I want to address this to all the dear family members, whose hearts are so heavy with this loss today. And, I just want to take a bit of time to let you know that my precious cousin, (Ruah..aka Dicki Jo), had been contacted by our Uncle JD to make her aware that Elvira had gone home to be with her Savior, and she immediately contacted me to let me know of this. She has since had a number of conversations with Uncle JD to obtain the details of the services and she contacted me today, to continue our discussions on what we could do to show our support for all those that are broken-hearted with Elvira's passing. In the end, (because of the time constraints, etc), she asked if I would please mention her and her brother Rocky Shane and his wife Patty, in my note of condolences to post today, for all those that are suffering this great loss in their lives. I also want to make it very clear, how DEEPLY grateful we are to Uncle JD for taking the steps to get this news to us all, and we are all VERY appreciative for an opportunity to express our love and support for each and every one of you! Ruah and I talked for quite awhile today about all the tragedies that Uncle Jr and his family had endured over the years. I was still a very young girl when Tom Tom was killed, and that was really my first real exposure to a child's life being lost in such a tragic way. Both Ruah and I reminisced how deeply that event impacted our entire bloodline at the time. It is simply breaking all of our hearts that this type of event is once again touching all of the lives that have been a very important part of the tapestry that weaved our lives together. While Ruah and Shane's mother, (my Aunt Margie) was still alive she and I had quite a lot of conversations about Elvira and various other family members, and it's my understanding that while it sadly feels that Elvira was taken too soon, that she had had a very full life full of love and laughter and she had lived her life in such a way that honored her Savior and that others counted her a TRUE blessing in her life. I had lived with her mom, dad, and older siblings for awhile during my teen years, and their mother was an amazing cook and she also put so much love into everything she prepared, so it wasn't at all surprising to me that what she sowed manifested in her daughters lives as well. And I can't even begin to tell you of the times that I would think of aunt Mary and miss those things in my life that she had graced me with. To those that have given Jesus a personal invitation into their lives, we know that the Bible makes it clear that there is deep importance given to our bloodline connections, and that no matter what tradgedies we may face in our lifetimes, we will never have truly be alone nor have to face those tradgedies alone. We know that we can count on the surety of His promises in our Bibles, and that no matter how painful or dark the times we may face might be, He promises to give us 'BEAUTY' for ashes, and to bind up the wounds of the brokenhearted! He is all the anchor we will ever need in our seasons of storms, and when we feel we can't take another step, He will carry us through, and return to us the JOY of our salvation. He is our 'COMFORTER', in those moments when NOTHING else brings even a tiny morsel of comfort. And we know that He has PROMISED to NEVER leave us nor forsake us. And we can rest in the comfort of knowing that Elvira, has been reunited with those who went ahead of her, and that they all are enjoying being in His presence as never before. I will keep you all in my prayers, and I will ask that God remind you in those moments of such grief, that this really wasn't a time of 'GOODBYE', but simply,..'I'll see you later'! ...and that He will also remind you that when we all get to Heaven,..what a day of rejoicing that will be!!! With all my love & prayers,..ALWAYS! 'Marilyn'..(Lorains oldest)...aka (Rev. M. Tevis), Ruah Wilds, Rocky Shane and Patty Brock, and my own immediate family members also.