Marcia Hart
There are so many good memories of my beloved Aunt Ree (Marie) that I don’t know really which one(s) to choose. I will say this: Aunt was (and is in Heaven) an extraordinary lady… very smart, spirited, talented, funny…. and most of all, she was devoted to and proud of her family, especially her son Steve, daughter-in-law Carol, grandson Wesley, and granddaughter Stephanie… She also loved animals and was a wonderful doggie mom to several dogs and doggie grandmom to Robert, the poodle. She was also a sometime caretaker of cats and kittens that would find their way into her yard and life. She was a terrific cook and seamstress. When I was three years old, I was the flower girl at hers and Uncle Charlies’ wedding. I remember many holiday dinners spent with Aunt Ree, my parents, grandparents, other aunts, uncles, and cousins. Those were such happy times! I could always count on Aunt Ree for her unconditional love, her sound advice, a listening ear, and to make me smile. Aunt Ree came to my college graduation. Aunt Ree, Uncle Charlie, and Steve would come visit us, and we would go on trips to the beach, or local around our city. I recall one picnic where my mother and Aunt Ree ate pound cake spread with peanut butter! At the time I thought that was the silliest thing, but now it actually sounds good! Decades later when my husband and I married, Aunt Ree and Uncle Charlie couldn’t come to the wedding because they were both in ill health at the time. However, I wanted to make sure they were included. So I wore a bracelet they had given me that day. Also just before I walked down the aisle, I called Aunt Ree from the Bride’s Room. She will always be my beloved Aunt Ree, and I will forever be grateful for her and love her.