Mary Juanita Wyrick 8/23/18

We have gathered here today to remember and thank God for the life of Mary Juanita Wyrick. As we do so, we ask God to guide and comfort us.

The Bible reminds us,

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. (2 Corinthians 5:1)

We all know that Juanita had reached that point where she did not know or recognize even her own family. But Isaiah 44:21 reminds us,

I, the Lord, made you,

and I will not forget you.

Juanita may have forgotten many things, but God never forgot her. And He has not forgotten you either.

Let's prayer together,

Our Father, we stand before you with a mixture of sadness and relief. We are glad Juanita's suffering is over and yet we don't want to let go. We turn to you, remembering that you will make all things new. Help us both to celebrate Juanita's life and to renew our trust in You. Help us to remember the blessings this woman brought into these lives and many others. We ask in Jesus name,

Mary "Juanita" Wyrick, was born July 27, 1926, the daughter of Clyde and Georgia Arnold Nickel. She was united in marriage to Albert Wesley Wyrick on June 21, 1945, in Keokuk, Iowa. Albert used to say they were just kids when they were married and grew up along with their own children. He loved Juanita greatly. Her children remember watching mom and dad walking around the farm, holding hands. Carole said she was the most unselfish person in the world. Family always came first.

They loved to play cards, go on picnics, travel, ride their motorcycle and to dance (Juanita was the better dancer. In their later years they loved to spend the winter in Phoenix. They may not have had much when they were young, but they worked hard, saved well, and enjoyed their later years. They were married 63 years and were a picture of what marriage could and should be. Albert died on August 15, 2009.

Juanita was baptized in Alexandria Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Royal Neighbors of America. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, crocheting, sewing and playing cards.

Juanita was mom to two daughters and two sons, grandmother to seven grandchildren, great-grandmother to 15 and a great-great-grandma to one. She is also survived by her brother Clyde.

I did not know Juanita, but I loved hearing about her. She and her husband moved a few times in their marriage. They had a small farm where they had a big garden and pretty much raised their own food. They moved to Hamilton in 1968 and Juanita ran the States Motel. It was a comfortable and clean place for people to stay. It was a popular location.

It appears Juanita was a people person. She loved her family all the way down to the youngest family member. When her children were growing up Juanita always made sure they went to church and Sunday School. (No one really knows where she and Albert went while they were at church (maybe they took a nap!) There are many memories: knowing there would always be snacks (like homemade warm cookies after school), her mac & cheese, Homemade noodles, the times she worked at the VFW on all you can eat chicken night and brought all the leftovers home! Trips to Disney World for the Grandkids. Her love of necklaces and the silver chain necklace that seemed to be loved by every young grandchild. Uno, and marvelous Thanksgiving meals.

There were often gatherings of children at the house. Roger remembers being pulled on a homemade Toboggan with 8-10 kids on it by a pick-up truck driven by Juanita. You needed someone experienced steering the Toboggan because you turned left to go right and turned right to go left! There were gatherings at the bonfire with the Methodist Youth making taffy and finishing with homemade hot chocolate.

There are memories of coconut cream pie, cherry pie for (Carole's birthday), and her "fluffy white stuff" as Amy would call her mashed potatoes. Driving to the skating rink in Kahoka in a snowstorm. There were lots of hugs, support, love, and a great example. There is a story of young Joe eating an entire dozen of eggs for breakfast! There was also wise advice. Jan was surprised and unsettled at first when she learned she was going to be a mom again after 13 years. Juanita sat down next to her and said, "it is going to be alright . . . just don't let it happen when you are 40!" Amy and Justin were visiting one summer and they ran across the street to the Watermelon festival. Grandma yelled, "Don't fall down Amy, you've already got ONE crack in your butt and you don't need another!" (Ah, there is wisdom!)

Juanita made homemade crocheted dolls as a hobby. For some reason she stuffed a jar full of little "butts" she made from panty hose and cotton balls and put little eyes on them with the leftover materials from the dolls. She labeled it the "jar of butts." Amy has that jar on her desk to remind her of Grandma.

And we must not forget Buffy who lived like a princess. She had her own pillow to sit on when traveling and it is claimed by her children that Buffy had more toys than the kids ever did!

One of the horrible things about Alzheimer's disease is the way it not only takes someone you loved away from inch by inch, but as time goes on, the illness becomes so all-consuming that it seems to erode memories of healthy times. The image of the empty shell of the person you love overpowers your memories so all you can remember is the empty stare.

It is common for us to cry out to God and maybe be a little ticked off with Him because of the disease. But as I have reflected on my own dad's long battle with Alzheimer's before he died I know God is good, so He does not SEND the disease. And I think the reason He does not simply eliminate it is because He wants us to learn some things.

First, He wants us to realize this world is not our home. God is preparing a place for us. I think maybe God wants us to see the stark contrast between this world and all its sin, disease and corruption and what God wants for us. Disease and heartache remind us that we need God. C.S. Lewis said pain is God's megaphone. In the painful times we can either walk away from Him or listen and look more closely for Him. If we choose the later, we discover that His strength is made perfect in weakness. When we find ourselves most alone is where we often find Him most sufficient.

Sometimes heartache makes you appreciate what you have just a little bit more. Maybe it teaches us to love a little more freely. And caring for someone dying by inches teaches us about compassion as nothing else can do. You care not because someone you love appreciates it, you love simply because it is the right thing to do. It may be true that she did not know you, but you demonstrated that you knew her! Maybe it also pushes us to make memories with those we love instead of always waiting for "someday."

God has promised that those who believe in Him will live even though they die. I know Juanita did not often go to church. But Jesus didn't say, "Those who go to church will live even though they die." Being part of a church family is something God wants us to do, it is something beneficial and helpful to our faith, but it is not required.

Paul told us the fruit (or evidence) of the Spirit in a life is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. By that definition, it sounds to me like Juanita may have shown the evidence of Christ in her life. Of course, God is the just Judge. We trust He will do what is right.

As we stand here today we have a choice to make: do we learn, or do we drift. Do we spurn God or run to Him? Do we turn the page and move on, or do we stop and cherish the memories, the example, and give thanks to God for blessing even in the pain? Do you draw close as a family or allow yourselves to drift away? Look at the decisions Juanita made and follow her example.

I have shared a number of memories, but I am sure there are more. No one can share a story like someone who lived it. What I want to do now is give you the chance to share some additional memories . . . to in a sense rub the sticks together to create a fire of remembrance that can warm our souls land retrieve some of those memories the disease has tried to steal. And, in so doing, let's celebrate a life that is worth celebrating.

Let's pray together,

Lord, Juanita's fingerprints are all over the lives of the people here. Thank you for the love you gave to Juanita and Albert. A large percentage of the people here today are the product of that love. Thank you for reminding us that life doesn't have to be extravagant to be good . . . in fact, maybe the secret was learning to be happy with whatever they had. Help us to learn that lesson as well.

And as we stand before this empty grave remind us that this is not the end of the story. Help us to distinguish between the death of the body from the life of the soul. Draw us to Jesus that we might believe. Help us to find a faith that is genuine, deep, and transforming.

I ask you to comfort this family. Help them to continue to retrieve memories out of the attics of their mind and to give thanks for all you have given. We ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen.