Humble Beginnings

Helen Louise Aery--6 months old

Today seems a fitting day to describe, to the best of my knowledge, the basic facts of Mema's early life. I have tried and tried to think of a way to NOT make this blog sound like an obituary.  The only thing I can think of is to take my time, and not try to write about too many things at once.   I want to write about some of the early people and events because they helped to shape her life.  Just think of this entry as some background information.

Helen Louise Aery was born July 19, 1929, in Stigler, Oklahoma, to  Cleo D. Aery and Versie (Russell) Aery.  She was the second child, and the oldest daughter born to the couple.  As was the case with many families of the time, they didn't have a lot of material wealth, but the Lord blessed them with a lot of children. Four boys: Chuck, Robert, Raymond, and Kenneth, and three girls: Helen, Marie, and Cleola.  Now, you can imagine that there are many stories that have filtered down from growing up with so many siblings...We'll save those for another time. 

(L to R)--Helen, Marie, Chuck holding Kenneth.  In front:  Cleola and Robert

 Look at that bunch of kids!  Marie, Robert, and Kenneth are still with us.  The rest of Mema's siblings and her parents have already passed.  Her mom, my Grandma Versie, was a graceful woman who weathered the difficulties of her life with strength and faith in the Lord.  I hope the readers of this blog will see that when I let you further inside the history. 

Today, let me tell you about Raymond.  He is the only Aery sibling absent from this picture.  I visited his grave today, and dusted the dirt and grass away from the stone.  He was only ten years old when he died. 

The family home caught on fire. I believe a stove or an oven blew up???  Anyway, the family exited the house, and in the confusion, Raymond thought that his mother, Versie, was still in the house.  He ran back in, determined to save her.  But Versie was already outside, and Raymond was lost. 

This is all I know about Raymond:  First, he was a brave ten-year-old that loved his mother.  Second, he loved the American Flag.  That's it.  Grandma Versie always wanted to make sure that his grave was decorated on Memorial Day with the American Flag.  When she died, my cousin Robin promised to continue the tradition.  So, every year Robin decorates the grave of an uncle she never knew.  She does this for Versie. 

Versie's and Helen's gravesites are corner-to-corner touching right next to Raymond's.  But they aren't there.  Today, they're having a birthday party in Heaven.