Remembering Grandma Key

As you may recall, my sweet grandmother passed away earlier this year on July 17th. This past weekend I rode with my parents to Missouri so that we could celebrate the wonderful life she lived and lay her ashes to rest.

We arrived on Thursday night and enjoyed a great meal with my aunts and uncles. We laughed until we cried reminiscing over her life and the wonderful woman she was. On Friday, we shopped, drove around Rolla and visited the house where I have wonderful memories of the summers I spent there. 

This was my first time to visit my Nan Naw
and Paw Paw's grave since they have been
buried here. 

    

Friday morning we headed out to Bourbon, Missouri to have a graveside service and lay her ashes to rest next to my grandfather. 

Their grave is located with Grandma's parents and all of her siblings, except for her brother, Uncle Bert, who is buried in a different cemetery.

Her parents, Alice and Fred Kruse.

Her sister, Aunt Iva, and her husband Andy.

Grandma's sister, Aunt Emma and Uncle Clyde.
I adored them both and loved visiting them
and playing cards with them.

Grandma's mom, Grandma Kruse, had 3 boys
that all died within their first few years of life. 
Their family felt like they were cursed to have
boys, but luckily that curse was broke with the 
birth of Uncle Ed.

Grandma's brother, Uncle Ed and his wife
Lou.

Before heading back to Rolla for the memorial service, we drove around Bourbon and saw the house that my dad helped my grandfather build. My dad lived in this home until he was 17, at which time they moved to Rolla. I found out during this trip that the whole reason they moved to Rolla was so that my dad could attend a school that offered the prerequisites he needed to go to college, as the school in Bourbon did not. It reminded me how wonderful my grandparents were that they were willing to uproot the whole family so that they could provide their children what they needed in order for them to better their lives and go to college. 

We arrived to the church for grandma's memorial service. Despite her outliving most all of the people I recall going to her church, it was great to see a few familiar faces.

My grandmother spent many a day preparing 
the altar as she was on the altar guide for over 40 years.

After a nice lunch at the church, we changed clothes and headed to my Aunt Sue's house just to visit and hang out with family. It was nice spending some time with my cousins, Shannon, Daniel and Kyle, whom I had not seen in years. Unfortunately, none of the other cousins were able to make it.

I know Melissa was sad she could not make it, however she was celebrating a huge milestone in Mason's life, getting his Aggie ring.