Mom retired from teaching and supervising in Humboldt State University’s credential program to care for her husband of 52 years. Roger (Dad) was suffering from emphysema, and he died three years later in 1998. She spent the next year living alone in their Eureka home.
Since that time Mom had lived with her son, Carleton Morton and his wife Jane, and myself, Karen Berry and my husband Ken. What a blessing to us! We have been able to care and love on her for 9 years. She had a bedroom and clothes in both homes, so every 10 or 12 weeks we would “switch” Mom. She never regretted giving up her home – in fact it was her idea, and she loved the arrangement.
We continued to camp every summer at Richardson Grove. We would gather as many friends, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as possible to share stories, memories and smores over the campfires she loved. She truly enjoyed watching everyone swimming and playing at the river.
At my brother’s she had a country life style. She spent several years enjoying spectacular views and wildlife at his Bridgeville property. She loved to watch the deer and see her great grandson Nick play soccer and ride the 4-wheeler. Later Carl and Jane built a home on Tomkins Hill in Fortuna - adding new views and pleasures to the country life. This summer they moved from California to Grants Pass, Oregon.
At our Castro Valley home she was a city dweller. Mom enjoyed working in the backyard, shopping, attending church, and many trips to San Diego and Medford where the Berry grandchildren and great grandchildren reside. It didn’t take any of them long to realize that if you put a book in her lap she’d read it to you, if you got out checkers she would play, and if you wanted to tell her a story or a tall tale she’d listen.
Mom had a stroke about five years ago; and although she recovered nicely, her short term memory and mobility were never the same. We were blessed to find incredibly wonderful care givers to be her companions on work days. They took her to senior centers, for walks, shopping and out to lunch. She attended a weekly Bible study while in Castro Valley and loved her donut and coffee in our Sunday School class.
Ice cream was an essential food group for her and remained a daily event until the end. She loved family, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, reality game shows and word searches. All-in-all she lived with the same faith, generosity and sense of humor that we remember her having when we were children. She was loved and will be greatly missed.
You can read several tributes in the next post on this blog if you would like to read more about her. We would treasure your comments and memories of Delma if you would like to share them.
Karen Berry
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