Gwyndon McCormick

"You Can Call Me Granny"

She would tell you that the doctor "whooped her tuchis" on December 28, 1936, in Dallas, Texas. Her parents, George and Lula Starnes loved Baby Gwyndon Delores and made sure she would never be lonely. Her beloved brothers included Floyd Starnes, Delbert Starnes, Joe Starnes, James Weeks, and Jerry Weeks and doting sisters included Alice White, Lillian Hudgins, and Shirley Mayes.

After George Starnes' passing, Lula married Jim Weeks and the family grew with even more siblings: Bill Weeks, Clifford Weeks, Susie Weeks Stovall, Naomi Haynes, Geraldine Fain, and Jannett Rodriguez.

Gwyn was 18 years old when she and George married on February 20, 1954, and then she took on her proudest role when she became mother to Anthony Wayne, George Ray, David Leroy, and Jeffery Edward.

Up to her last days, the one thing that dementia never stole from Gwyn was her ability to list her boys' names in birth order: Tony, Ray, David, Jeff.

Besides raising a family of boisterous boys, Gwyn worked outside the home in many capacities: as a bookkeeper for her brother Floyd's plumbing company, Starko; as a waitress in a small-town diner, The Sportsman; and as a cook first for the very nursing home where she spent her last days, Town Hall, and then for Chisholm Trail Estates, both in Keene.

After her retirement, Gwyn, who was now Granny to us all, turned her attention to her beloved grandkids, threatening to "spank those pretty little legs'' but only spoiling them rotten: Tony's Felisha and Jason; Ray and Laura's Cameron and Candace; David and Michelle's Megan, Madison, and Makenna; and Jeff and Pam's Jake and Maycie.

And in no time the great and great-great grandkids joined the family, giving Granny some more of "the most beautiful children in the world" to dote on and love: Felisha's Johnathan, Brie, Erica and Sara; Jason and Ashley's Julie; Cameron and  Sarah's Josh, Caleb, Jubilee, Levi, and Zion; and Johnathan's Grayson.

Dementia took our Granny from us too soon, but not before she left an indelible mark on all our lives. We will never forget Granny's crushes on all "her honeys" ---Marty Robbins, George Strait, and Tom Selleck. or the image of her sitting sideways in her chair, with a Norah Roberts novel in her hands.

And Granny's vast collection of "Grannyisms" will stay with us forever:

"Oh, you jest!" as you try to pay her a compliment;

"I've heard the wind blow!" as she flat-out lets you know she thinks you're a liar;

"I'm too broke to pay attention!"

"Pain and Agnes!" when she got up from sitting too long.

"Kiss my grits!"

"I feel for you, but I just can't find you, you Dodo-Birdie."

"I may be dumb, but I'm not dang dumb!" and

"I'm gonna slap you to sleep and whip you for snoring!"

"Oh, Horse Feathers,"

Granny, we're going to miss you so much, but we know it will feel like only "a New York minute" to you before we meet again, and join you on those golden streets, as you go "tippin' and a toein'" up to your Maker in the greatest Family Reunion of all!