I know, I know. That’s a golden title for a humor writer, teeming with comedic potential, but no funny stuff today. My mother passed away on Thursday, ending a long battle with ocular melanoma that metastasized in her liver. I wrote the following obituary, which was published in the Roswell Daily Record on Friday, 19 June 2009.
Since you may have arrived here hoping for something more amusing, please accept the brilliant and hilarious Oscar-nominated animation short “Rejected” by Don Hertzfeld—and please check back soon. I’ll be cracking beauties again soon enough. Until then, keep laughing!
Click here for the original obituary in the Roswell Daily Record.
My mom and me as a small fry.
Lila Esther Clark Doyle, 61, passed away at her home in Roswell, N.M. on June 18, 2009. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 20, 2009, at Country Club Church of Christ with Minister Doug Austin, followed by graveside services at South Park Cemetery at 11 a.m.
Lila was born on November 21, 1947, the youngest of twelve children. She lived in devotion to the church, her family and the public good. She served for 35 years for Roswell, Chaves County and the State of New Mexico, always putting her own pleasure behind the needs of others. She married her husband Ron on September 4, 1971 in Fort Sumner, N.M. and was happily married for almost 38 years. Lila would claim her marriage and the birth of her two sons as her proudest life achievements.
Lila’s strength, morality, selflessness and love have benefited countless others and will be remembered by all who knew her.
She is survived her husband, Ron Doyle; her son Brian and his wife Sunday; her son Ron, his wife Lisa and her two grandchildren, Madeleine and Lila Simone; her brothers John, Charlie, O.A., Dan; her sisters Opal, Jewel, Mary, Dottie. She was preceded in death by her parents Otis Alfonso and Lila Mary; her sister Ruby Fay and her brothers James and Warren.
Pallbearers will be her brothers, John, Charlie, O.A. and Dan Clark; her brother-in-law Floyd C. Doyle Jr.; and her sons, Ron and Brian.
Lila’s wishes were for a simple ceremony filled with singing and family will be respected. In lieu of flowers, anonymous donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Arrangments are under the direction of Ballard Funeral Home. An online registry can be accessed http://www.ballardfuneralhome.com.
This is beautifully written, she sounds like a wonderful person. All your writer friends have been thinking of you these past days, myself included, and hoping that you and your family had plenty of time to celebrate her life and memories.
Michelle Rafter
Oh Ron, I’m so sorry. I agree with Michelle–it’s a beautifully written piece, touching and generous. As a writer, I was asked to prepare my father-in-law’s obituary a few years ago; it wasn’t easy, but my husband and brother-in-law found the process cathartic and even enjoyable. I hope it was similarly helpful to you.
Ron, I’m very sorry that you had to write an obit for your mother, but I’m sure she would appreciate such a touching and carefully written tribute.
[...] a big rush to become Helium’s next gullible sweatshop employee. And I’ve been busy with my mother’s recent passing and with real work: I did some web design work for a fabulous blog that helps Long Island brides [...]