OCTOBER 2026
Shannon Miller Hometown Olympian
Everett Takes Times Square
Painting the Past into the Present
Girls Nation President Deborah Nkurumeh
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Forty years ago, I worked on a strange little vehicle. Last week, one showed up at Pops on Route 66. In 1986, I was a junior industrial designer in California working for car designer David Stollery. Along with projects for Mazda, General Motors, and Subaru, David had a creation of his own called the Fireaero. It was half motorcycle, half car, with two wheels up front, a motorcycle powertrain out back, and side-by-side seating. I helped develop the bodywork for the second-generation kit. Lots of fiberglass, Bondo, and sanding. I also put quite a few miles on David’s personal Fireaero. It was fast, loud, and ridiculously fun. With your butt less than a foot off the pavement, even normal speeds felt like racing. Apparently, those little vehicles stuck with me because I still follow a Fireaero Facebook group. Recently, I saw that Canadian enthusiast Doug Unger was driving Route 66 in a second-generation Fireaero. I contacted him, and we arranged to meet at Pops in Arcadia. Doug’s Fireaero is quite a machine, powered by a sixcylinder Honda Gold Wing engine and drivetrain. He’s added GPS, cameras, and other electronics, and even retained the Honda’s cruise control. With Oklahoma temperatures topping 100 degrees and no air conditioning, Doug wears an ice vest. At his request, I arrived with a small cooler of ice for a refill. We talked Fireaeros, enjoyed a couple of sodas, and watched the Fireaero attract a small crowd outside. Before leaving, Doug asked me to sign the tail section. I was reluctant. I’m not sure my contribution 40 years ago warranted an autograph. But I signed it anyway. It’s not every day that 1986 comes rolling back into your life.
Dave Miller Publisher & Back40 Design President
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10 18 Features 8 10 12 14 18 26 30
Girls Nation President Everett Takes Times Square Olympian Shannon Miller Kids Joining Eternity Artist Stuart Sampson Guthrie Haunts A LOOK Back: Edmond's First Cemetery
Business 22 24
Kupiec East Edmond YMCA Grand Casino Hotel & Resort
Columns 7 28
In Other Words with Dave Louise Tucker Jones
On the Cover: Shannon Miller Cover Photography: City of Edmond
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OCTOBER 2026 Volume 22, Number 10 l Edmond Outlook is published by Art, Link & Letter l © 2026 Art, Link & Letter, LLC PUBLISHER Dave Miller l PRODUCTION MANAGER Alison Miller l ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE /EDITOR Laura Beam l GRAPHIC DESIGN Kasey Toliver ADVERTISING DESIGN Anne Richardson l PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins sundancephotographyokc.com
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FEATURELOOK
How Deborah Nkurumeh found her leadership style in Washington By Amy Dee Stephens Quiet and poised, Deborah Nkurumeh achieved the highest honor possible at Girls Nation. Competing alongside 100 high school juniors from across the country, she was elected president, capping a remarkable two-week experience in government, leadership and public service. Like most high schoolers, Deborah started with little knowledge of politics. After one week in Girls State and an additional week in Girls Nation, Deborah is convinced that, no matter her career path, she will be civically involved. “I learned to speak up, because people’s words can shape how others view life, even if you don’t see the effect,” Deborah said. The Path to President Deborah, a student at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM), missed being part of the speech team at her previous school. To fill the void, she started her own speech club and entered a statewide oratory contest. While there, she learned about Girls State, a program begun in 1940 by the American Legion Auxiliary to teach about the branches of government. During the one-week simulation, students establish a government and hold campaigns for office. Deborah earned a spot in a highly competitive round of rapid-fire questioning. “It was super political, like on-the-spot foreign policy questions,” Deborah said. “It was so scary and so exhilarating. I loved it.” Because of Deborah’s speaking ability, she was voted as one of two delegates from Oklahoma to move on to Girls Nation in Washington, D.C. Once again, she spent a week getting to know 99 other girls, making speeches, and running for office. “I absorbed every moment, but I was hesitant about my chances of winning an office,” Deborah said. “I’ve seen how social media makes politics into a big popularity contest. I thought I had to be loud and memorable enough to
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gain attention among the smartest girls I’d ever shared a meal with.” Fortunately, Deborah’s junior counselor shared a nugget of wisdom: Don’t worry, the loudest people never win. “I don’t know why she felt the need to tell me that,” Deborah said, “but it was pivotal. I decided to ‘go big or go home.’ I decided to run for president.” A New Focus Before Deborah’s Girls State experience, she worked at the OSSM lab and explored her interest in science and research. Considering her career interests, along with her speaking skills and new understanding of politics, Deborah thought about how previous Girls Nation winners had contributed to public service. Deborah chose to run a non-traditional presidential campaign. Instead of talking about political policies, she focused on reform. “I noticed that Girls Nation actually needed to establish an alumni network to stay in touch with those talented women who had gone before me.” She also learned to listen more than talk. “I didn’t always know the answers to the questions I was asked. Sometimes, the most honest thing was to ask someone else’s opinion,” Deborah said. “I think we, as citizens, need politicians who can listen.” In the end, Deborah’s approach impressed the voters, and she won the election. “I’m grateful to the American Legion Auxiliary for investing in the next generation,” Deborah said. “My parents came from Nigeria, and they are always giving glory to God for the opportunities I’ve been given—which has impressed upon me the great responsibility I have toward my family and my country. I now understand that public service is something to take seriously.” To learn more, visit legion-aux.org/ala-girls-nation.
Deborah Nkurumeh
Going Big, Leading Quietly
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FEATURELOOK
Everett Takes Times Square By Taylor Bollinger For 9-year-old Everett Gay, a trip to New York City meant dinosaurs, the Statue of Liberty, and a really cool hotel. Oh, and seeing his face several stories tall in Times Square. The Edmond third grader was selected from more than 2,700 entries to appear in the National Down Syndrome Society’s annual Times Square Video Presentation on September 12. Everett, who has Down syndrome, was one of a small group of Oklahomans selected for the display. When asked about seeing himself on the big screen in Times Square, Everett said, “Loved it! I was so big!” The entry photo was especially fitting. Taken in front of the U.S. Capitol, it represented more than a family vacation. Rhys and his wife, Neely, have spent years advocating for people with disabilities, including helping pass Everett’s Law unanimously through the Oklahoma Legislature in 2021. Everett’s Law prohibits organ transplant discrimination based solely on a person's physical or mental disability. The family has also worked with the National Down Syndrome Society on federal disability policy. Neely completed Partners in Policymaking and graduated from Oklahoma’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities fellowship. Rhys serves on the board for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma (DSACO) and runs its Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome (DADS) chapter.
"Advocacy is something we do, it is not who Everett is." Their advocacy began with an experience they hope other families do not have to repeat. Everett’s Down syndrome diagnosis came at birth. Before Rhys and Neely had even held their new son, they were told he had Down syndrome. Soon afterward, doctors discovered a complete atrioventricular canal defect. Everett would eventually undergo around 18 procedures, including openheart surgery at 12 months old. Rhys remembers feeling pressure to be the strong one while privately processing everything happening around him. That experience helped fuel his later work supporting other fathers and advocating for better delivery of Down syndrome diagnoses. “I’ve always been a person who thinks about the broader system, not just trying to solve the problem at hand,” Rhys said.
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Back row: Everett and Rhys Gay, Front row: Lily, Neely, and Brody Gay
Still, the family draws a clear distinction between their son and their advocacy. Everett loves monster trucks, Power Rangers, soccer, and basketball. He has little sense of fear, a quality his dad admits can be both wonderful and terrifying. He is a natural showman who once turned a Down syndrome fashion show runway into his own Spider-Man performance. More than anything, Rhys says, Everett is a friend to everyone. “I’ve never met anyone with such high emotional intelligence,” he said. “If you aren’t feeling well, he’ll just come up and give you a hug.” After Everett’s Times Square appearance, the family joined the NYC Buddy Walk in Central Park, followed by a dance party. It was exactly the kind of celebration Rhys hopes becomes increasingly ordinary, one where people with Down syndrome are visible, included and expected to participate fully in their communities. “We have the same expectations for all three of our kids to become the best versions of themselves,” Rhys said. Before the event, Rhys said Everett’s siblings were looking forward to sharing the experience with him. “They are all proud and honored to get to be there with him on his big day,” he said. Visit ndss.org/nyc-buddy-walk-tsv to learn more about the National Down Syndrome Society’s mission and events.
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FEATURELOOK
Hometown Gold
Shannon Miller, Olympic Champion and Seven-Time Medalist By Amy Dee Stephens The Hometown Gymnast People around the world watched Shannon Miller’s gymnastic performances during the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. Oklahomans, especially, cheered for Edmond’s hometown girl as she helped America win its first team gold medal in women’s gymnastics. “Edmond is where it all started,” Shannon said. “I was a little girl with a big dream, and no one ever told me I couldn’t do it.” When Shannon returned from the 1996 Olympics as the most decorated gymnast in American history, 15,000 people lined the streets of Edmond to glimpse the 19-yearold, world-renowned athlete who stood all of five feet tall. Edmond had done this once before, in 1992, and both times they sent her home with a car. The parade was an overwhelming experience for Shannon. The people of Edmond had backed her all along, even raising funds so her parents could travel to watch her compete at the Olympics. "I remember the enormity of the crowds," Shannon said, thinking back. "I was a pretty reserved kid, and I'd competed in front of huge crowds before. But this was different. This was my own community, right up close, and I could feel it." Renewed Signs Memories of Shannon’s Olympic achievements are again on the minds of Edmond residents as Oklahoma City looks to host its first Olympic competitions in 2028. In preparation, Edmond has created new highway signs to replace the faded signs from 1996 that welcome visitors to the hometown of Shannon Miller. The unveiling ceremony was held near the Edmond Library, next to the large statue of Shannon making her signature pose. Her warm feelings for Oklahoma came through in her acceptance speech. After the ceremony ended, the Edmond North graduate said with a laugh, "I'm glad I made it through that speech without crying." Shannon’s emotional connection comes through in her memoir, It's Not About Perfect, where Shannon describes the sense of community she feels each time she drives into Edmond and sees her sign. "I think of that large sign that honors my accomplishments as a tribute to the community where I grew up, a community that supported me every step of the way, win or lose," she wrote. Three decades later, that community put up new signs. "To put up these beautiful new signs 30 years later means so much," Shannon said. "I hope every person who supported me along the way sees one and feels like it's theirs too."
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City of Edmond sign dedication ceremony on Friday, September 11, 2026
Built for the Challenge Shannon's September visit to Edmond included a tour of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), where athletes train for sitting volleyball, archery, taekwondo, and track and field events. Since 2008, UCO Paralympic athletes have won seven gold medals. "Paralympic athletes are some of the most inspiring competitors anywhere," Shannon said. “Edmond is so fortunate to have them training here.” Every athlete’s training started somewhere. Shannon started on a backyard trampoline. Her parents watched their four-year-old doing flips and decided she needed a place where she could do it safely. They found a gym where she could burn off the energy, and Shannon's competitive spirit quickly emerged. Injuries came with the competitive road toward the Olympics. Pulled muscles, dislocations, broken bones. Shannon's quiet demeanor masked a stubborn streak. She loved the sport and loved being challenged by it, and the hard stretches were what made the good ones meaningful.
Edmond is where it all started. I was a little girl with a big dream, and no one ever told me I couldn’t do it. In 1992, Shannon won two silver and three bronze medals, and in 1996, she won her first Olympic gold medal with the USA team, nicknamed The Magnificent Seven. Despite a worrisome wrist injury, she also competed as an individual on the four-inch-wide balance beam, the most feared apparatus in gymnastics. She won her second gold medal on the beam, the first for an American, in front of a hundred million viewers.
Photo Credit : Edmond History Museum
Photo Credit : City of Edmond Shannon Miller at the 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia
After the Olympics, Shannon continued with her college degrees in marketing and entrepreneurship, then law school, during which she began sports broadcasting to stay involved with the sport she loved. Along the way, she turned toward a new passion: women's health and wellness. After resisting public speaking for years, she discovered she could easily talk about her Olympic stories and the lessons that came with them. Cancer, and a New Kind of Team In 2011, shortly after becoming a mother, Shannon was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer. She had missed noticing the signs and symptoms. Shannon wrote in her memoir, "It didn't matter that I was an Olympic gymnastics champion. I…had…cancer." Cancer, she said, doesn't care who you are. The hardest moments in chemotherapy reminded Shannon of something gymnastics had taught her. She had always had a team with her, and she had one now. Shannon had learned through years of training that asking for help and relying on other people are not weaknesses. Now, fifteen years cancer-free, she is a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Proton Center and CEO of Salto Health, a free platform where survivors and caregivers create a support registry with items chosen for treatment and recovery to share with everyone who asks, "How can I help?" For more information visit saltohealth.com. "There is strength in accepting help when offered and asking for help when needed," Shannon said. "You don't have to do it alone."
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FEATURELOOK
JB and Melanie Edwards
Kids Joining Eternity A Community of Support for Families Grieving the Loss of a Child By Taylor Bollinger Long before Kids Joining Eternity became a source of support for families across Oklahoma and beyond, its mission began with one little girl: Kendal Janae Edwards. JB and Melanie Edwards’ firstborn daughter was stillborn at 33 and a half weeks in October of 2005. In October 2014, they founded the Edmond nonprofit, Kids Joining Eternity, as a way to honor her life while walking alongside other families experiencing the unspeakable loss of a child. “KJE was formed with the intent to not only help families honor their babies and make sure they are never forgotten, but also to instill hope,” Melanie said. The organization provides peer-to-peer connection for those affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, NICU loss, and other infant or child loss. That support extends beyond parents to siblings and other family members, too. For Executive Director Becky Harmon, who experienced three miscarriages herself, that sense of community is what first drew her to KJE. Before joining the board and later becoming executive director, she simply attended an event. “I went to that event alone,” Becky said. “But by the time I left, I didn’t feel so alone.” Today, the organization creates those opportunities for connection throughout the year. Moms’ and couples’ nights out, a twice-monthly walking group, Coffees and Conversations, and miscarriage support groups offer families spaces to talk honestly with others who understand. Larger events bring entire families together, including a family retreat at the Oklahoma City Zoo, a sibling celebration, Christmas pictures with Santa, and an Oklahoma City Thunder family night. One of the most meaningful events is KJE’s annual remembrance ceremony during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October. Families can write their babies’ names on butterflies displayed during the ceremony. Each name is later read aloud.
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“Everyone’s story is so unique and different,” Becky said. “It’s very nice to have that safe space to talk about this grief that can oftentimes just be disregarded or ignored because it makes people uncomfortable.” The nonprofit's reach also extends far beyond its events. The organization sends care packages containing resources and remembrance items to grieving families. Those packages have reached 36 states, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Each May, the organization also sends Mother’s Day cards to bereaved mothers, with about 800 distributed last year through KJE and its partners. Closer to home, the nonprofit has helped create bereavement spaces at area hospitals, offering families a private place to spend time together following an unexpected loss. Twelve years in, its purpose remains remarkably close to what JB and Melanie envisioned in Kendal’s memory. “We wanted to encourage them, walk beside them as they continued trying to build their families and help each member along the way,” Melanie said. “We did not want anyone to feel alone.” Families can find support, upcoming events, and ways to volunteer or give through the Kids Joining Eternity website, kidsjoiningeternity.org.
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FEATURELOOK
Painting the Past Into the Present By Taylor Bollinger
Becoming a professional painter was not part of Stuart Sampson’s plan. Art had always come naturally to him, but basketball captured more of his attention growing up. After graduating from Edmond Memorial High School and UCO, Sampson entered the corporate world, while painting remained somewhere in the background. After seven or eight years in his career, life got difficult. “I was going through a tough time in life and turned to painting as a therapeutic activity to keep my mind distracted,” Sampson said. He completed about 15 paintings and decided to enter the Red Earth Festival in Oklahoma City. He sold 10. “I haven’t looked back since,” he said. “That show really gave me the belief in my abilities and the confidence that I could pursue being an artist.” Today, portraits are at the heart of Sampson’s work, particularly portraits of Native Americans. A member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Sampson traces that focus back to his grandfather. Growing up, he was surrounded by the books, artwork, and artifacts in his grandfather’s home. But his grandfather passed down more than those tangible reminders of their heritage. He made sure his children and grandchildren were
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enrolled tribal members and understood where they came from. “My grandfather is the reason I choose to paint Native Americans,” Sampson said. “My art is my way of passing down these values and hopefully sparking someone else’s curiosity and pride down the road.” That influence continues to shape what Sampson puts on canvas. He often begins with historical photographs, some dating to the turn of the 20th century. More recently, he has begun placing those historical figures in modern settings, connecting the past with the present.
Stuart credits his Edmond high school art teachers with giving him the foundation in the arts. Look closely, and there might be another surprise – a chief riding a skateboard, a pair of Air Jordans, or other unexpected details referencing Sampson’s upbringing. These additions allow Sampson to honor the people he paints without leaving his own personality out of the picture. “I certainly have a sense of humor when it comes to most of my work,” he said. “If I can get someone to smile or laugh
as a result of my piece, then it’s a job well done for me.” That work has taken Sampson far beyond Edmond. He recently completed his sixth year at the Santa Fe Indian Market, which draws more than 100,000 attendees. This fall, his work will also appear at the Cherokee Art Market in Tulsa and exhibitions in Santa Fe and Oklahoma City. Still, Edmond remains home. Sampson and his wife, Breann, are raising their 8-year-old daughter here. He also credits his Edmond high school art teachers with giving him the foundation to carry him through adulthood in the arts. But despite years of shows, sales and national opportunities, Sampson does not sound like someone who believes he has arrived. “Although I have been doing this for a while, I feel I am just getting started as an artist,” he said. His advice to the artists coming behind him is fittingly simple. “Don’t give up. Keep going, keep learning, keep painting,” Sampson said. “Your break will come.” Follow his journey or peruse his art at stuartsampsonart.com.
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BIZLOOK
Kupiec East Edmond YMCA For generations, the YMCA has been a place where Edmond residents come together to grow stronger, build relationships and find a sense of community. While the programs and facilities have evolved, that purpose remains at the heart of the organization. Founded in Oklahoma City in 1889, the YMCA is rooted in Christian principles and the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Its mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The Edmond YMCA has served local families since 1968. “The YMCA has never been just a building. It’s the relationships and impact we create in the community,” said Chris Berry, Associate Vice President of the
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Edmond District, who has served with the organization for 26 years. Today, that impact extends well beyond fitness, swimming and youth sports. The Edmond YMCA offers child care, summer camps, a weekend feeding program for children, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA for cancer survivors and community events. It also partners with more than 80 community groups. Last year, the Edmond YMCA provided more than $270,000 in financial assistance to help ensure people could access YMCA memberships and programs. The next chapter begins November 16, 2026, with the opening of the Kupiec East Edmond YMCA. Created through a three-way partnership among the YMCA, City of Edmond and Metropolitan Library System, the first-of-its-kind Oklahoma facility will bring resources for spirit, mind and body together under one roof. Visitors will find a shared lobby, Edmond’s second library, a gym, pool and fitness center, along with new features including 24/7 access, a dry sauna, two group exercise studios, a universal and family locker room, playground and dedicated youth space.
Future Kupiec East Edmond YMCA, opening November 2026
As Edmond grows, the YMCA plans to grow alongside it, creating opportunities for children, families, adults and seniors to connect and thrive. To learn more about the Kupiec East Edmond YMCA, visit ymcaokc.org/KEEY, email edinfo@ymcaokc.org or call (405) 348-9622.
To promote your business with a BIZLOOK feature, contact Laura at laura@edmondoutlook.com.
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BIZLOOK
Grand Casino Hotel & Resort Grand Casino Hotel & Resort is celebrating 20 years of growth, entertainment and community connection in 2026. Originally opened as FireLake Grand Casino in October 2006, the property began as a 125,000-squarefoot gaming facility. Over the past two decades, it has developed into a regional destination offering gaming, lodging, dining, entertainment, meeting and event space, a spa and other resort amenities. Chad Mathews, Director of Marketing, has witnessed much of that transformation since joining the Grand in 2015. One of the most significant additions came in 2013, when the 14-story, 262-room Grand Hotel opened. Guests can also take advantage of Stay & Play packages combining
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accommodations at the Grand with golf at FireLake Golf Course, another Citizen Potawatomi Nation enterprise located about 12 miles away in Shawnee. The Grand’s evolution reflects a broader change in the casino industry. Guests increasingly look for a complete entertainment experience rather than gaming alone. In response, the Grand has expanded its dining, entertainment, event and hospitality offerings while using technology and guest preferences to provide more personalized promotions and experiences. The Grand will mark its 20th anniversary throughout October. “Hottest Seat in Town” qualifier hot seat drawings begin October 6, with a guaranteed cash prize pool of over $275,000 including a $100,000 top prize awarded on October 24. The month also features live entertainment, including Gretchen Wilson at the Grand Event Center on October 17, and fireworks immediately following the festivities on October 24th. . Owned and operated by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, the Grand’s impact reaches beyond the resort through employment, tourism, sponsorships,
charitable support and partnerships with local organizations. Its success also contributes to the Nation’s continued investment in economic development, services and infrastructure. As the Grand enters its third decade, its focus is on continually improving the guest experience. To plan a visit, go to grandresortok.com, call the casino at (405) 964-7263 or the hotel at (405) 964-7777, or visit Grand Casino Hotel & Resort at 777 Grand Casino Boulevard in Shawnee.
To promote your business with a BIZLOOK feature, contact Laura at laura@edmondoutlook.com.
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FEATURELOOK
Behind the Screams By Taylor Bollinger
For 18 years, John Pagonis has spent his Octobers scaring people, and he still has plenty of ideas left. The Edmond resident grew up visiting haunted houses around Oklahoma City and Bricktown in the 1980s and ’90s. When he decided to create one himself, John wanted to capture some of that old-school experience while making it more interactive and immersive. Creativity runs in the family for John and his wife, Kimberly. Their shared artistic background spills naturally into Guthrie Haunts, where bringing an idea to life often means designing and building it themselves. The result is a half-mile-long indoor and outdoor haunt north of Guthrie on Highway 77, situated along the banks of the Cimarron River for an added “creep factor,” John explained. Much of the experience is created from scratch. “We do a lot of our own design work and creative construction,” John said. “A lot isn’t stuff you buy at a store. It’s stuff we actually make.” And when they do buy props, “props” might be putting it lightly. The haunt has featured autopsy tables, hospital beds, defibrillators, embalming machines, and vintage medical chairs. For those whose hearts are already racing, John says scares are only part of the attraction. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he needed a way to keep crowds from gathering in long lines. His solution was a carnival where visitors could spread out until their group was called. People loved it, and the temporary solution stuck around. Today, the carnival includes fire performers, clowns, sideshow acts, magic, a DJ, food trucks, vendors, and refreshments. Parents who would rather skip the scary part
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can hang out at the carnival while their teenagers brave the haunt. “You’re entertained the whole time, not just in a line waiting to go in,” John said. Creating that experience is a year-round job. John and his team continually redesign areas, construct new elements, and change scares. During the season, 40 to 50 actors bring it all to life. Some have been doing it almost as long as he has. “It becomes a family,” John said. “People come back and say, ‘I did this when I was 18,’ and now they’re almost 40.” Some even return with their own children, turning the haunt into a generational tradition. For younger actors, it can also be their introduction to the working world. John enjoys being a first boss, teaching teenagers how to clock in, show up, be respectful, and take responsibility. “I really enjoy the people,” he said. “I enjoy entertaining people and having them have a good time.” That human connection is part of what keeps him coming back. There is no screen required. Instead, people watch performers, dance, laugh, scream, and experience something together. The haunt runs Friday and Saturday nights throughout October and is recommended for ages 12 and older. The scares continue November 6 and 7 with “Blackout,” a special experience where the lights go off, and each group receives only a small light source to navigate the haunt. To learn more, go to guthriehaunts.com.
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LOOKBACK
Moms Helping Moms! By Louise Tucker Jones On the first Friday of each month, I’m privileged to have lunch with a lovely group of women. Fun women! Caring women! Strong women! This sorority of friends is simply called M.O.M.S. (Moms Overcoming Mourning Support). Every mother in this gathering knows the heartbreak of losing a child to death and has a desire to help others through such a tragedy. And what do we do at lunch? We chat. We laugh. We update each other on our lives. Sometimes we have few attending. Sometimes a lot. We talk about our children and grandchildren, both living and in heaven. And yes, there could be some tears, especially if someone is in a hard place. We reach out and pray
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for each other. Robin Riley founded the support group years ago, sharing 2nd Corinthians 1:3-4, which tells us how God comforts us so that we may comfort others. That’s our mission. I met these moms after the death of my youngest son, Jay. I’m so thankful for these “lunch ladies” and other friends who hold me up through hard times. I’m now experiencing the fourth anniversary of my son’s journey to heaven. I wish I could say the pain is gone, but every person who has lost a child knows our hearts are scarred forever. I still miss Jay’s hugs and sunny personality. I miss his teasing, his funny jokes, and our daily trips to Sonic. I even miss Friday night Smackdown on TV. Jay was a huge WWE fan. So rest assured that I love hearing my son’s name mentioned. It’s such a blessing when some sweet soul remembers Jay’s birthday or tells me of a special memory, such as his captivating smile or his dressy neckties for Sunday morning church. Believe me, these anniversaries can be hard for us moms. We know the grief, the sadness, the missing of our children,
M.O.M.S.
gone too soon. And though we know they are held in the arms of Jesus, living in God’s heavenly realm, we still long for them and love to hear you mention their names. Jay-Jay, how I miss you! Love you with all of my heart! Mom ABOUT THE AUTHOR Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author, inspirational speaker & founder of Wives With Heavenly Husbands, a support group for widows. LouiseTJ@cox.net or LouiseTuckerJones.com.
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Photo Credit: City of Edmond
LOOKBACK
a look back Edmond's First Cemetery Established in 1895, Gracelawn Cemetery was Edmond’s first cemetery. The City purchased 20 acres of land north of town for $500 from L.M. Rannabarger for use as a cemetery. Originally known as Fair Lawn Cemetery until around 1903, the cemetery has expanded, but a portion of the original cemetery is laid out in a wagon wheel pattern in honor of the 1889 pioneers. Between 1934 and 1940, workers with the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the Works Progress Administration constructed the unique stone wall on the south and east sides of the cemetery. In 2021, the cemetery expanded to the north, adding seven acres, 1,500 inground plots, and 1,200 columbarium units.
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PO Box 3878 Edmond, OK 73083