She played varsity women's basketball at Holmes Junior College, Goodman, MS, and taught school for two years in north Mississippi. During World War II, she served as a civilian employee of the Statistical Office at Grenada Air Force Base in Grenada, MS. She and her husband lived in Warner, NH for three years after WW II. While there, she served as coach of a girls' championship basketball team. She had lived in Dalton, MA from 1949 until her death. A member of the Temple Anshe Amunim in Pittsfield, she was past president of its Sisterhood and a member of Hadassah in Pittsfield. She was also president of Women's Allied Golf Association and a former member of its board of directors. The following letter was written on the day that her brother, Richard, died, and less than three weeks after Mike's death. Of course she could not know that before the end of 1988, she would lose another brother, Philip. May 12, 1988 Dear Family and Friends, Even though I cannot be with you in person, please know that I am with you in spirit. There was a time when we were one big, happy family and moments like this seemed so remote. Society and our desire to have our own happy families separated us and we chose to live in different communities. I hope we have made those communities a little better for our having been a part of them. We were certainly given a great heritage on which to base our lives, and whether or not we used that heritage was up to each of us as individuals. John L. was asked once if there were many fights among us with so many kids around. He replied, "Maybe, but we could always go around the house and find another playmate." And pretty soon the reason for the misunderstandings was forgotten and we were friends again. Our playmates are leaving us one by one. That is how I remember them. John L.--who never held a grudge for long. He also taught us how to dance. He was the best dancer in the neighborhood and didn't mind dancing with his younger sisters. W.--who joined the navy to see the world and probably saw more than his share. Mike--who helped us cook and taught us how to soak pots and pans; that was before Brillo pads and running water. And Richard--who Mama brought into our lives so we girls could learn how to take care of babies in case we ever had our own. We loved him, we cared for him, and we spoiled him. But we have long since learned that babies and how to care for them came to us by Special Delivery. Their wives and their children have known them for a much longer time and so the loss if much greater for them--but the loss of a loved one, no matter what age, is painful and sad to the rest of us as well. We have some beautiful memories which have become our blessings. However, it is hard to think of oneness when our world is not complete, when those who brought wholeness to our lives have gone and nothing but memory can fill the emptiness their passing leaves behind. Memory can tell us only what we were in the company of those we loved. It cannot help us find what each of us, alone, must now become. Yet, no one is really alone. Those who have gone before us echo still within out thoughts and words, and what they did is part of what we have become. "When cherished ties are broken and the chain of love is shattered, only trust and the strength of faith can lighten the heaviness of the heart. At times the pain of separation seems more than we can bear, but if we dwell too long on our loss, we embitter our hearts and harm ourselves and those about us. "Grief can be a great teacher when it sends us back to serve and bless the living. We learn how to counsel and comfort those, who like ourselves, are bowed in sorrow. We learn when to keep silent in their presence and when only a few words will assure them of our love and concern." So as we say goodbye to yet another loved one, may we never forget that we are a family with a whole lot of love. That love will always keep us close. I love you. s/ Linnie