Cheri Lockey
First of all, I wanna say that I want to press the restart button. I want a "Do Over!" We all want to keep her with us, but I have to stop myself and realize that I'm being alittle bit selfish. There are so many souls that love her too who've been waiting for her presence on the other side. Can you imagine how many of them who've known & loved her over the years must have gathered for her homecoming? That thought makes me smile. She created her own "colony" in Heaven and still has all of us here that she's left behind.
Jo was a second mom to me. Growing up in the neighborhood of Pine & Oaks Street, I had the joy of a happy, early childhood due in large part with spending alot of time in the Moon household and experiencing the loving relationship and faith between Ray & Jo.
My mom, Ruth Sehlbach, was one of Jo's many Best Friends. They shared alot of good times & laughs.. When I was young and got "Mono" Jo insisted that I come over and sleep at her house while my mom went to work, and all the other kids got to go off and start the new school year. She made me her homemade noodles and tuna sandwiches and took care of me as if I was one of her own.
When you knocked on the door, you were always welcomed in. I remember having lots of sleepovers and racing Jimmie down the front sidewalk at night after the gang of neighborhood kids played "Kick the Can" in the backyard.
I remember spending lots of holidays watching "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Ten Commandments while Ray & Jo were in the kithen making Popcorn Balls. Each kid would get one to take home at the end of the night. I remember a funny sight when I went into the kitchen to see how it was done and they both had shiny yellow hands full of butter!
Jo's kitchen semed to me to be such a place of happiness for her, that when I got my own house I painted it just the same colors of yellow walls with white cabinets as she had at that home on Oakes Street. I have fond memories of laughter, good food, friendship and the occasional "goose" by Ray as Jo was busy :working her "magic" on whatever she was cooking at the time!
When I got older, Jo taught me how to make her famous dill pickles, but I never got around to asking about that delicious potatoe salad. I'm sure that all of her dishes were so delicious that her children could publish a cookbook titled "From Josie, With Love"!
I spent alot to time at South Tacoma Christian Church with my mom, Ray & Jo and their children. I credit alot of my faith as being founded in the goodness and devotion to God that I witnessed in them.
I will miss Jo's kindness; her quirky smile, and her jokes. Where did she get that sense of humor from anyway?
She always looked forward to getting her hair done at the mall; taking trips back to the Badlands and anywhere else, and speaking fondly about all of her children and grandchildren. With the capacity she had for generosity and love, I swear she must have been born with "Two Hearts"!
I recently bought a placque that reads "I Wish Heaven Had Visiting Hours:".
That is true for all of us in our personal losses. It sure would make it easier for us to let go!
Take Care & God Bless!
Cheri (Sehlbach) Lockey
