My Mom

It's about time I get back in the habit of writing again. Seems like I can always find an excuse for skipping this. A couple of things to catch ya'll up on before I start writing about my mom. First of all, we lost a saint here in Lockney a couple of weeks ago, Dee Copeland past away. Dee turned 100 last October. I will miss him. One of my favorite memories of him was a few years ago he told me he was about to "deliver meals to the old folks!". I asked him how many of them were younger than him, he replied"all of them". You can read more about Dee in some of my early blogs. An update on Lockney High School, the portable buildings are in place and they will begin classes in them next Monday.



My Mom. My mom is one of the strongest women I know. Let me tell you a few things she's been through. My dad was killed at age 26, mom was 25. She was widowed and had 2 kids, 7 and 5. She did her best to provide for my sister and I. She worked as a secretary/bookkeeper at the Coop in Lockney for a couple of years. In 1973 she met who was to be my step-dad, Joe Gayle Baker. Joe Gayle called me in January of 1974 and asked if he could marry my mom. He had just bought a new chevy pickup. I told him "only if you promise to buy a Ford". So, less than a year later he bought a Ford. They were married February 9th, 1974. Joe Gayle had 2 boys, 10 and 7. My sister and I had 2 brothers! YEAH! We were happy. One big family. I started to school on February 13, 1974 in Quanah, Texas. The reason that sticks in my mind is the fact that the next fay was Valentines and I just put on my valentines to the rest of the class "From Preston". LOL! The challenges of mixing a family came quickly and often. In 1977, John the youngest of my step brothers went to live with his mom and Jim stayed with us. So now there was just us 3 kids. In 1984 my sister got sick with Crone's disease. While trying to get her diagnosed, she almost died a couple of times. In 1986 my grandmother passed away. In 1988 my granddad past away. In about 1990, Mom and Joe Gayle were forced into bankruptcy. In 2002, Joe Gayle had a wreck and was ejected from his pickup. He was transported to Wichita Falls and Mom was at sister's in Perryton when it happened. On February 21, 2009 (yes on my birthday) mom caught Joe Gayle cheating on her. And this wasn't the first time. It goes back some 15 years. She never mentioned it to no body.

I guess I tell all of this to ask all of you for a favor. Please pray for my mom. She's really struggling right now.

Thanks!