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1WholeHouseLibrary
Nov 7.
Her real name is Karrell. Odd spelling, indeed, but she was her parents' third, last, and failed attempt at creating a Harrell, Jr. Their chromosomal fluke became my salvation after my brutally abusive first marriage.
For seventeen and a half years, she proved to me every day that trusting in the possibility of loving again was worth the risk. She made friends so easily, I couldn't keep track of them. Smart, talented, lovely, a redhead(!), skin so soft that babies are speechless because of her. Plus, she put out so much heat when she slept, I have no idea why the bed didn't catch fire. You know it's good when you wake up and you're still holding hands.
She died peacefully this afternoon, no pain finally, after a 3+ year battle with colorectal cancer. It became very aggressive back in July, and the complications that ensued cascaded into impossible odds.
We both wanted to cast our ballots on the first day of early voting, and it being a fairly good day for here (relatively speaking), we stood in line for half an hour to vote. In one of our last few lucid conversations, she was so proud to have done that while she had the chance. Karrell was rushed to the OR on Nov 1; and too many things went wrong afterward. She entered hospice care on Nov 5, where she got the best of care. I am so grateful for their help and assistance. Karrell looked serene, utterly beautiful, and at peace when she died.
I helped move her body from the hospital bed to the gurney. I will be a witness to her cremation -- no way am I going to wait out the end of time with a perfect stranger sharing my grave! I will dig that grave, place her in the ground, and bury her. I swore that I would see her through to the end. And I miss her more than anyone should have a reason to.
Her real name is Karrell. Odd spelling, indeed, but she was her parents' third, last, and failed attempt at creating a Harrell, Jr. Their chromosomal fluke became my salvation after my brutally abusive first marriage.
For seventeen and a half years, she proved to me every day that trusting in the possibility of loving again was worth the risk. She made friends so easily, I couldn't keep track of them. Smart, talented, lovely, a redhead(!), skin so soft that babies are speechless because of her. Plus, she put out so much heat when she slept, I have no idea why the bed didn't catch fire. You know it's good when you wake up and you're still holding hands.
She died peacefully this afternoon, no pain finally, after a 3+ year battle with colorectal cancer. It became very aggressive back in July, and the complications that ensued cascaded into impossible odds.
We both wanted to cast our ballots on the first day of early voting, and it being a fairly good day for here (relatively speaking), we stood in line for half an hour to vote. In one of our last few lucid conversations, she was so proud to have done that while she had the chance. Karrell was rushed to the OR on Nov 1; and too many things went wrong afterward. She entered hospice care on Nov 5, where she got the best of care. I am so grateful for their help and assistance. Karrell looked serene, utterly beautiful, and at peace when she died.
I helped move her body from the hospital bed to the gurney. I will be a witness to her cremation -- no way am I going to wait out the end of time with a perfect stranger sharing my grave! I will dig that grave, place her in the ground, and bury her. I swore that I would see her through to the end. And I miss her more than anyone should have a reason to.
5divinenanny
My condolences for your loss.
7Darth-Heather
I am glad that you had years of happiness with this wonderful lady. I hope the good memories sustain you, and wish you peace.
8Marissa_Doyle
Oh...I am so, so sorry.
9Bookmarque
That was a lovely tribute to her and your marriage. I'm so sorry you didn't get more time with each other, but it sounds like you knew what you had when you had it.
10SylviaC
I'm very sorry for your loss. Your stories over the years have shown us what a wonderful person she was, who brought so much joy to your life. I wish you peace and comfort.
11drneutron
So sorry. I hope you find comfort in the good memories you've shared with us and those you've kept for yourself.
13reading_fox
Much sympathy, condolences, and if it helps - internet hugs from a stranger.
15NorthernStar
So sorry for your loss, and that your time with her was not longer. That was a lovely tribute, thanks for sharing a few of your great memories.
16Crypto-Willobie
So sorry...
17clamairy
Oh Mike, I am so very sorry for your loss and for all that you two endured. I am happy that you had her for as long as you did. Massive hugs to you.
19reconditereader
I'm so very sorry for your heart-wrenching loss. Your love is beautiful.
21Taphophile13
Karrell sounds like a beautiful person. I hope your memories will help ease the pain.
22MrsLee
>1 WholeHouseLibrary: Thank you for letting us know in such a beautiful way. A beautiful person has left our world, but it sounds as if she left it and those around her better than they were before. My condolences.
26saltmanz
My wife's been out of the country for less than six days, and I miss her considerably, but I know I'll she'll be back Sunday. I'm so sorry for your loss.
27theretiredlibrarian
I am so sorry for your loss.
31WholeHouseLibrary
Thank you all.
There are moments, and there are moments, but I seem to be coping, I guess. Can't seem to finish things that I start, at least not right away; have to walk away from it and come back later. Today, I cleaned out the car; found three pairs of reading glasses. Odd, considering she always felt carsick just reading speed limit signs.
There are moments, and there are moments, but I seem to be coping, I guess. Can't seem to finish things that I start, at least not right away; have to walk away from it and come back later. Today, I cleaned out the car; found three pairs of reading glasses. Odd, considering she always felt carsick just reading speed limit signs.
32catzteach
>31 WholeHouseLibrary: be gentle to yourself. Hugs.
36margd
So sorry.
With hope it's a comfort: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdtx-pxjX8A
..Willie Nelson’s 73rd studio album Last Man Standing drop(ped) on April 27, just days before the legendary singer’s 85th birthday. Today, Nelson shared one more new track from the album, the measured, solacing “Something You Get Through.”
...Like the album’s title track, “Something You Get Through” references grief, loss and mortality.
“Life goes on and on and when it’s gone it lives in someone new,” Nelson sings. “It’s not something you get over, it’s something you get through.”
It’s an especially impactful sentiment from Nelson, who in recent years has had to say goodbye to some of his closest friends and musical partners...
With hope it's a comfort: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdtx-pxjX8A
..Willie Nelson’s 73rd studio album Last Man Standing drop(ped) on April 27, just days before the legendary singer’s 85th birthday. Today, Nelson shared one more new track from the album, the measured, solacing “Something You Get Through.”
...Like the album’s title track, “Something You Get Through” references grief, loss and mortality.
“Life goes on and on and when it’s gone it lives in someone new,” Nelson sings. “It’s not something you get over, it’s something you get through.”
It’s an especially impactful sentiment from Nelson, who in recent years has had to say goodbye to some of his closest friends and musical partners...
37rastaphrog
Condolences to you and those to whom she was part of their life.
38stellarexplorer
Wishing you consolation and peace. I hope your memories will be a source of strength in the coming days and months.
39rolandperkins
Condolences, and wishes for a peaceful and
happy (as possible under the circumstances)
future.
happy (as possible under the circumstances)
future.
40Sakerfalcon
I'm so sorry to hear this news. I hope that the many good memories of your life together will help you to get through the dark times.
41AnnaClaire
Well fuck. I'm so sorry to hear about this.
42WholeHouseLibrary
Thank you for your candor; That pretty much sums it up for me too. Damn, I miss her.
>36 margd: And thank YOU. It's a very good and appropriate song. I've worked it out in the guitar, and when I think I can hold it together enough to play at Open Mic Night again, I may start the set with it. It may be a while though.
I may post my semi-final version of her obituary here later. (Tomorrow?) Have to find that post that tells you how to display a picture; been a good eight or more years since I've done that here.
>36 margd: And thank YOU. It's a very good and appropriate song. I've worked it out in the guitar, and when I think I can hold it together enough to play at Open Mic Night again, I may start the set with it. It may be a while though.
I may post my semi-final version of her obituary here later. (Tomorrow?) Have to find that post that tells you how to display a picture; been a good eight or more years since I've done that here.
43WholeHouseLibrary
The obit:
Karrell Ann Odom Jones Lynch, 59, passed away on November 7 at Round Rock Medical Center. She was born in Pasadena, TX on April 15, 1959, the youngest daughter of Harrell James and Patricia Ann Odom. She was a precocious child, exploring nature and the love of learning. She valued education and made this her professional career; both in the classroom and later as a librarian. She attended McLennan Community College, the University of Mary Harden-Baylor, and Angelo State University, earning her Master’s degree in education, minoring in Fine Arts. Karrell taught at Bonham Elementary in San Angelo for 19 years, before moving to Round Rock, where she taught for two years at Forest Creek Elementary while earning her Library certification. She spent her last 11 years in education as the librarian at Pleasant Hill Elementary in Leander, and retired in 2015.
Karrell’s creative interests varied from a love of music—she played flute and performed at the weddings of several family members, and in a jazz band during college; to art—sculpture drawings, jewelry making, and creating intricate bookmarks, among many other crafts.
Karrell married Mike Lynch on May 26, 2001 and proved to him every day that trusting in the possibility of loving again was worth the risk. You know it's good when you wake up and you're still holding hands. Together they enjoyed traveling, reading, museums, antique shops, unique bookstores, hiking, and geology. On her own, she drove Mike crazy with her love of pets, knick-knacks, and indoor plants.
She is preceded in death by her parents and sister Barbara Jo Fleming; and survived by her sisters Pamela Leschber of Hutto and Janis Jackson of Waco; her husband of 17 years, Mike; her first husband Mickey Jones of San Angelo; their son Clayton Alan Jones and his wife Erica of Sweetwater; her step-sons Gregory, Dennis, and Andrew Lynch of Austin and Round Rock; Karrell’s granddaughters Lillyanne and Kaydence Jones; and numerous, cherished relatives.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to local charities of your own choice.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. on December 15 at their home at (redacted), Round Rock, TX. A private burial will be held later at Burketown Cemetery in east Texas.
Karrell Ann Odom Jones Lynch, 59, passed away on November 7 at Round Rock Medical Center. She was born in Pasadena, TX on April 15, 1959, the youngest daughter of Harrell James and Patricia Ann Odom. She was a precocious child, exploring nature and the love of learning. She valued education and made this her professional career; both in the classroom and later as a librarian. She attended McLennan Community College, the University of Mary Harden-Baylor, and Angelo State University, earning her Master’s degree in education, minoring in Fine Arts. Karrell taught at Bonham Elementary in San Angelo for 19 years, before moving to Round Rock, where she taught for two years at Forest Creek Elementary while earning her Library certification. She spent her last 11 years in education as the librarian at Pleasant Hill Elementary in Leander, and retired in 2015.
Karrell’s creative interests varied from a love of music—she played flute and performed at the weddings of several family members, and in a jazz band during college; to art—sculpture drawings, jewelry making, and creating intricate bookmarks, among many other crafts.
Karrell married Mike Lynch on May 26, 2001 and proved to him every day that trusting in the possibility of loving again was worth the risk. You know it's good when you wake up and you're still holding hands. Together they enjoyed traveling, reading, museums, antique shops, unique bookstores, hiking, and geology. On her own, she drove Mike crazy with her love of pets, knick-knacks, and indoor plants.
She is preceded in death by her parents and sister Barbara Jo Fleming; and survived by her sisters Pamela Leschber of Hutto and Janis Jackson of Waco; her husband of 17 years, Mike; her first husband Mickey Jones of San Angelo; their son Clayton Alan Jones and his wife Erica of Sweetwater; her step-sons Gregory, Dennis, and Andrew Lynch of Austin and Round Rock; Karrell’s granddaughters Lillyanne and Kaydence Jones; and numerous, cherished relatives.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to local charities of your own choice.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. on December 15 at their home at (redacted), Round Rock, TX. A private burial will be held later at Burketown Cemetery in east Texas.
44Taphophile13
>43 WholeHouseLibrary: Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing a little bit of Karrell with us. I wish I could have known her. And never forget that she must have seen something special in you too. Peace to you and yours.
45RowanTribe
A beautiful obituary for a beautiful person (inside and out). I'm happy to learn we had a stellar member of the tribe of librarians. Be gentle to yourself, and thank you so much for sharing with us. I hope that it's a comfort to do so.
46KimarieBee
What an amazing lady! I'm so sorry for your loss and for what you're going through at this very sad time in your life.
47margd
Obviously a love match, which must make the loss even more painful...
(I'm glad Willie Nelson was a comfort. :)
(I'm glad Willie Nelson was a comfort. :)
48littlegeek
My condolences. She seems like such a wonderful person. Peace to you and yours during this time. Be gentle with yourselves and one another.
49karenmarie
Mike, I am so sorry you have lost your beloved Karrell. She sounds like the best kind of person. I know she was good for you. Be gentle and kind to yourself.
50morningwalker
What a beautiful lady! I'm glad you had a chance at a second time around with someone you loved so deeply. You're right about Hospice too. All I ever hear about them are wonderful things.
