I guess this task had fallen to him when my grandfather died 12 years ago, and he didn't want to do it this time. My mother said he doesn't "do death." Perhaps it interfered with his tee time.

While writing Mama Lee's obituary was certainly a difficult and draining task, it was also a great honor to pay tribute to someone who played such an important role in my life. She and my grandfather were an enormous source of support to my mother after my father left, and their unconditional love for us and for each other was a model that I still seek to draw from.

I set some editorial rules for myself when I started working on this. I wanted it to be clean, concise, and yet still show her personality. I think I achieved this.

I also decided that when I listed her children and grandchildren, I was going to use names only and not military rank (my cousins are an Army Colonel and a Navy Commander). This is her obituary, not anyone else's. Personally, I don't think it was relevant to the story of her life. Oh, and I don't really give a shit about it either. But that's beside the point.

I sent off my copy last night to my mom and my uncle. In a not-so-shocking turn of events, I got an email from my uncle this morning: "Good job, but you forgot some important stuff! I've included it below, in blue." The damn military ranks, of course. Because that's the only thing that matters.

I'm not going to fight it. I just don't have the will. But why did they ask me to do this if they were just going to change it to whatever they wanted it to read?

But I am going to put it here, in its original form, so it at least it goes out with integrity somewhere:

Lee Ola Williams Lewis, 93, passed away peacefully at home in Richardson,TX on May xx, 2006. Born in Haskell County, TX on December 7, 1912, she was the second of three daughters of the late Walter Williams and Rosa Roberts Williams. Her husband of 60 years, Floyd E. Lewis, preceded her in death in 1994.

After graduating from Bomarton School, Lee married Floyd in June 1934 in Seymour, TX. In 1940, they moved to Carlsbad, NM, where they raised their family. Upon Floyd's retirement in 1976 from the Potash Company of America, they returned to Seymour where they lived for almost 20 years in a house that had belonged to her parents. In Seymour, she was an active member of the Church of Christ.

Lee lived a full and spirited life, enjoying crafts such as sewing, crocheting, and ceramics. She was a skilled cook who always had room at her table for "one more." She was an example to her family and friends with her strength, grace, and zest for life.

She is survived by her beloved children Bill Lewis (Mary-Alice) of Port Townsend, WA and Helen Horne-Durham (DuWain) of Richardson, TX, as well as her devoted grandchildren Brett Lewis (Karen), Stuart Lewis (Laura), Shari Horne (Sam Mahmoud), and Michael Horne (Heather). She is also survived by five great grandchildren, her sister, Rosa V. McCauley of Seymour, several nieces and nephews, and her faithful caregiver, Linda Smart. Her sister, Annie Belle Dodd, preceded her in death in 2001.

And for those of you who have asked, she is still with us as of my last phone call with my mother about two hours ago. I sincerely appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Update, 8:20pm Pacific: Still hanging in there as of about an hour ago...