Granny Bobbye, The Original Queen Bee

John and I found the family cemetery on Tuesday and got the call on Wednesday that Granny was fading.  Call it what you want, but John thinks we were being called by the family of Saints in heaven who were preparing us to lose Granny here on earth.  Uncle Jerry Joe called at 8:01 AM on Wednesday morning, and I knew immediately.  In fact, I didn't answer the phone because I knew.  I needed a minute to hear what I knew he was about to say..."Granny is likely in her final day."  So, we headed to Conway and got there as she was passing.  I, for one, was a little surprised that she didn't wait for me!!!  On our way to Conway, we checked in and got the report that she was sleeping and they were just staring at her.  The story I was told was that when Father John arrived and gave her the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, she opened one eye as if to say..."Finally" or "Thank You" or maybe just "Good-bye" and left this world.  Father John said he has anointed many

Publish Post

people and very few times has he witnessed the person literally pass away during the Rite.  That is a pretty perfect and grace filled death.  So much so that the staff stopped my aunt the following day to tell her how moved and changed they were because of witnessing the final Catholic Sacrament.  One lady in particular said she has been a part of many deaths at the nursing home, and there is often times singing and praying but nothing so special as what she saw with Father John and Granny Bobbye.  That was our Granny, a true witness to her Catholic Faith until her very last breath.

Below is her obituary and a link to a photo memorial (Photo memorial is at the bottom of the page after you click the link.).
http://www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/services.asp?page=odetail&id=23385&locid=14

Bobbye Kreulen

Roberta Frances Harrison Kreulen
December 25, 1917 - March 16, 2011 

 
Bobbye Kreulen (Roberta Frances Hudgens Harrison Kreulen) passed away peacefully of natural causes the morning of March 16, 2011 as a priest completed the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick in Conway, Arkansas. Bobbye was the oldest of four children born to Calvert John & Corynne (Jenkins) Hudgens in Little Rock on Christmas Day, 1917. Bobbye was preceded in death by her husband, Francis Leon Harrison in 1951 and her second husband Lt. Col. Herman Piet Kreulen in 1995, as well as her daughter Roberta Harrison Jucas, step-son Mike Kreulen, her parents, brother Gerald Vaugine Hudgens and sister Juanita Hudgens Halsey.

Bobbye is survived by her children Francis Leon Harrison, II and wife Chartene of Hockley, TX; Gerald J. Harrison and wife Lib of Conway; son-in-law John Jucas and wife Suzanne of El Dorado; Lynn Kreulen of Yakima, WA; Piet Kreulen, Jr. and wife Deborah, formerly of Little Rock; and Patrick Kreulen and wife Teresa of Poplar Bluff, MO as well as her brother, Calvert John Hudgens, Jr. and wife Aggie of Olive Branch, MS.

Bobbye was a lifelong Catholic, growing up in the neighborhood surrounding Holy Souls Catholic Church in Hillcrest. She was the valedictorian of her graduating class from Mount St. Mary's where she was a member of the Belle's Basketball team. Bobbye graduated from Little Rock Junior College and then married her high school sweet heart, Francis "Tootie" Harrison. She was employed by the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock from 1951-1963, serving as the executive assistant to Monsignor John M. Bann and Bishop Albert L. Fletcher. After Tootie's death in 1951, she cared for her three young children with the help of her parents and siblings. Bobbye served one term on the Pulaski County quorum court in the 1950's. In 1963, Bobbye found her second chance at happiness when she met and married Lt. Col. Herman Piet Kreulen. They enjoyed thirty two years of marriage and loved traveling and spending weekends in Lake Hamilton at the "Bee Hive". She was a founding member of Christ the King Catholic Church where she was active with the Rosary Club, Prime Timers & Adoration. Bobbye and Piet volunteered at St. Vincent's Infirmary for many years together. After Piet's death, Bobbye continued to volunteer until 2004 when her eyesight made it difficult for her to travel.

Bobbye loved to dance, grow flowers, play bridge, say her rosary, and sip on a good highball. She adored her family and was fiercely proud of her Arkansas heritage, dating back to the 1700s when Captain Don Joseph Valliere first commanded the Arkansas post. Her grandchildren gave her immense pleasure and she treasured many moments with them all. She leaves behind her memories to 17 grandchildren and their respective spouses as well as 26 great grandchildren. Her grandchildren are Pam Felcman and husband David of Katy, TX; Frank Harrison and wife Paige of Madison, MS; Donald Harrison and wife Karen of The Woodlands, TX; Jennifer Harrison of Austin, TX; Heather Mainord and husband Bill of Conway, AR; Joe Harrison and wife Wendy of Conway, AR; Michael Harrison and wife Heather of Conway, AR; Kerry Baldwin and husband Clay of Cabot, AR; Tracy Eddy and husband John of Little Rock, AR; Piet Kreulen and wife Angie, of Tulsa, OK; Cody Kreulen and fiance Heather of Little Rock; Kelly Stadler and husband Randy of Yakima, WA; Ben Jackman and wife Tina of Yakima, WA; Kyle Kreulen and wife Heather of Benton, AR; Jennifer Barrier of Collierville, TN; Jake Kreulen of Little Rock; and Ben Kreulen and wife Bobbi of Suisun City, CA.

Visitation and Vigil Service with Rosary will be held Friday, March 18th at 6 o'clock in the evening at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway, AR. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, March 19th at 10 o'clock in the morning at St. Joseph's Catholic Church located at 1115 College Avenue in Conway. Father John Marconi, Pastor of St. Joseph's will be the celebrant. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Little Rock. The Famly will be at Christ the King Family Life Center following the burial service. Donations may be made to Christ the King Catholic Church, 4000 North Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212, in memory of Bobbye Kreulen.

A special thank you to all of the caregivers at Heritage Living Center in Conway for their devotion and care to our beloved Mom, Gran, and Sister.

St. Mary's Catholic Church

Most of my adult life I have heard my mother talk about St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shirrell, AR.  It is the oldest Catholic Church west of the Mississippi River and was founded by Mom's side of the family.  I've heard bits and pieces like..."It is where Popoo (Granny Bobbye's grandfather) is buried."  Or, "It is in a tiny town north of Pine Bluff."  Or, "Some of our family  members left money in their will for it's upkeep, and I don't think the Diocese has been doing a very good job."  We even talked about my wedding being held there.  Think JFK, Jr. and Carolyn Bessett Kennedy.  Come on...you remember the beautiful tiny chapel in the middle of the country--simple, lit by candles, intimate, and perfect!  I probably would have considered having my wedding there even more except I would have had to have had an outdoor reception...which meant no winter wedding...which  meant no white mink from my mother.  Yes, we had a deal!  Winter wedding=white mink & Non-Winter wedding=grumpy mother of the bride.  I'm smarter than I look.

Fast forward to 2010 and Dad is selling the house.  Mom was an organized hoarder (I think they call that "collecting") and kept everything!  I mean, everything!!  So, in the middle of campaign season I find myself sorting through not only my entire life, but my mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers etc.  You get the idea.  We have dishes, vases, photos, letters, glasses, art from generations past.  The list goes on, but I'm saving you the headache.  Time is limited and we sort, box, move, sell, and give away more stuff than I'd like to admit. What doesn't get sold or given away or unpacked goes to a closet or storage unit for the next 6 months.

Fast forward to March 2011 and John is insisting that Kerry and I start to go through some of the boxes in our garage.  I reluctantly give in and Kerry comes over.  We start one huge trash bag at a time...moving to boxes of prayer cards, rosaries and Bibles and then to letters and notes and Mom's report cards.  Yep, REPORT CARDS...from Holy Souls circa 1950s...good stuff.  Our quick trash bag toss turns into a very slow and memory lane type of afternoon.  John decides to accept that the garage will not be clean by dinner time and settles in to look at some old photo albums.  He loves old stuff--it is the history lover in him.  He is pouring over photos and thoroughly enjoying himself.  As a side note, I have often said that I was born in the wrong era.  Although I realize times were much tougher in the early 1900's, the women were so beautiful and the men were too.  I will write more on that later.  John sees a picture of Popoo and since he has had conversations about Popoo with my grandmother, he takes some extra time on this page of photos.  He calls me over and asks if I can read some of the writing under his photo and the other photos on the page.  I squint and read..."My grandmother's grave at St. Mary's in Shirrell, AR."  The following conversation went a little like this...

Me:  Oh yeah, that is our cemetery and church in Shirrell, AR. 
John:  You have a cemetery and church in AR?
Me:  Yes...Mom's family founded and built it...it is the oldest...blah, blah, blah...You and I were almost married there!
John:  WHAT???  Well, let's find it.
Me:  Um, ok...sure.

Fast forward to today, and I have a meeting in Texarkana, AR for work.  John offers to drive me there, so he can get out of the house and enjoy the pretty weather (and because he knows I get so turned around in Texarkana).  Later in the day, on our return, he randomly asked if I would like to find St. Mary's Church in Shirrell.  So, with nothing but the GPS in his IPhone, off we went.  I will admit, being in the car that long made me a bit grumpy, but when we pulled up to the very JFK, Jr esque church, it was VERY COOL.

Below are some photos of the graves that we saw--all family names, of course and all family members that I have heard much about all of my life (and I now own their dishes, art, vases, reading glasses...and so on).  I also have the photos that triggered the conversation and curiosity from John and a photo of a family tree that Mom created years ago.  I look forward to posting some more in the coming days about my family and our deep roots to Arkansas.  Enjoy!

St. Mary's Catholic Church-view from road

Plaque that details time-line

Me in front of St. Mary's

Francis Vaugine, died January 7, 1900

All I gathered was Vaugine, so I snapped a photo!

Annie Vaugine, died 1898--this is my great grandmother's mother.

Nathan POPOO Jenkins-It was completely buried, and John stepped on it, realized something was under his foot, and he pulled the grass up!  This is Annie's husband.  Annie died from child birth complications, and Popoo lived to a ripe old age.

A better shot of Popoo's grave.

How cool?

John was all over this one--a Revolutionary War grave--Francis Vaugine.

John wanted to recreate the photo he saw in the album (we are a smidge off)-see below.

This is from Popoo's funeral.  The people are standing right where I was and his grave is the one John "uncovered."

Popoo!

This is the photo that John first saw and had to "know more"...It is Annie's grave.

This is our family tree.  At the top is Don Joseph Valliere (more on him and the family later).  It is a very detailed family tree and a very interesting one as well!

Sunday Fun Day

The weather in Arkansas has been unusually strange this winter.  We have had sunny warm weather one day and an epic snow storm two days later.  It has been odd to say the least.  I would be lying if I said I was enjoying these snow days.  Yeah, at first it is fun--making comfort foods, cuddling up on the couch for a movie, watching the neighbor kids make a snow man etc.  That wears off after about 24 hours-48 hours max!  I explain all of this to let you know that we have learned to monitor and adjust.  When Mother Nature gives us a warm sunny day, we take advantage of it like you wouldn't believe.  Two weekends ago we had such a beautiful day.  It was sunny and warm and was totally what my spirit needed.

 John indulged me in one of my favorite past times-hiking!  I love hiking.  I love being outside-breathing in the fresh air and taking in all of the sights and sounds of the trail.  We go to Pinnacle Mountain as much as possible.  I think it is safe to say that John likes to hike and I love to hike.  All in all, we are two happy campers.  On this particular day, we agreed that we deserved a treat after our strenuous hike.  Orange leaf, here we come!  This place is awesome.  It is self-serve yogurt with self-serve toppings.  Your cup is weighed and you pay by the weight.  I thought it would be nice because most of the yogurt there is either fat free or low fat.  Sadly they don't have any sugar free (come on Orange Leaf--you're killing me).  Did I mention this is all self-serve?  Take a look at the photos below :)!!

John standing in front of a massive root.

Another view--this tree literally fell over and pulled the root system completely up.

One of our favorite trees

The sun was was shining through the trees--so pretty!

Reward Time-can you guess who made which treat?