I had the most interesting and upsetting call this morning. It was from a "you don't know me, but..." female voice. Her name was Cindy, a friend of 2nd cousin Mark, alongwith her husband, from the Twin Cities area, and she was busy cleaning up the apartment of Mark's. Mark passed away October 6th, less than 40 miles from my home. He had had a heart attack at the age of 45. I'm not sure yet of the details, but while cleaning up, Cindy found a copy of Prairie Roots, a newsletter I joyfully send out to family every quarter (the next issue is due to be sent in Dec.). My phone number is on the newsletter and Cindy knew that she'd be in contact with family.
The funeral is already history. Mark's father did come from Arizona, but as the family was estranged and Mark's mother, Margie, is dead, no other family could be found. Mark has a few first cousins that have lost track of him after Margie's death. None of us knew where he had moved to, since living in Florida selling properties about 4 years ago. Evidentally Cindy and other friends arranged the funeral and there were many special words shared.
Cindy also didn't know what to do with the personal effects and pictures that they found in the apartment. I accentuated to her that there were family members nearby that would appreciate anything of that nature. Cindy gave me her phone number and E-Mail address and permission to share it with his cousins. She sounded truly grieved atMark's passing.
I then called Gail...a first cousin of Mark's in the same geographical area, thinking that maybe she knew about the death and hadn't had time to tell us. She didn't know about his death. Gail's mother was a sister to Mark's mom. Both of these charming women (Margy & Lillian, now dead) were double first cousins of my mother, Helen, with roots in Wessington, SD. So now Gail is probably calling the few remaining cousins in that family...those families of the above's siblings: Ivan, Carol, & Virgie. Only Virgie is alive of all the siblings.
I only met Mark once...about 4 years ago, when he accompanied his vibrant and beautiful mother to a Daugherty reunion in Huron, SD. She is gone, as well as another cousin, Terri (Carol's daughter) who also died far too young. There is a problem with the heart that many of my family has inherited. Not sure which side it came from...think perhaps the Carrington family, as so many of Gram's siblings died so young. Anyway, I was immediately impressed with Mark. He was so attentive to all of us and had such a wonderful repore with everyone. What a wonderful sense of humor...you know the type...dry, with much intelligence and wit. I stopped sending him Prairie Roots at least a year ago, as they were being returned to me due to error in address.
Mark kept my newsletter!!! I only wish I could have seen him again. His mother and brother are gone, so there is no one else in that family to keep in contact with.
The lovely genetic mixture of Daugherty/Carrington containing the attributes of honesty, hard work, creativity, super personality, intelligience, warmth, and love of learning is becoming less and less. I sit here at the age of 64...never dreaming that I am in the least bit "old". Mark's death adds another time factor. There's so much to learn about this large and interesting family.
I ask that any readers at all related to my particular family please share with me stories, photos, news articles, or opinions about this very special family. Thanks for your time and putting up with my rambling.
This disjointed writing goes back to an important aspect of family...keeping in touch with contact people. Make some phone calls. Write some letters. Check the Internet. Our lives go by so fast. They are good lives...but so short.
There will be a military service in the near future. I'm hoping that some of us can share memories of Mark at that time. Note: Mark is the second from the left in the above picture.
