Sandra Ann Jameson

…It’s hard to know where to begin with someone like Meme. She made everyone she loved feel like they were the whole world to her. And, somehow, that was the truth. Her heart was big enough for that.

We all know how she adored babies and young children, but age hardly meant a thing to her - 3 years old or 30, she would give you the same gentle attention, the same nurturing care. I have to admit, I’ll miss being spoiled by her. I’ll miss the meals and sweet treats she cooked for me. I’ll miss how she knew what food we each liked and tried so hard to keep them all in her pantry or fridge for when we came by. I’ll miss her insisting on making brownies or cookies even when everyone was already full. I’ll miss her accidentally calling me Scott, and then overcorrecting and calling me one of her dog’s names, before finally stumbling upon my actual name....I think Mom (Michelle) gets that from her. I’ll miss listening to oldies with her and her singing along. I’ll miss the way she made the worries of the world go away when I was around her. I’ll miss that sweet smile…that smile that she would just freely give you when she saw you. I’ll miss her being right there…she was always right there, for all of us.

Meme was, to her core, a caretaker. It was what animated her. She thrived when that was her duty. As her own kids grew older, she began a little in-home daycare. When she told me she used to charge 10 bucks a day, I thought that sounded way too cheap, but then I realized - she would have done it for free. Some of y’all probably figured that out back then, but, thanks for still paying. I think she needed those kiddos in her life more than they needed her. She was fully present for them at every moment, all day, every day. Now that sounds like a lot of stress to me, but she must have taken it in stride because, in the few years she kept me alongside the other kids, all I remember is pure happiness and fun all day long.

When I think of Meme, fun is the feeling that will live on in my heart. She was unapologetically fun, and she always had a beautifully playful spirit. Maybe this is why she was so drawn to children. I have no doubt this is why they were so drawn to her. When we were young, we all wanted to be with her every chance we got. To be with Meme meant you were guaranteed to have fun. So much of it was in the little things. The little moments that I’ll always hold dear.

All of us remember her taking us down Colorado Street and driving right over the “aaaalleyoops!” - big dips in the road that would bounce you right out of your seat. Driving under the train bridge on Neches, she’d make us put our hands up to the roof, as if we would keep it from falling down on us. She could make a simple drive down the street seem like an adventure.

She loved to make up silly little games for the kids to play. They were always so simple and anyone could play, but I remember feeling like an athlete if I won because she filled the air with that much excitement. It was a beautiful thing.

This one might sound crazy but it was a blast. (I think she did this with Mom, Kim, and Scott too). She would move her table over and spray Pledge on the kitchen floor so we could run and sliiiide across it, usually right into the side of the fridge. It’s wild how silly that sounds but…here I am talking about it. It wasn’t just silly: it was one of life’s little highlights. And I know she got a kick out of watching us do it.

I remember being scared to be tickled by her. Boy, she was good at it. I know a lot of y’all remember that. There were many days she would pile the kids up and take us all to the lake, or the pool, or Burger King all the way in Abilene, just to play on the toys.

I loved how she would do anything Avery and Alissa wanted her to do in their little movies they made. Avery would be the actress and Alissa would usually do the filming, but if Meme was around, she was always playing a supporting role. She might have a country accent, be wearing a mask, who knew - it was all on the table. Whatever they asked.

She loved to tell stories. I don’t even know now if they were stories she kept in memory or if she made them up as she went but, either way, we were always thrilled to listen. Some were funny, some were scary, some were full of heart – but she put so much life into them. I could go on, and on, and on… She made life so colorful. Her imagination knew no limits. It was big enough for everyone. You could be anywhere on God’s beautiful world, and there’s not a doubt in my mind, Meme would have made it fun if she was there.

I have no doubt where Meme is now. If you had a picture of her in Heaven, she’d be with her family who’ve gone on - her Mom (Betty June Farris) and Dad (AJ "Jake" Farris), her Sister (Linda Bedell) and Brother (Dennis Farris), her young Nephew (Shane Bedell), even her Father-in-law (Robert Jameson) and sweet Mother-in-law (Helen Jameson) - whose friendship was something she had missed dearly. And of course, she’d be surrounded by all her little dogs she’s loved over the years.

She had such a gentle soul. She left pieces of it in all of us who knew her. Looking back, it seems that everything she did was for someone else. Shopping and cooking for her family (and dogs), cleaning up after kids, teaching kids at Church, driving to go be anywhere someone she loved was doing something important, or simply, something fun.

Even as life went on and her body slowed down and everyone got older, she still always did her best to be the life of the party. She would organize games, activities, pranks - anything to get us all laughing and enjoying our time together. She could hardly comprehend how anyone might want to sit and not be doing something exciting. For her, life was an adventure. There was no time to waste.

Meme always lived as child of God. Above all else, God is love, and she lived a life of love. She treasured her church and her church family. I know she wanted to be there more the last few years, but she made it every chance her body would let her.

I keep finding myself feeling like she left us too soon. But, I wonder if she simply had to go now. God must have needed her. If she was an angel who came down from Heaven, it would make sense that she had to go back someday. This world can be rough. Her body was failing her. It felt more and more like she was no longer at home here. I think we all felt it a little. She couldn’t do so much of the things that gave her joy anymore. I think God decided it was time to use her for more wonderful things beyond this life. Her job here was done, and I have to keep working at it and learn to be at peace with that. And, really, to be proud of that.

I’m proud to have loved her and been loved by her. I think we all are. But we know we couldn’t keep her to ourselves forever. I take a lot of comfort knowing she wouldn’t have left if she didn’t have to go. As hard as the days ahead will be, I know her gentle life of love will live on. It overflowed from her. It had nowhere to go but into all the lives of those around her. Into all of us. I’m so thankful for that, and I can’t wait until the day I get to laugh with her again.