Lori Beth Marsh (Wyatt)
(1975 - 2009)
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Stories
My Sister Lori
Never again will I see a shooting star without thinking of my sister, Lori. She appeared as a wonderful surprise; glowed bright, gifted and wondrous among us, and left us longing for more time to enjoy her presence.
I choose to remember little spinets of moments, like photo shots in my mind, indelibly etched on my heart.
It was Thanksgiving Day, 1974 at Grandma and Grandpa Wyatt’s home in Columbus, NE. Mom was 41, Dad was 42, brother Doug was 15 and I was 21. Mom took me aside and escorted me to the back bedroom. I started thinking that she did not approve of the latest boyfriend I brought to meet the family and I began making a quick mental list of all his redeeming qualities. With a sheepish grin she told me the news and I was speechless! She shared that Doug’s first reaction/question was “how come?” We broke into, very quiet, hysterical laughter. Needless to say, I do not remember the rest of that holiday.
Our parents allowed Doug and me to pick out names for the baby. I don’t remember Doug’s choice (if it was a boy) but mine (if it was a girl) was Laura Elizabeth. Mom liked it better shortened so it was Lori Beth. There were no Lamaze classes at that time but I was already an RN so Mom asked me to be with her through labor and delivery. Doug was a Junior Volunteer Fireman and a close friend of the attending physician’s son so we were all allowed in the delivery room for Lori’s arrival. I remember counting her fingers and toes through tears of joy. We were so thankful and relieved that she was healthy. The name Lori Beth seemed to suit her perfectly.
Mom and Dad had great friends who supported them and helped them adjust to “late in life” parenthood. Dad’s buddies, at the Midway café breakfast table, gave him the infamous belt buckle. It had a picture of a sway back horse with the inscription “Grand Champion Stud” on it. Bette and Mel Schulz rescued Mom several times from stressful days when baby Lori would not sleep. Dad worked long hours at his new business, WyAd Utility Contractors, I had my own new job in Syracuse, NE and Doug was a busy sophomore in high school. Mom had the challenge of spending most of her time alone with Lori when she was little. Even then Lori liked to stay up late and learned everything quickly. She spent a great deal of time with adults and knew the foods she liked at just about every restaurant in town.
Because she spent so much time growing up around adults, I think she always had in mind that she was one. Even when she was little she used big words and knew what they meant. She cracked me up when she was 3 and having trouble pronouncing certain words. She would stand in front of an aquarium and say ”shish”. When we corrected her saying: “Lori, it is a fish”, she would look us in the eye with her hand on one hip and exclaim: “Yes, I know, it’s a shish!”
It seems as if Lori hit the ground running. She always had a long list of goals, aspirations and expectations for herself. She became fluent in the Spanish language after being a foreign exchange student in Mexico. She returned to high school her senior year and was an interpreter for Kroy Manufacturing when they had foreign guests. Later in life she learned sign language. She taught baby Ellie to say “please and thank you” in sign language before she could actually talk. .
I always admired Lori’s way of challenging herself with something new when Lupus would no longer allow her to do the things she enjoyed doing. When she could no longer conduct and be the music director for the church, she tried selling and making jewelry, purses and greeting cards. She had a gift for visualizing photo and page layouts for her artful scrapbooks. Lori often put the girls to sleep at night with children’s stories she had created. The last 2 years, while confined to bed, she taught herself, and a few of her friends, to knit and crochet.
My sister was amazing and, like so many others, my life has been blessed by having known her. I miss her more every day that passes as the reality of her absence sinks in a little deeper. I cherish the memories, the beautiful daughters she left behind and her devoted, loving husband, Al who will forever be one of my heroes.
I choose to remember little spinets of moments, like photo shots in my mind, indelibly etched on my heart.
It was Thanksgiving Day, 1974 at Grandma and Grandpa Wyatt’s home in Columbus, NE. Mom was 41, Dad was 42, brother Doug was 15 and I was 21. Mom took me aside and escorted me to the back bedroom. I started thinking that she did not approve of the latest boyfriend I brought to meet the family and I began making a quick mental list of all his redeeming qualities. With a sheepish grin she told me the news and I was speechless! She shared that Doug’s first reaction/question was “how come?” We broke into, very quiet, hysterical laughter. Needless to say, I do not remember the rest of that holiday.
Our parents allowed Doug and me to pick out names for the baby. I don’t remember Doug’s choice (if it was a boy) but mine (if it was a girl) was Laura Elizabeth. Mom liked it better shortened so it was Lori Beth. There were no Lamaze classes at that time but I was already an RN so Mom asked me to be with her through labor and delivery. Doug was a Junior Volunteer Fireman and a close friend of the attending physician’s son so we were all allowed in the delivery room for Lori’s arrival. I remember counting her fingers and toes through tears of joy. We were so thankful and relieved that she was healthy. The name Lori Beth seemed to suit her perfectly.
Mom and Dad had great friends who supported them and helped them adjust to “late in life” parenthood. Dad’s buddies, at the Midway café breakfast table, gave him the infamous belt buckle. It had a picture of a sway back horse with the inscription “Grand Champion Stud” on it. Bette and Mel Schulz rescued Mom several times from stressful days when baby Lori would not sleep. Dad worked long hours at his new business, WyAd Utility Contractors, I had my own new job in Syracuse, NE and Doug was a busy sophomore in high school. Mom had the challenge of spending most of her time alone with Lori when she was little. Even then Lori liked to stay up late and learned everything quickly. She spent a great deal of time with adults and knew the foods she liked at just about every restaurant in town.
Because she spent so much time growing up around adults, I think she always had in mind that she was one. Even when she was little she used big words and knew what they meant. She cracked me up when she was 3 and having trouble pronouncing certain words. She would stand in front of an aquarium and say ”shish”. When we corrected her saying: “Lori, it is a fish”, she would look us in the eye with her hand on one hip and exclaim: “Yes, I know, it’s a shish!”
It seems as if Lori hit the ground running. She always had a long list of goals, aspirations and expectations for herself. She became fluent in the Spanish language after being a foreign exchange student in Mexico. She returned to high school her senior year and was an interpreter for Kroy Manufacturing when they had foreign guests. Later in life she learned sign language. She taught baby Ellie to say “please and thank you” in sign language before she could actually talk. .
I always admired Lori’s way of challenging herself with something new when Lupus would no longer allow her to do the things she enjoyed doing. When she could no longer conduct and be the music director for the church, she tried selling and making jewelry, purses and greeting cards. She had a gift for visualizing photo and page layouts for her artful scrapbooks. Lori often put the girls to sleep at night with children’s stories she had created. The last 2 years, while confined to bed, she taught herself, and a few of her friends, to knit and crochet.
My sister was amazing and, like so many others, my life has been blessed by having known her. I miss her more every day that passes as the reality of her absence sinks in a little deeper. I cherish the memories, the beautiful daughters she left behind and her devoted, loving husband, Al who will forever be one of my heroes.
Sue Leif (sister)
October 18th, 2009
Lori quotes
Nothing unites children like tormenting their parents.
You're always trying to get back what you squandered when you were trying to grow up too fast.
In the end that's what happens to all of us. The anticipation of death is so scary, but when it actually happens, you just sort of get bumped on the head. And then they do all sorts of odd things with your body.
-after seeing the film "The Blair Witch Project"
I love to look at a plane taking off. It always looks so hopeful.
That one reminds me of Pentecost.
-watching fireworks
I think they have to take a course in seminary on "The Pastor's Office: How to Arrange your Books so it Looks Like You're Studious."
If you were a superhero, you'd be "Don't Put Things Back Man."
You shouldn't go to bed with a man fifteen minutes after meeting him. Just a rule my grandmother taught me.
I've gotta go pick up my certainly disappointing paycheck.
A dirty man, a dirty woman, and a boat. Never saw the appeal.
-thoughts on "The African Queen"
I swear, I get stains on my clothes more than any other person I know, including toddlers.
Dennis: We went to the fair.
Lori: Did you see the hippies on stilts?
If that pesky photographer would get outta the way, I could take some good pictures!
-at Pat & Jody's wedding
Here, sell that. People buy those.
You can go change back into your 'man of many disguises' disguise.
The problem with hardcover books is you have to put them down before you fall asleep or they'll hit you in the head. That hurts.
Fencing is so groovy. I bet if they still taught kids how to sword fight, there wouldn't be as many guns in schools. Then you'd have cool duels in the lunchrooms, instead of shootouts.
I don't even want bubble-gum-flavored bubble gum!
Wow, look at that mower. It doesn't even look like a mower. It looks like a throne. A guy throne. All it needs is a urinal.
What happened to Angie Dickinson? What happened to Shirley McClane? What happened to that totally useless woman? It's like Frank Sinatra had a bunch of friends over eating shrimp cocktail and running through the sprinkler, and he said, "Hey, you wanna be in my movie?" And the girls said, "Sure."
-at the end of the original "Ocean's Eleven."
I am she who can craft anything. I will not be bested by knitting!
It's a book about a man, so there's not much emotion. Mostly just a lot of swearing.
We took her to get her first haircut just 'cause I was sick of having that page in her baby book empty.
I'm the only person in the world for whom sewing is an aerobic exercise.
Can we be spontaneous later?
Well, at least we know it's real meat.
-putting the best construction on the bone in her Chicken McNugget
There are some things I hate buying, like contacts. I feel like I should have free vision from God.
I'm super emotional. My hormones must be going crazy. One minute I'm crying; the next minute I'm crying, but about something different.
I tried to have an eating disorder. I just didn't apply myself.
Al: This is the life, eh, Lori?
Lori: Hmm-mm. The life has more ice cream.
Lori: Wake up, honey.
Al: I'm awake.
Lori: Awake people don't roll over and turn their backs on their wives.
Al: You could be an astronaut too, Lori. You went to Creighton.
Lori: (snorts) If that's all it takes, I pity the space program.
Al: You know my motto.
Lori: What?
Al: Don't have a motto.
Lori: Very deep.
Al: Yep. Like a well.
Lori: Pointless AND bottomless.
Lori: I thought I'd better get you another color besides black.
Al: Why's that?
Lori: They didn't have black.
Al: I love you.
Lori: Of course you do. No one else gets your jokes.
Lori: I'm glad I'm not an elephant.
Al: Why?
Lori: No backrubs.
Oanh: Is someone crying?
Lori: No, that's Dora the Exporer. She always sounds like that.
Al: Did you know that one out of three African Americans in Mississippi has been disenfranchised?
Lori: What does disenfranchised mean?
Al: I don't know.
Lori: Then yes, I did know that.
Lori: I just finished my least favorite part of my day -- washing my face.
Al: Wanna hear something interesting?
Lori: THAT wasn't interesting?
Upon successfully exiting Target without buying anything:
Al: Free!! Unencumbered by bags!
Lori: Pockets still bursting with lint!
Lori: You shouldn't sleep in that shirt.
Al: Why not?
Lori: Because it'll look like you slept in that shirt.
Al: Will you do it?
Lori: Yeah, if I ever get a free minute. Not including this one.
Lori: Are you talking to the dogs?
Al: Yes. How'd you know?
Lori: 'Cause you didn't wait for a response.
Al: You do become disconnected from reality if you become rich too soon.
Lori: Try me.
Lori: No, get in that lane.
Al: I'm driving. You stop talking.
Lori: How do you ever find your way anywhere?
Al: Hey. I can take care of myself. I was driving for years, before you were even in high school!
Lori: Yeah, but how many of those years were you lost?
You're always trying to get back what you squandered when you were trying to grow up too fast.
In the end that's what happens to all of us. The anticipation of death is so scary, but when it actually happens, you just sort of get bumped on the head. And then they do all sorts of odd things with your body.
-after seeing the film "The Blair Witch Project"
I love to look at a plane taking off. It always looks so hopeful.
That one reminds me of Pentecost.
-watching fireworks
I think they have to take a course in seminary on "The Pastor's Office: How to Arrange your Books so it Looks Like You're Studious."
If you were a superhero, you'd be "Don't Put Things Back Man."
You shouldn't go to bed with a man fifteen minutes after meeting him. Just a rule my grandmother taught me.
I've gotta go pick up my certainly disappointing paycheck.
A dirty man, a dirty woman, and a boat. Never saw the appeal.
-thoughts on "The African Queen"
I swear, I get stains on my clothes more than any other person I know, including toddlers.
Dennis: We went to the fair.
Lori: Did you see the hippies on stilts?
If that pesky photographer would get outta the way, I could take some good pictures!
-at Pat & Jody's wedding
Here, sell that. People buy those.
You can go change back into your 'man of many disguises' disguise.
The problem with hardcover books is you have to put them down before you fall asleep or they'll hit you in the head. That hurts.
Fencing is so groovy. I bet if they still taught kids how to sword fight, there wouldn't be as many guns in schools. Then you'd have cool duels in the lunchrooms, instead of shootouts.
I don't even want bubble-gum-flavored bubble gum!
Wow, look at that mower. It doesn't even look like a mower. It looks like a throne. A guy throne. All it needs is a urinal.
What happened to Angie Dickinson? What happened to Shirley McClane? What happened to that totally useless woman? It's like Frank Sinatra had a bunch of friends over eating shrimp cocktail and running through the sprinkler, and he said, "Hey, you wanna be in my movie?" And the girls said, "Sure."
-at the end of the original "Ocean's Eleven."
I am she who can craft anything. I will not be bested by knitting!
It's a book about a man, so there's not much emotion. Mostly just a lot of swearing.
We took her to get her first haircut just 'cause I was sick of having that page in her baby book empty.
I'm the only person in the world for whom sewing is an aerobic exercise.
Can we be spontaneous later?
Well, at least we know it's real meat.
-putting the best construction on the bone in her Chicken McNugget
There are some things I hate buying, like contacts. I feel like I should have free vision from God.
I'm super emotional. My hormones must be going crazy. One minute I'm crying; the next minute I'm crying, but about something different.
I tried to have an eating disorder. I just didn't apply myself.
Al: This is the life, eh, Lori?
Lori: Hmm-mm. The life has more ice cream.
Lori: Wake up, honey.
Al: I'm awake.
Lori: Awake people don't roll over and turn their backs on their wives.
Al: You could be an astronaut too, Lori. You went to Creighton.
Lori: (snorts) If that's all it takes, I pity the space program.
Al: You know my motto.
Lori: What?
Al: Don't have a motto.
Lori: Very deep.
Al: Yep. Like a well.
Lori: Pointless AND bottomless.
Lori: I thought I'd better get you another color besides black.
Al: Why's that?
Lori: They didn't have black.
Al: I love you.
Lori: Of course you do. No one else gets your jokes.
Lori: I'm glad I'm not an elephant.
Al: Why?
Lori: No backrubs.
Oanh: Is someone crying?
Lori: No, that's Dora the Exporer. She always sounds like that.
Al: Did you know that one out of three African Americans in Mississippi has been disenfranchised?
Lori: What does disenfranchised mean?
Al: I don't know.
Lori: Then yes, I did know that.
Lori: I just finished my least favorite part of my day -- washing my face.
Al: Wanna hear something interesting?
Lori: THAT wasn't interesting?
Upon successfully exiting Target without buying anything:
Al: Free!! Unencumbered by bags!
Lori: Pockets still bursting with lint!
Lori: You shouldn't sleep in that shirt.
Al: Why not?
Lori: Because it'll look like you slept in that shirt.
Al: Will you do it?
Lori: Yeah, if I ever get a free minute. Not including this one.
Lori: Are you talking to the dogs?
Al: Yes. How'd you know?
Lori: 'Cause you didn't wait for a response.
Al: You do become disconnected from reality if you become rich too soon.
Lori: Try me.
Lori: No, get in that lane.
Al: I'm driving. You stop talking.
Lori: How do you ever find your way anywhere?
Al: Hey. I can take care of myself. I was driving for years, before you were even in high school!
Lori: Yeah, but how many of those years were you lost?
Allen Marsh (husband)
June 7th, 2009
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