Tribute to Mother
Written by Everett Eugene Combs, son, on July 22, 1983

Man and woman are born to die, but while we live we are given the choice of good and evil A choice that we make and a choice we live with.

We, as a family, believe that our Mother and wife made a life long and wise choice that of good.

A kind thought for everyone.
Time to listen, suggest, but not dictate.
A trust that everyone has good.
A belief that everyone is important.
A faith that all will turn out for the best.

She had time to give a hand in friendship, to lighten ones burdens, To give rest to the weary, and comfort those who mourn.

To scatter flowers along the pathway of those who come in contact with her.

She taught us never to accept mediocrity, but to always strive for excellence.

She taught us never to be spectator to the great happenings of life, but to be a participant.

She taught us the 3 "R's" of reading, writing and rithmatic, but she also taught us the 3 "R's" of Respect, Responsibility and Religion.

She believed that it was always sunshine somewhere, and that a better day is ahead and coming.

She lived her faith.

She died in her belief.

She is gone but will never be forgotten.

Her memories are written upon our lives and in our hearts.

 

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Funeral of Lois Combs
All arrangements written by Lois Combs in 1965, and revised in 1978.


Organ Prelude (Beyond the Sunset)                  ..... Sharon Kaufman
Scripture: John 11: 25-26                          ..... Rev. Duane Kaufman
Opening Remarks (Written by Lois Combs)
Song: "Then I Met the Master"                      ..... Gary and Kim Davey
Poem: (Fiftieth Anniversary Poem by Lois Combs)     .....Dianne Niksic
Tribute to Mother.....written by Everett Combs     ..... read by Glenn Combs
 Poem: "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow"             .....Todd Combs
Song: "It Will be worth It All"                     .....Gary and Kim Davey
Prayer                                             ......Reverend Kaufman
Song: "Teach me to Pray"                            .....Gary and Kim Davey
Scripture: (entire) Psalm 91                        .....Mark Gilroy
              Selections of John 15
              Selections of Revelation 20
Scripture: John 14: 1-7                             .....Reverend Kaufman
              23rd. Psalm
Message                                            ..... Reverend Kaufman
Closing Prayer                                      .....Reverend Kaufman

 

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Tribute to Father
Grandpa's eulogy written by Everett Combs on Jan 19 1990.

Many and varied are the customs of cultures and societies... customs which reflect love, esteem, devotions and affection. However, none so beautiful, as that hour of remembrance, when we, the living, pause in our deliberations to pay a just tribute of love and devotion to the memory of a loved one who has stepped behind that curtain which marks the entrance to the Valley of Rest.


They Say That Life Is A Highway
And that it's Milestones Are The Years...
And Now and Then There's A Tollgate
Where We Pay Our Way With Tears
Yes, it's a Rough Road And A Steep Road
And it stretches Broad And Far
But it Leads at Last To The Golden Town
Where the Golden Houses Are. ..


The purpose of this personal tribute ...is not so much to grieve about our Departed Father... or to weep tears of bitterness, or pity, that has been taken from us... but rather to kindly touch the heartstrings of tenderness by gently referring to him... and to recall the hours of pleasure we passed together when he lived, loved. laughed and liked life well... and to draw lessons or good from his life to aid us in living ours... and to be reminded by his absence... that some day... the call will come for each of us in turn... and so... to prepare ourselves for that day... for the reunion with him... in that place.. where absences are unknown.

What tribute then do we, the surviving sons and daughters say of our Father...

We say he lived a caring and giving life ...
We say he was "warmhearted" when he shared in our troubles and sat with us when we wept in the shadows...
We say he was "big hearted"... as he ,shared with us from what he had...
We say he way "true hearted"... which was marked by loyalty and faithfulness to us...
We say he was "glad hearted"... as we sensed his pride in lending a helping hand...
And... he was "whole hearted"... as he touched every facet of our lives.

He was not caught-up with fears about the future ...frustrations with the present... nor failures with the past. While none of us like tests... or troubles.. or distressing times... when we would rather live day by day in the sunshine ...he never forgot that this is not possible. He realized that rain falls on all ...just as the sun shines on everybody.

And now, what did his life say to us... or what would his words be ...if he were standing here, today, speaking to us. I think he would counsel us to reflect on our own lives... while time is still on our side ...and urge us to do those things. that we know ought to be done, before we too... become just a memory. Wisely, he would suggest that when we feel someone has failed is... we might best first ask ourselves whether it is not we who have failed them.

Because we sometimes failed to speak from the heart... and to extend the warm hand of friendship, while there was yet still time ...this hour. while evoking pleasant memories, also brings back to remembrance ...opportunities not acted on... generous acts of charity intended but never offered... kind words thought, but never spoken... and bitter words and injustice regretted, but never repaired. For whom among us. has not more often than once, had the impulse to go to a person to offer our hand and our heart, but delayed... thinking we should do it tomorrow. Then. we found in sorrow, there was no tomorrow... just as in the poem... which speaks this sad. but true, message...

 

Around the corner I have a friend
In this great city which has no end;
Yet days go by, and weeks rush on,
And before I know it a year Is gone.
And I never see my old friend's face
For life is ,swift and terrible race.
He knows I like him just as well
As in the days when I rang his bell
And he rang mine. We were younger then.
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired with playing a foolish game,
Tired with trying to make a name.
tomorrow, I say. "I will call on Jim
Just to .show that I'm thinking of him,
But tomorrow comes...and tomorrow goes
And the distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner... yet miles away...
Here's A Telegram Sir... Jim Died Today;
And that's what we get and deserve in the end
Around the corner, a vanished friend.
 

And so his message is real... to clasp the hand in friendship... to lighten each other's burdens... to bring rest to the weary... and to comfort those who mourn.

And now may you find eternal rest, for now and forever more.

Amen.

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James H Joseph Combs

Order a copy of this book directly from the Bryan County Genealogy Library and Archives in Calera, Oklahoma. (580)-434-5848. Ask for Monty Olsen, who works on Tuesdays. The cost is $24. Actually, the author is Hazel Russell and I believe you can write her and get the book a little cheaper ($15-20 with shipping):

 Hazel Russell
1125 Parkland Drive
Durant, OK 74701

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History of Pickett County

Anyone interested in why Joseph moved to Kentucky (Civil War) and what life was like in Tenn for Joseph will want this book. The book also includes info on the early Huddlestons in Tenn and lists Jarriotts family tree. Monty Olsen has this book as well, so I expect he will copy it for anyone who wants it.

 

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Jarriott Morgan Huddleston

This book has endless pages of family trees for the Huddlestons. But I did copy the important pages, including the pages of notes from a family bible. I don't believe Monty has this book.

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