Passed away 12 May 2000 at 12:30 a.m. Funeral services at Shafer-Jensen Memorial Chapel in Payette, Idaho. _________________________________ In Loving Memory Of Helen Mae Shepler Burge Born: August 22, 1911 Omaha, Nebraska Entered Into Rest: May 12, 2000 Payette, Idaho Services: 2:00 pm, Tuesday, May 16, 2000 Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel Payette, Idaho Officiating: Pastor Ron Hessel Seventh-Day Adventist Church Payette, Idaho Vocal Selections: "Beautiful Isle Of Somewhere" "In The Garden" by Jo Shurtleff accompanied by Jean Peterson Casket Bearers: Rick Collingwood, Shawn Ryan, Mark Collingwood, Steve McNutt, Mark Bolander, David McNutt, Michael Ryan, Randy Collingwood, Wayne Hendrix Concluding Services: Rosedale Memorial Gardens Payette, Idaho Poem (inside cover) "God saw you were getting tired, and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered 'Come with Me'. With tearful eyes we watched you suffer, and saw you fade away. Although we love you dearly, We could not make you stay. A 'Golden Heart' stopped beating, working hands put to rest; God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes 'The Best' ." _________________________________________ Obituary from the Idaho Statesman, May 15, 200 Helen M. Shepler Burge Helen Mae Shepler Burge, age 88, of Payette, passed away Friday, May 11, 2000 (note: this should have read May 12), at a local care center. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, at the Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette, with Pastor Ron Hessel of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Rosedale Momorial Gardens, Payette. Helen was born Aug 22, 1911, at Omaha, Neb,. to Gertrude and Harry Ethell. They also lived in Arizona and Illinois before moving to Kelso, Wash. It was in Kelso where she met and marreid Lewis E. Shepler, and together they owned and operated Shepler's Grocery until the early 1940s. Lewis and Helen had three daughters, Carol, Wanda and Venita. They later moved to Vancouver, Wash., where she worked for Jantzen Knitting Mills. In 1948 the family moved to the Payette, Idaho area where she worked for Ben Franklin Variety, Farmer's Co-op Creamery, and Sedlmayer Drug Store. Lewis passed away in 1961. Helen met and married Truman Gillock in 1966, and they lived in McMinnvillle and Umatilla, Ore. Mr. Gillock passed away in 1978. Helen then moved back to Payette until her marriage to Carl (note: should be Karl) Burge of Sugarhouse, Utah. He passed away in November 1989, and she moved back to Payette to be near her family. Helen loved to travel, sew, dance, fish, and work in here flower gardens. She could be seen at the local Senior dances and bowled for many years on various teams. She had been a resident of Royal Villa Care Center for the past 15 months. A special "thank-you" to all her caregivers there, especially the "Big Boss," Barbara Little. She truly loved Barbara, Estelle, Jackie, Alice, Pat, and all of the ladies that worked there. They are a loving, caring group. She was a member of the Payette First Baptist Church. Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Wanda and Dick Collingwood of Payette, Carol and Stan McNutt, and Venita and Marion Ryan all of St. Maries; stepdaughters, Dorothy Stanton of Walla Walla, Wash., Velma Struthers of Woodburn, Ore., and Alice Ruffcorn or Harbor, Ore,; one stepdaughter-in-law, Marian Gillock of Florence, Ore.; 12 grandchildren, Steven McNutt of Boise, Sheri McNutt Hendrix of Emmett, David McNutt of Kamiah, Kelly Ryan Bolander and Michael Ryan, both of Pocatello, Shannon Ryan Christen and Tamara Ryan Prior, both of Prosser, Wash., Teresa Ryan Gilden of Cheney, Wash., Shawn Ryan of Battle Ground, Wash., Rick Collingwood of Meridian, Randy Collingwood of Payette, and Mark Collingwood of Enumclaw, Wash., 26 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law, Myron Shepler, and Porter and Millicene Shepler, all of Ocean Park, Wash., and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and two sisters. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or a charity of your choice, c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette (Idaho) 83661. Friends may call today from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette. ______________________________________________________________ The following is from the notes of Pastor Ron Hessel of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Payette, who officiated at the memorial service on May 16, 2000 (graciously copied and mailed to me by Aunt Wanda (Shepler) Collingwood on May 30, 2000)..... (Pastor Ron first read the obituary above) "I remember Helen coming to church on occasion or to special events. She was always sharp looking and had a look in her eye that made me wonder what she was thinking. I wasn't sure if she approved of who I was or was amused at what I was doing, but she was always pleasant and I enjoyed visiting with her." "Helen was independent most of her life, spending just a little time, comparatively at Royal Villa, and even then, I suspect, she was somewhat the independent sort. And for those of us who are younger and busy with our life it is easy to relegate the "old" folks to a category of permanent "oldness". It is hard to imagine that they were anything by old. And we forget that inside their stooped bodies beats a heart that is vibrant and strong. I came across this poem a few years ago, that doesn't really apply to Helen, and yet it applies to all of us." "Look Closer - See Me" (Author unknown) "What do you see, nurse, what do you see? Are you thinking when you look at me, A crabby old woman, not very wise Uncertain of habit, with far away eyes. Who dribbles her food and makes no reply When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you'd try." Who seems not to notice the things that you do And forever is losing a sock and a shoe. Who, when resting or not, lets you do as you will With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill. Is that what you are thinking? Is that what you see? I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still As I move at your bidding, as I eat at your will. I'm a small child of 10 with a Father and Mother, Brothers and Sisters who love one another. A young girl of 16 with wings on her feet Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet. A bride at 20, my heart gives a leap Remembering the vows that I promised to keep. At 25, now I have young of my own Who need me to build a secure happy home. A woman of 30, my young now grow fast Bound to each other with ties that should last. At 40, my youngs sons now grown will be gone But, my man stays beside me to see I don't mourn. At 50, once more babies play 'round my knee. Again we know children, my loved one and me. Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead. I look to the future, I shudder with dread. For my young are all busy rearing young of their own, And I think of the years and the love I have known. I'm an old woman now and nature looks cruel, 'Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool. The body it crumbles, grace and vigor depart, There is now a stone where I once had a heart. But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells, And now and again my battered heart swells. I remember the joys, I remember the pain, And I'm loving and living life over again. And I think of the years all too few - gone to fast And accept the stark fact that nothing will last. So open your eyes, nurse, open and see Not a crabby, old woman, look closer and see me!!!!" Pastor Ron continues... "Look closer, see me. Helen was a real live person, who loved, and lived, and experienced life in her own energetic manner." "As mentioned in the obituary, Helen loved to travel. She would get in her car and take long trips by herself. One time she took a Bus Tour to see the Fall colors in New England, she saw Washington, D.C., New York and of course the colors of New England. She did this by herself when she was well over 70 years old." "She liked to drive and that brought on its own set of challenges. Dick was elected to help her work on her driving skills so she could get her Driver's License back. Well, they'd go driving and she would drive on the wrong side of the road. Obviously this is a little disconcerting to Dick. He suggested that she "MOVE OVER." She looks at him with complete innocense and says, "Why? There are no cars coming." I don't think she ever got her license." "Carol remembers when Helen was fishing down on the Oregon Coast. It was a miserable fishing day. Nobody caught anything. Helen is a fisherman, or fisherwoman, whichever you please. Fishing isn't something you take lying down. Unless you want to take it lying down. But on this day, she was getting pretty frustrated with the lack of success. So she looks around and sees a banana peel in the garbage and announces that she had tried everything else, she might as well see if the salmon like bananas. She puts the peel on the hook and sure enough. She catches a salmon. Now that is a fishing tip you won't find in the Outdoorsman magazine." "She was adventuresome and spunky. She went up flying with her brother Lyle, who was a pilot, in a small aircraft. Lyld did some loop de loop type stuff and Helen came back green, but smiling." "She loved to go to the dances and apparently she was quite a dancer and really caught the eye of more than one gentleman. One time there actually was a fight in the men's restroom over her. Two guys want to dances with her and one pulled a knife on the other guy. How many of you ladies have had men fight over you? That requires spunk." "She enjoyed gardening, especially taking care of her flowers, Roses in particular were her favorite, though she was especially proud of one Lily that she nutured to a large plant." "Helen will be missed. In spite of her eccentricities and difficult moments she was still mom. Venita remembers when the tables were turned and she sat up leaving the light on, waiting for mom to return from a date. That was a bit unusual. It is easier to raise children than to raise your parents." "She will be missed, won't she." "Parents can sometimes be a pain in the neck, but we always expect them to be there. We can count on them. They are an anchor to who we are. Now mom is gone. In some ways the anchor is gone." "And there is a flood of emotions, some conflicting emotions, relief and sadness, worry and peace, emotional clausrophobia and contentment. Mom will be missed. She will be missed by her family and friends. Our lives have been touched by Helen and in various ways they will never be the same." "I don't know what Helens relationship with God was like. I know she like to come to church events, but inside what was it like with her and God. I don't know. I didn't ask her and it doesn't matter. That is between her and God. I do know that she is loved by a God who doesn't love anybody more than He loves Helen. And in His divine plan He has a special place for her. And the good news is that we who are left behind have the opportunity to make sure that this isn't the end. We can meet Helen again. God has promised that He will come again and takes us all to be with Him, if that is what we choose. The choice is up to us." "Helen will be missed, but God's promise means it won't be forever." "1 Thess 4:16.17 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of god, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." "May God bless you, each one, dear family." "Mother's Day is just over. Your first Mother's Day without Mom. I don't know what that felt like. Perhaps this poem expresses some of what you felt." "Mother" "Thank You For Being There - Thank You for Love. Thank You for telling of God up above. Thanks for the diapers, the washing, the folding, The changing, repinnings and all of the Holding - The Rocking, the Singing, the Healing, the Smile - The endurance it took to cope all the while, With so many children, so many...you know - I think I'd have quit not continued to go On with the Caring, the Loving, the Giving, The unceasing frustrations of everyday living With all of your children The cooking, the cleaning, the sewing and work. Honor is due You for You did not shirk. You did not cease and You did not run. You did not give up as I might have done. And so - For those Hours, those Days, all those Years I Thank You Dear Mother...Forgive me the Tears, The Heartaches, and All, The Anger, the Rudeness, The Big and the Small. May Mother's Day find Your Heart Full to the brim With Peace, Joy, and Love. May nothing seem grim. God Bless You Mother... May your heart know how Dear - You are to me Now and eash day of the year... copyright m. garren Orig. 1981 (for Betty Morgan. Beloved Mother of ten children)" (Formal Committal at the gravesite)... "Forasmuch as God in His infinite love and wisdom has permitted our dear sister to fall asleep in Christ, we do tenderly commit her body to the ground, (earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust) in the sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection when our Lord shall return in glory. Then this body of our humiliation shal be changed and made like unto His glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby Hes is able even to subdue all things unto himself." (Thus ended the memorial and graveside service.) __________________________________________