Thursday, July 24, 2008

Obituaries

I have to admit, I read the obits every morning in the Salina Journal. I read this one, and it brought back a wonderful memory.

Sada Munkres

COLBY -- Sada (Thompson) Munkres, 99, Colby, died Monday, July 21, 2008.

She was born March 18, 1909, in Gove. She was a lifelong area resident and a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Shurl, in 1993.

Survivors include her sons, Ward, Colby and Kenneth, Madison, WI; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, 2008.

The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2008, at Harrison Chapel, Colby, with the Rev. Carroll Morony officiating. Burial will follow in Gem Cemetery, Gem.

Memorials may be made to the city of Gem, and may be left at any Colby bank or the chapel.



Sada was well known around town, if not personally, but for her wonderful personality. She was always dressed to the 'T's', ( even though they weren't always "fresh"), her makeup on (always a garish red lipstick and rouge), red, painted nails (even in the creases around her nails), and "Roses, Roses" perfume, enough for a lot of people!

My first memory of her is during a shopping trip to the grocery store when we were new-comers to Colby. It was during the summer of '73, right after Josh was born. We were at the store, Carole and Phil, Josh and me, and this 'old' lady came up to me. She looked at me, and me being from the city where people don't always make eye contact, I was wondering what she wanted. She looked at me, and asked, "Are you related to Betty Bell?" I am thinking, WHAT? Now if you don't know, Betty Bell was my mother. I told her, "Yes, I am her daughter." "Why?" "How do you know her, because it has been a long time since she was Betty Bell."

Well, Sada told me that she used to babysit for her when she was a baby, in Hoxie. Now, I can't remember who I used to babysit for, much less their parents, but Sada knew. I'm sure if everyone could put a memory down about Sada, it would fill many, many books.

Over the years, we have had many opportunities to visit with Sada. She made it to all the major functions in town, went on cruises, visited with many people. She had a town-wide bash for her 90th birthday, which I'm sorry to say, we didn't make. I heard those that went had so much fun!

We went to her funeral this morning and it was mentioned about Sada thwarting a robbery at a local jewelry store. She was 95 at the time. She chased the robber after he left the store, swinging her cane at him. Right after that signs started appearing saying "Sada for Sheriff"!
The sheriff arrested him too.

She was your typical, 'town fixture'. She will be missed by many. She almost made it to 100, which was her dream.

I wonder what people will remember about me when they read my obit in the paper?


6 comments:

Carole said...

Oh... you didn't tell me she died. That makes me so sad.

I loved Sada. I remember Z & I sat next to her at the Dave Roever Crusade. She had on a beautiful fur coat that Z thought was the best thing. He sat on my lap & petted it. That night after the Crusade, Z was laying in bed with me & we were talking about Jesus. He asked Jesus into his heart that night.

Linda said...

What a wonderful memory about Sada, and her fur coat. I remember him petting it.

I am so glad you have a time and place where you know Z asked Jesus to be his Savior.

Phil said...

I dont have any exact memories (i.e. time and place) but I do remember her.

Tesa said...

What a great post. Good memories to read from everyone, too.

Anonymous said...

I was surprised and very appreciative to see this comment on my grandmother - thank you.

My brother Darryl and I spent every summer on the farm with grandma (the three of us were running buddies) so we have lots of wonderful memories. In fact, later on when recounting one corn picking trip or our trip to the pyramids she used to say we're "making memories". Those memories are something I will always cherish.

I hope I can live as long as she did and touch as many lives as she did - "making memories".

Kevin Munkres

Dallas Ann Brown said...

Sada Monkres was my Mother's Aunt. Although I only recall meeting her once in person, by all accounts she truly was a unique and memorable lady. Thank you so much, Linda, for your kind tribute to Aunt Sada.