IN MEMORY
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Murray Stevens passed away June 15, 2012 at the age of 89 after a long battle with Alzheimer's and kidney disease. We'd like for you to get to know him and what he meant to our family.
During World War 2 he served in the Army and fought in Belgium, and when the war was over he received an honorable discharge.
You can read about his World War 2 experiences as he told them to me before he became incapacitated with Alzheimer's. At his burial there was a military guard and honors for his service to his country.
He had a stellar career as a petroleum engineer. He worked for several companies serving in the capacity of petroleum engineer managing production in the Gulf Coast, Northern Rocky Mountains, and Canada.
He also served as district superintendent, then area superintendent. He was senior engineer for a noted corporation in Texas and supervised drilling and oil production. He loved his job and evidently was very good at it. When Murray and I married in 1989 he had already retired from the oil business.
We celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary the Sunday before he passed away. He had been in the nursing facility for nearly a year.
Five years before he went to the Comfort Cottage he was becoming forgetful. He gradually began forgetting how to do familiar tasks such as the household accounting. He then was unable to write a check or even sign his name.
I cared for him at home as long as I could, but when he became so feeble and started falling, I knew I couldn't do it even with help coming in a few hours a week.
On a few occasions he didn't know who I was. Once he thought I was his mother, but even to the end, he knew I was his wife and someone who loved him. One day a few days before he passed away, he greeted me when I came for a daily visit with "Hi, darling". I feel blessed that he retained that memory.
The last few months of his life his words came out as gibberish and he could no longer make a sentence. He could still answer yes or no to a question. At the end he could do nothing for himself and had to be fed and cared for as an infant.
Sue, the hospice nurse, had been telling me I needed to have "the talk" with him in order to free him to go on. I did talk with him on Wednesday before he passed on Friday. I told him I would be alright and it was fine for him to go on. I would miss him, but I would be OK. Then I asked him if he was ready to go to heaven now, and he said "Yes".
Alzheimer's is such a cruel disease stealing our loved ones away in such a manner. I spent years grieving the loss of my spouse even while he was still with me.
We had a good marriage. We laughed a lot and shared many private jokes. We traveled and took road trips and several cruises. The last trip or two we made, I knew our traveling days were over. He would wander off from me and I couldn't keep up with him.
Murray was a good Christian man. At one time he served as a deacon at the Garland Road Church of Christ in Dallas and taught a Bible class of adolescents. He loved to read his Bible and even after he could not understand the meaning of the words on the page, he continued to open the Bible and read the words over and over.
Karen writes of her step-father:
Leonard Murray Stevens will be greatly missed. He was a wonderful husband to Patsy Stevens for 23 years and a compassionate father to Elton and Leslie Smith, and Karen and John Stroker. He was an awesome grandfather to seven grandchildren: Veronica Smith, Hollis Smith, Nathaniel Smith, Brooks Arnold, Stephanie Patino, Haley Wilson, and Eric Smith, the tall young man in the black tee shirt (who is in heaven with Murray). He was the only grandfather they knew on Mother's side of the family. Only Eric knew his grandfather Hollis Smith who died in 1982 before any of the other grandchildren were born.
The wreath below is a memorial wreath Karen, Murray's step-daughter made for him. She put a perch on it and hopes nesting birds will find a place to make a home inside. It is placed in their yard and she calls it "Murray's Nest".
Patsy his wife writes: The song above is one of my favorites and I sang it over and over to Murray the last two days of his life.
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2022-08-25 Praying for you! |
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2012-07-19 Thank you Pasty for sharing one of the most difficult and sorrowful life experience one can ever have with us. My sincerest condolences goes out to you and your family. I pray that you all continue to be strong and trust and God our father and he will carry you throuh this time of grief. I really enjoy reading your newletters and other resources. Thank you and may God continue to Bless your family. Nesse |
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2012-07-12 Dear Patsy; Praying for you. What a beautiful testimony God has given you. Thank you for sharing your journey (even the hard parts) with us. I am sure you will be of much help to others that are facing similar roads. I pray that God strengthens you, comforts you and encourages you in every day that He blesses you with. thankful for all the giving you give to so many with this lovely ministry you have built. be encouraged- you will never walk alone. sending a hug and my prayers for you and your beautiful family. Kimmie |
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2012-07-12 WE ARE GOING ON THE SAME PATH THAT YOUR HUSBAND TRAVELED AND YOU ALONG SIDE HIM. MY MOTHER DOESN`T SPEAK ONLY MOVES HER HEAD TO SAY YES OR NO. SHE IS BEENING FED THROUGH A AN IV. I UNDERSTAND YOUR PAIN AND IN A WAY YOUR RELIFE. MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND THE FAMILY. GOD BLESS!! ROSA EMMA |
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2012-07-11 July 11, 2012 Good Morning. I offer my sincere condolences to you and your entire family. I came in your contact as per the providence of God. I had never heard of you or knew anything about Garden of Praise. I have really enjoyed reading about your husband and how you cared for him. My wife and I are married for 37 years and we are blessed with two daughters, two son in laws and now four grand daughters. I am so grateful to our merciful and kind Lord for sustaining me all these years. I became orphan when I was four and was brought up in an orphanage. May the Lord bless you and continue to use you for His glory. I am retired after serving for 36 years in Prakash Institute of India. Now instead of sitting at home I am working for an architect firm and also involved in children's ministry and church ministry on my own. I think this should not be too long. It is so nice to your family picture. Sincerely yours, Rev. P. P. Salve Prabhakar Prasad Salve |