What a GREAT Grandad

Gwen's Great Grandad Jim Studley passed away last week, July 15th at the age of 85. The day Gwen and I came home from the hospital last October, he had a 6lb tumor removed from his abdomen. He had been struggling with what they thought was anemia, but he diagnosed his Cancer himself. At the new year he seemed to be doing well and had put on some healthy weight. These pictures were taken in early February when he and Camie brought us a picnic lunch while I was still recovering from our car accident. Around Father's Day things started to not look so good. We made an effort to visit as much as we could. Gwen's presence seemed to be uplifting, not that Jim needed any cheering up, he was in good spirits up to the end. When we found out Spencer's Uncle Pat was coming out from New York for a visit, and then brought his family out for a week, we new it was serious. Then hospice showed up. Jim passed in style and dignity, in his home, surrounded by family, in his sleep, with a smile on his face.
When we found out Jim was gone, Spencer made arrangements to take the rest of the week off and we packed up our things and headed up to be with the family. The atmosphere was heavy, but jovial; more like a family reunion than anything. We visited, and ate, and visited, then ate some more. Gwen was a ray of sunshine during this time (even though she was cutting teeth) and her Great Grandmother seemed to really enjoy showing her "Little Rose" off to those who stopped by to pay their respects. It was only family at the Burial (I have never been to one before) and Gwen was a little antsy being held so long (in the Ergo Baby Carrier which I wore) but was so good looking at the flowers, and playing with a small piece of tree she pulled off. After the official program, when people were loitering about, a few people had walked up to touch the casket and say goodbye. I felt the need to do so as well, and after I did, as I was walking away from the casket, Gwen actually waved bye-bye. It was so touching.