December 19, 1939 - January 10, 2011
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Memorial Service
For
Gale DeVetter
Monday, January 17, 2011
For
Gale DeVetter
Monday, January 17, 2011
A poet once described friends as “the sunshine of life.” I certainly have found that the day is much brighter when I’m sharing it with my friends.
My name is Carol Ruley and Gale DeVetter was my friend.
On the day of her passing, the DeVetter family found a document on her computer that she wrote in 2009.
It was entitled, “What do you know about Marilyn Gale Barnes DeVetter?”
By her writing these words, her family actually feels like she helped write her own eulogy!
As many of you know, Gale loved to write and create. If you received a Christmas letter from her each year, you know she loved to share about her year with a theme, poem or a song.
The DeVetter children are also creative and they have put together some of Gale’s own thoughts in the form of a top ten list from Gale’s writings.
As Gale quoted in her 2008 Christmas letter, “If David Letterman did it, so can we.”
And so, the DeVetter family asked me to share some of Gale’s writings.
We call this, “The Top 10 list of things to know about
Marilyn ---- Gale ---- Barnes ---- DeVetter.”
Number #10) Gale loved her family, and SHE is cherished by her husband of 50 years, 4 children, 4 grandchildren, 2 brothers and a large extended family.
Gale wrote…. “My most precious possessions are not my possessions, they are my husband, my children and grandchildren, my extended family and old friends. Without them I am not me, as I have lived over 2/3 of my life on earth with most of them.”
Number #9) Gale loved to be creative in her thoughts and on paper.
She wrote…. “I would like to paint again, because I love to create thoughts and images on paper with color! However, I don’t believe I should go into yet one more thing as a ‘hobby’ when I have so many unfinished – or even ‘unstarted’ projects sitting around. And what would I do with anything I painted?……
So I use my camera to make pretty pictures because that requires a bit of creativity, and they are there to enjoy – as CDs or currently as screen savers on the computer monitor!”
I might add, that while gathering pictures and memories for this service, her children counted a total of 21, 982 pictures saved to the computer alone!
Number #8) Gale loved music. She was currently active in the church choir and Hayward Little Theater Chorus.
She wrote…”I love to sing – especially with a chorus and choir. It’s not only good brain activity, and great breathing exercises for my now-diseased lungs, but a pleasure to learn the music and then put my voice together with those of others to make beautiful results for my own and the pleasure of others.”
Number #7) In addition to being a registered nurse for over 40 years, Gale was an active volunteer and participated in many organizations throughout her life, a few include PTA at the school, county and state levels (which is how we met 25 years ago).
She was active in church ministries, Navy Wives Club of America ---- and Girl Scouts. She was STILL looking for more ways to give back during her retirement years.
She wrote… “I need some things to do in which I give back to others with time, talent, nurturing, and I like at least part of these things to be with my spouse.
We are at the point in our lives when we should be doing things of this nature together, such as sharing spiritual learning, but also being involved in serving others, even if it is only as extra hands on committees. “
Number #6) Gale’s hands were always busy and she had to have some sort of music going on in the background.
She wrote …“I don’t like most silences: in elevators, in group participation, social situations, in an empty house. There’s always something interesting to share. But there is something great to be said for nature’s own sort-of-silences – in the woods, at the beach, out in the yard, holding a sleeping child or hugging and comforting another.”
Number #5) Gale loved to travel and she was able to enjoy numerous vacations with Gordon during their retirement years.
She wrote.. “Travel ! Home---- is---- Sweet, but travel is just the best way to appreciate this wonderful land. We have had so many great trips around and across the USA, with the kids, with friends, visiting family, or on our own. Favorites would have to come under Most awesome, Most restful, Most memorable – but most fit all categories. We have gone by V W and big station wagon with 2-4 kids thrown in the back (no seat belts!) Mazda, Van, and 3 motorhomes. We have flown, taken trains, buses, ships and ferry boats, whatever it takes! “
Number #4) Gale loved memories, and sharing them with everyone around her.
She wrote.. “My most awesome sights ever are the birth of any baby - even those of animals, holding and smelling my own children,
“The first sighting of my future husband,
“ Watching my parents interact over the years with their family and friends.
“My children’s graduations, my grandchildren’s “firsts” and milestones;
“The resemblance of my growing children to their ancestors,
“Sights of my adult children as they act like adults,
And watching my beautiful grandchildren grow into wonderful young people!”
Number #3) She loved beautiful sights.
She wrote… “My favorite places other than my home are the ocean and beach, with waves in view or the sound of the breakers and seabirds audible. Then there are the hills and mountains where fresh air breezes rustle the trees, especially if there is a lake or river in view from a deckchair. These are my favorite daytime views, but give me a city lights view at night from high up on a hill to add to my wonder and awe at our wonderful earth, nation, land.”
Number #2) She loved being surrounded by her family and friends.
She wrote… “I enjoy working with others, creating together, working toward a goal, helping others, and making others happy with whatever skills and talents I can use.
“Having family gatherings is my favorite thing, and parties for occasions, or even an event outside my home.”
AND Number #1) Gale passed away the way she wanted to. Yes, parts of her illness were a struggle. It was a fight, but she did it her way and at the end she passed peacefully with her loving family around her.
She wrote..
”Someone will probably think a song at my memorial service will likely be “I Did It MY Way” as that is often my style, sometimes loudly or authoritatively, but sometimes in a roundabout way. I know what I like or what something should look like or how it should be done or said, and I find it sometimes difficult to graciously accept the opinions of others. “
Those are some of Gale’s thoughts and some things she would want you to know about her.
We all know there are so many more words that describe Gale…I’m to going to close with just a few…
Caring, thoughtful, intelligent, beautiful, funny……….and a fighter till the end.
Gale: You were – without a doubt – The Sunshine of Life!