March 17, 2015

Joe Myers Remembrances of Aunt Rene Leaman
 
I am Aunt Rene’s youngest nephew.  Her sister, Mary, was my mother.
 
Rene and her sister, Myrtle, were inseparable. They were the youngest of the 9 Leaman siblings.  They loved to travel including the very scary burro ride down the Grand Canyon Trail.  The family story is that Rene was petrified of the narrow path with no fence or guard rail along the burro trail.  She said, “ I’m gonna die!”  Myrtle was scared too but said, “Shut up Rene, we’re all in the same boat.”  Of course they survived and they later recounted the beauty of the trip but said they’d never do it again and pretty much cured me of wanting to take the same ride.
 
I remember as a child ice skating with Rene and Myrtle on Mill Creek and Rene supplying a thermos of Hot Cocoa.  One season Rene signed Myrtle and me up for ice dance lessons at Hershey area.  It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be.
 
Rene and Myrtle were avid golfers.   If Arnold Palmer was on TV, Rene would be sure to watch.
 
Rene and Myrtle played golf even when their knees were bad and older brother, Pete, also a good golfer couldn’t see much anymore.  Rene delighted in telling the story where one opponent said I can’t believe I got beat by two old ladies and a blind guy!
 
Rene was a nurse/ physical therapist for disabled children for her entire career.  I often wondered how she could interact with severely handicapped children for so many years.  She maintained a professional caring manner for each child and for her entire career.  God bless the work she did.
 
Joe Myers

March 17, 2015

Here are three short poems called Haikus that came to me as I was remembering Aunt Rene and Leaman/Myers family times together.  I love you, Rene, and am thinking of your melodious voice and how your whole face lighted up when you greeted me, Fred, Liz, Ben and Maggie.  Thank you for showing us your zest for life.  Mary Frances
 
Rene, the youngest,
standing tall amongst her loved ones, 
chortles her delights.
 
~~~
 
Days bring adventures.
Careful accounting pleases
life’s story-teller.
 
~~~
 
Long winter years done.
Spring lifts dark’s heavy cover.
Afterlife blooms now.

March 08, 2015

In memory of Irene Leaman
Lucky were we Myers children to have the opportunity to know our Leaman great aunts and uncles. Our families lived at distances from one another, but we travelled back and forth over the years knowing each other in short, rich visits often during a holiday or other family celebration.  Baby of the bunch, Rene, stands vivid in my memory – she was the tall one, the laughing one, the sporty one, often paired up with sister Myrt, quick with a hug, a sweet observation, a suggestion of a way to do a thing.  For a while in my childhood I paid careful attention to the way I sat on the floor, the correct way to position my legs under my body so as to keep everything in proper alignment; Rene’s career as a workplace nurse spilled into everyday life, and her gentle guidance helped me think about ways to keep good health and sometimes found itself repeated in conversation with my own children as they grew.  I’m grateful to have sprung from the roots of this family, and during these times of transition I take comfort in the many warm, filled with kindness memories I have of Rene and her clan.
February 28, 2015
Liz Myers Nichols
Daughter of Fred Myers
 
Austin, Texas