HEARD FROM A.J. GUILLA LAST NIGHT. HE CALLED AND ASKED ME IF I
REMEMBERED A TALL SKINNY KID ON FRANKLIN STREET AND TRYING TO TEACH HIM TO
ROLLER SKATE. (HE SAID I FINALLY LOST PATIENCE WITH HIM AND HE NEVER DID LEARN
TO SKATE) HE LIVES IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, RETIRED AND HAS THREE CHILDREN. WE
LAUGHED ABOUT THE OLD GANG ON FRANKLIN STREET. HE LIVED IN THE HOUSE
DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM MOM AND DAD AT 1702 FRANKLIN. HAVE
ENCOURAGED HIM TO GET A COMPUTER AND GET ON THE TLC BANDWAGON SO HE CAN STAY IN
TOUCH WITH EVERYONE. THE LAST TIME HE SAW ME I WAS 20 YEARS OLD. I
THINK THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO LEAVE A MEMORY DON'T YOU???
Dear Susan,
You may like to send this news about Mary Jo (Farrow) Hammontree to the
network. Many of her classmates have been wondering about the
circumstances of her recent death on March 2 in K.C. This morning I had a
long phone conversation with the priest at St. Patrick's church in St. Joseph
(Father Matthew) who has been close to her over the past several years, during
which the people of that parish have been like a second family to her. He
attended her in her final illness. Here is what he related:
In the fall of 1999 she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After a
round of chemo that winter, the cancer was arrested for about a year, during
which she was her usual cheerful self. It's possible that she excused
herself from our family reunion in June, 2000 because we would have noticed the
effects of the radiation. The cancer became active again in the fall of
2000 and spread into the abdomen. The pain increased. The second
bout of chemo left her considerably weakened, and was less effective. This
past Jan. she was told that there was nothing further the doctors could do for
her, and she began to make preparations for final arrangements. She had to
be admitted to St. Luke's shortly thereafter. Just before she slipped into
a coma on Feb. 28, she was given the last rites of the Church (Anointing of the
Sick) and two friends who had worked with her at Mo. Public Service were with
her constantly until the end. She also had frequent visits from pastoral
staff of her old parish in Independence, St. Mark's. They said she went
very peacefully, and was so eager to rejoin her husband, Lyle. She had
observed her 68th birthday on Feb. 11.
She and Lyle had been a devoted couple and were very much looking forward
to retirement five years ago when he suddenly died. This was a shattering
experience for Mary Jo, but she emerged from it stronger and more devoted to
serving others in the Independence and St. Joe areas (including the nuns who
used to teach at the school in Lexington). She had lost her sister Ann
(Zeller) a few years earlier, and probably made no further trips to Lexington
after that. The last immediate relative, her brother Shelby, died a couple
of years ago.
Father Matthew described the beautiful wake service and funeral Mass, which
was attended by about 30 friends from the parish and MPS. Several tried to
put into words what she had meant to them. Her sister-in-law, Delois
(Dorores?), was present and later met with the attorney Mary Jo had engaged for
disposing of the house on Dodgian street in Indep. (now up for sale) and its
contents. She had requested that all the family memorabilia be destroyed,
but Delois prevailed upon the attorney to allow her to keep precious photos,
etc. The two women who were with her at the end were also given items from
the home as keepsakes.
Father Matthew said that he was indebted to Mary Jo for her strong example
of quiet acceptance of the Lord's will for her. He advised us all to
learn, too, how important it is to enjoy life as it comes, spend time with our
loved ones, and "not wait for retirement," which may not be up to our
expectations.
If any of you can get up to St. Joe to meet and personally thank Father
Matthew for having been such a devoted friend and substitute family, I would
much appreciate it. St. Patrick's is at 1723 S. 12th St. (64503).
The phone is (816) 279-2594.
Editor's
Note:
And one more note: Sadly, I must report that Bobby Pollard died over the
weekend. I'm sure more information will be forthcoming.
And that's it for this edition, for this edition, for this edition, for
this edition....
Your Pitiful Scribe