Winter Haven, FL. She was born April 3rd, 1919 in Arabi, GA and was a summer resident of Blowing Rock, NC and a winter resident of Winter Haven, FL. She was a previous resident of Salisbury, NC. She was a member of Hound Ears and Lake Region Country Clubs.
Mrs. Epperson is predeceased by her son Michael Aaron and first husband Frank Aaron.
She is survived by her husband Jim Epperson, Winter Haven, FL and Blowing Rock, NC; son Patrick Aaron, San Francisco, CA; daughter Lyn Dixon, Charlotte, NC; brother Earl Powell, Coral Gables, FL; sister Betty VonHahmann, Winter Haven, FL; granddaughter Kristin Smith, Gastonia, NC; and great-grand children Buxton and Elin Smith, Gastonia, NC.
Memorial services are Wednesday, October 20th at 10AM at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Winter Haven, FL.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Grandfather Home for Children, PO Box 98, Banner Elk, NC 28604; phone: 828-898-5465.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.ottlaughlinfuneralhome.com.