When is Good-Bye Actually Good-Bye? - Time Out #490

 As we each travel life's path, there are certain milestones that stick in our mind's eye like concrete. 

A few months ago, one of the those events happened to me in Our Town. It hit me like a brick. It caused me to experience a long, thinking pause.

     The passing of Mrs. Ann D. Watkins, October 9. 

     Mrs. Ann was an icon; a person universally liked and admired. After my bride, Lady Deborah, learned of Ann's passing, Ms. Debbie said ,"I never heard anyone say anything bad about her". I quickly thought about that comment, and totally agreed with my bride. Even today, several months after her death, I feel an void in my life, because I have not seen her smiling face or had a brief conversation with that gregarious lady in months.  Dear friends, Ann's glass was not always half full, it was always flowing over with positive enthusiasm!

     Our Breedlove family of 5 became good friends with Ann and her likeable husband, Eddie, many years ago, when they purchased their home next  to our home in southwest Stillwater. We remained neighbors until 2017, when we moved only 2 blocks away, as the crow flies. Many times over many years, we would talk with her across our backyard fences, or while we worked in our front yards during the green growing seasons of the year. Even after we moved home locations, we saw Ann often around Our Town, watching her spread her constant cheer.   

We didn't spend a great deal of time inside her home over those many years. Occasionally, however, a situation would happen where a family member would need to talk in person (Breedlove or Watkins) inside their home. We would also regularly see Ann in the Stillwater Country Club clubhouse where both families have been long-time members. Ann was such a great golfer, winning many tournaments during her lifetime. She was also an incredible spokes lady for women golfers in Our Town, and a huge fan/supporter for the OSU Cowgirl Golf Team. She constantly encouraged young women and girls to play golf in Stillwater. and across Our State. She was elated when our Lady Pioneer golf team won their state championship trophy recently.

     In fact, she and Eddie were lifelong Cowboy and Cowgirl fans in all athletic activities, and the same could be said of the dynamic couple regarding Stillwater Pioneer and Lady Pioneers sports, too.

     Above everything else, Ann was simply a nice person. She was so easy to talk with about any type of subject, always exhibited a great sense of humor, and did seem to take life's many ups and downs in unshakable stride.  

     Her funeral inside huge Life Church-Stillwater on North Country Club Road  was one of the largest attended funeral services I have ever  witnessed. Hundreds of people of all ages filled the seats.  As I sat near the back of the sanctuary, I tried to remember the last time I had spoken with her, and wondering what I might have said?  Although I have thought about it previously regarding other situations, her passing helped me realize sometimes we speak with people for the final time, hearing later they have passed away. Life is certainly unpredictable about the future, isn't it, readers in Our Town and far beyond? 

     RIP, our dear friend, Ann. Our memories of you are wonderful.