Friday, June 7, 2013

Jane Beck Smith Wells

My stepmother Jane passed away at the ripe old age of 98 last weekend.  This photo by my friend Chris Callis of both my step parents was taken at a gallery show I was in back in the early 90's in NYC.  I knew her longer than I knew my birth mother and was blessed to have a second chance to relate to a mom as an adult.  We developed a very special relationship over the years.  When my stepfather died right before I moved out here, I told her if she wanted to remarry a much younger man to keep me in parents, she would have my blessing.  Jane said she was done with matrimony but laughed at the idea.  I reckon I am officially an orphan now.  She warned me that I will never get married unless I shave off my beard.  I continue to take that advice to this day.78,96,69,0,B,0

15 comments:

WhyR said...

Hilarious, JW, just hylarious.

remmij said...

you're only a temporary orphan in this world... and that's a boat a lot of folks end up in.

You've done Jane Beck Smith Wells proud - wish I could see what you all are looking at - classic expressions on the faces as the vision is explained - kinda like peeking behind the curtain at the wizard.

r.i.p. Mrs. Wells — condolences John

MsBelinda said...

From what little you have shared in your blog about your personal life...it seems like you two had a good relationship.

I remember her sending you checks on your birthday because my dad would do the same when he was alive.

You were both lucky to have had each other. My condolences.

just.Bob said...

Sorry for your loss...

just.Bob said...

Ok, trying to read the tag on your shirt pocket. It says?

Jay said...

Psalms, Chapter 34, verse 18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalms, Chapter 147, verse 3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Matthew, Chapter 5, verse 4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

1 Thessalonians, Chapter 4, verses 13-17
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.


Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, versus 1-4
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;



Mourn her loss, and rejoice in her memory. She is in a better place.

Wm. Pugh said...

Sorry for the loss, I know how it feels.
As for " I reckon I am officially an orphan now."
You have had and still have a great bunch of animals around you. So orphaned your not!
Friend in Rosharon

Rita B. said...

My condolences John. I bet she got a big kick out of hearing about Benita and your adventures in West Texas.

Unknown said...

So Sorry for you Mr Wells.

Grandmama Sarah said...

In this world, even the passing of some friends, grandparents, brothers, sisters or cousins does not prepare us for the changing of the guard symbolized by the death of our parents. The grieving, at some level, never ends though it grows bittersweet and remembrance of the joys overcomes the sadness.

For us, there is no person on this earth who has known us through all our guises, who loves and accepts us unconditionally, to whom we turn to for advice from their experience.

It is the grace of God allows us to go on in humility being that person to others, with the knowledge that there is still One present who knows us--and if we can learn to hear Him-- and guides us.

One day, sooner than we expect, we too will be on that other shore, knowing in sweet peace as we are also known.

So, peace to you now and in the coming days: joy in the remembrance.

Under The SC Sun said...

My condolences John.

Regarding beards, mustaches and matrimony, my wife tells me our wedded bliss will end if I shave mine...

J said...

My spusal unit and I made a deal. She wears her hair the way she wants, and I wear mine the way I want. It's worked for 37 years.

J said...

^spousal

Sherry said...

Sorry for your loss..

SHARON said...

Sympathies, John.