“That can’t be right, I just talked to her yesterday morning, and she was fine.”
An acquaintance called to inform us that May Morrison, a good friend and wife of our teacher-mentor Gordon Morrison had passed away.
We argued in denial that it had to be wrong, and we’d straighten out the mistake.
However, upon an immediate call to Mr. Morrison, we could tell instantly by his expression over the phone that the sad news was accurate.
Knowing our voice, Mr. Morrison assumed we knew about his loss and detailed memorial plans.
Upon our pursuing exactly what occurred, Mr. Morrison related that after our extended visit Friday morning, the couple went to a noon Rotary meeting in which May was joining her husband in membership, because of their mutual confidence in that group’s goals.
As membership initiation, May was required to make a presentation about her beliefs, and did so quite fluently, according to Mr. Morrison, who followed it with endorsement.
Upon sitting down, May leaned over on Mr. Morrison’s shoulder and became unconscious. A doctor in the room performed emergency treatment, and an ambulance took her to the hospital where additional procedures were performed to no avail.
May had been in seemingly perfect health throughout the morning, and instantly she was gone from this life.
It was a shock to everyone, none more than Mr. Morrison, and certainly us included.
May came into Mr. Morrison’s life after his first wife, Jean, passed away, and May’s husband, a farmer, had died. They married, and May became a second-mother to his three daughters, and Mr. Morrison, second-father to her daughter and son.
Following retirement from lifetime-successful careers as teachers, Mr. Morrison and May moved from town to the country and side-by-side built a ranch.
Admired by all she touched, May’s faith, matched only by that of her husband, was apparent in everything she did, which leaves no question about her life eternal.
Reminds us of Ecclesiastes 3:1: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Yet, essential is Luke 12:40: “Be ready for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Thus, Luke 22:33: “Lord, I am ready to go with thee to death.” Because, First Corinthians 1:1: “It’s according to God’s plan.”