My Mom
This is a sad time for me. Yesterday my beloved mom lost her battles with nearly twenty years of multiple illnesses. She fought tougher than anyone I have ever known. She remained positive and sunny until the very end, these past two months of extreme trauma the first time she ever expressed being tired. She passed peacefully with her eldest daughter and family by her bedside.
I hesitated to share my sorrow here since The Darcy Saga is for my novels. But then I remembered that it is also my blog. The place where I can personally interact with my readers; where I can show my personality and allow small portions of Sharon’s world to be revealed. Well, my mom was, and always will be, a huge part of who I am. Numerous influences fashion us into the mature adults we become, but few are as significant as our moms. I was blessed with one of the best moms God ever put on this earth.
This is for her. A memorandum.
Marjorie Jo Underwood Hudson Shelly
Nov. 30, 1937 – Sept. 25, 2009
Marjorie Jo (Marge) Shelly, recently of Hobbs, NM, died Friday, September 25, 2009 after a lengthy battle with numerous illnesses.
Marge was born on November 30, 1937 in Frankfurt, Indiana, the middle child and only daughter of Joe and Lucille Underwood. The Underwoods moved to Van Nuys, CA when Marge was a young girl, living in the Southern California area until the 1950s when Joe and Lucille settled in Frazier Park, assuming ownership of The Tavern.
Marge relocated to Frazier Park in 1963 with her first husband, Edward Hudson, a Forest Service firefighter, and two daughters. In 1965 Marge married longtime Frazier Park resident Robert “Bob” Shelly. Bob was a heavy equipment operator for the AFL- CIO Operating Engineers and worked on dozens of area projects including the California Aqueduct and the road to Pine Mountain Club. In his later years, he worked for Granite Construction. He served the community as a volunteer sheriff’s deputy and member of the Search and Rescue. Bob Shelly died on September 8, 1982.
Marge left Frazier Park in 1984, moving to New Mexico to be close to her brother, but she always referred to the Frazier Mountain area as her home. Days before her death she spoke of her desire to visit Frazier Park again as the memories of her years there were the happiest of her life.
Among Marge’s talents was her skill as a painter. She freelanced as a sign painter, her work in such high demand that nearly every business in town had a unique Marge Shelly painted sign at one time. Her primary occupation was a homemaker, but she kept busy over the years selling Avon, owning a thrift store, volunteering at the schools and Chamber of Commerce, organizing Fiesta Days events, and working part-time in a number of local stores, including the Lebec market as a butcher. The job she loved the best was as a reporter and layout artist for the Mountain Enterprise under the editorial management of Nedra Hawley and Peggy Albee. During her years as a reporter, she covered the filming of Bonanza, Davy Crockett, and The Waltons. She was a member of the Frazier Park Church of Christ.
Marge is survived by her brothers, Chuck and Phil Underwood, her daughters, Janis Hudson Wise of Hobbs, NM and Sharon Hudson Lathan of Hanford CA, and her son, Gary Shelly of Cantonment, FL. She has six grandchildren: Seth Greenberg, Mercy Greenberg Tucker, Ashley Lathan, Emily Lathan, Kyle Lathan, and Crystal Shelly; and four great-grandchildren.
Marge Underwood at 19 years of age
July 1985. Me, my sister Janis, and mom.
July 19, 1986. My wedding to Steve. My dad Ed Hudson and my mom.
Mom with her granddaughter, my Emily. 1988.
June 1997. Mom with her grandson, my Kyle at 4 years old.
This past August. Our last time with our adored grandma and mom.
Praises to God for His grace and mercy in granting a reprieve so we could visit and show our love.
We will miss you, mom.
[…] Sadly, my beloved mother passed away in late September of 2009. She was able to hold her personally signed copy of Loving Mr. Darcy, and even managed to read it and share it with the ladies at the retirement home where she lived. While generally keeping to my professional life here on the blog, I had to pay my respects to the best mother a girl could hope for: My Mom […]
Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful mother.
Love, Jana
Oh Sharon, I have just read this! Please accept my condolences and I know you will find comfort in your wonderful memories, although you must be so sad at this time.
Love
May xx
A special, heartfelt thanks to everyone who has come forth with words of encouragement and sympathy. It has been a rough few days, and I know more to come for a long while, but the outpouring of support is astounding. It truly helps, more than you will ever know. Thank you SO much!
I am keeping busy. Mom would have wanted that. The tears hit me at strange moments, but that is good too. I am not that fond of crying. Who is? Puffy eyes, stuffy nose, blech! But it is cathartic and necessary. Luckily I have my hubby and kids right here.
What can I say? I am a bless woman. Love you all, Sharon
I am truly sorry for your loss, Sharon. I too feel that no one in our lives helps shape who we will become as much as our parents, particularly our mothers. I also feel that those of us that realize this are quite lucky. Your mother was truly lovely, as are you. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
Sharon and family,
I am so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful Mother. I know how special she was to you and your family and I am sure she will be greatly missed. Please accept my most sincere condolences for your loss, and know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Love and friendship, Julie C
Dear Sharon,
My deepest and sincerest sympathy to you and your family in the loss of your Mother. May she have everlasting peace and rest in God’s Kingdom.
Having lost my Father 24 years ago and my younger Brother 19 years ago, I know what you are going through. Cherish, always, your memories of your Mother; as I do of my Father and Brother.
Thank you for sharing these lovely pictures of your Mother with us. She was a very attractive lady.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May God Bless you and your family.
Esther
Oh, Sharon… I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing the photos and memories of your mom.
Thinking of you. Such wonderful pictures you have shared with us. Thank you and god bless
Sharon, I’m thinking of you, after losing my Dad only 2 years ago I know how difficult this time is. Sending you big cyber hugs.
You’re in my prayers.
Sharon,
She was a beautiful woman and truly blessed to have had such a loving daughter. Cherish your memories.
Linda
Thank you for sharing this very personal and emotional news Sharon. You are no doubt a woman of courage and strength.
I am very sad for your loss and as hard as it is without your Mom on this earth she is in the hands of God. Peaceful, God rest her soul. My thoughts and prayers go to you and your family. Your beautiful Mom will live on forever in your hearts and thoughts. You have so many wonderful memories to treasure as seen in the beautiful pics you have shared. I hope these treasured memories help get ou through the tough times.
God Bless
Vee
Sharon,
I’m so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family during this time.
Much love,
Jaclynn