Bob Gerber's Eulogy for Grandma Sarah

This is a lovely tribute to Grandma.

Click to download Sarah's Eulogy

Remember to click on images if you want to enlarge them

Claire and Ben Corson

Claire and Ben...grandchildren of Gloria and great grandchildren of Sarah...must be included here from the sheer weight of their extreme cuteness. I see Grandma and Gloria in their eyes. 

Setting the table

Remember the dining room at the farm? Check out that wallpaper! I don't remember that at all, but that door leads out onto the screened porch facing the road. That porch was the best place to take a nap in the summer, when it was hot and humid. There always seemed to be a breeze. The road it faced was a hazard...it seemed like people really gunned the accelerator coming out of Milford on their way to Syracuse and Lake Wawasee.

Grandma Sarah and my mom

 

I love this picture of Grandma and my mom, Patricia Slabaugh Yeater. It was taken in 1991 in Sedona, AZ. Grandma was 78 and mom was 53. Good grief, that's only two years away for me! Time does fly...

Grandma wrote: "You can't hug mountains! Pat & I in Sedona. Great."

I know there's photos out there with Grandma and her other kids: Shirley, Dot, Toots and Stick...let's see them up here!

Sarah and Romey in their 50s

Caption: "This was out on the farm, looking toward the creek --
so I must have been in my 50s."

This is exactly how I remember Pop (Roman Slabaugh). Pop left us when I was 9 in 1968. Before he left, though, he showed us what a great Grandpa he was by building us a tree house, a sandbox in a big tire, and various swings in the barn. He had a big Weimaraner dog named Coke. Coke was a nice dog, but he always scared me. I never saw him outside of this huge pen by the garage.

Thanks to Lisa Ussery Boyd for sending this photo along. We need more photos and memories added to this blog! If you need help publishing or getting images scanned, just drop me a line at lorin.yeater@gmail.com.

We caught some big fish!

Caption on photo above:  "Me Sarah, Laura Miller, Romie Slabaugh on fishing trip."

Caption on big fish photo: "Some real carp fish Pop and Larry caught in our duck ponds. Age 48"

Growing up and going to Grandma's house was always interesting. On more than one wall was a large swordfish, stuffed and mounted. Pop must have caught them deep sea fishing in Florida, while visiting Dot and Don Boyd? Can anyone clarify where those fish came from? They were huge and mysterious.

Her first garden tiller

Yes, the caption reads "My first garden tiller. My early 30s. June 1941." This photo is adorable. I love the fact that she is modeling the tiller in a dress, apron, sensible shoes and the look of pride on her face. I bet she used that until it just wore out.

Her garden was her work of art. I remember her walking me through her various gardens, plucking something here or there and asking me to smell it. Amazing aromas from the herbs and flowers. The most beautiful tomatoes -- no resemblance to what we can buy today in the grocery store, or even the farmers markets.

My cousin, Sandy Hartzler (Grandma's sister Mattie's daughter), shares this memory:
"I do remember walking thru Sarah's garden too and she always carried a little paring knife in her apron pocket and would pull a fresh kohlrabi and slice it for us.  I sort of think she also had a salt shaker...or we went into the kitchen to get one and sprinkle it on that yummy vegetable and chomp it down!  Occasionally I'll buy one at the store but somehow it never tastes as good as the ones Sarah shared with us.  Love,  Sandy"


Sandy also shared a funny but somewhat risque story about Pop's dog, Coke...you'll have to ask her about that one!

I found this scrap in the portfolio she gave me:

This is a song I love.


I will serve Thee
(click link to play song)

I will serve You because I love you
You have given life to me.
I was nothing until you found me
You have given life to me.

Heartaches, broken people, ruined lives.
Are why You died on Calvary.
Your touch is what I long for
You have given life to me.

-- composer unknown