Funeral, Eulogy, and Memorial Talks
A TRIBUTE TO KATHLEEN SPEER
[These remarks were given by John E. Enslen in tribute to Kathleen Speer at a meeting of the Elmore County Historical Society held in the old downtown courthouse in Wetumpka on Sunday afternoon, January 12, 1997.]
Introduction
What a choice blessing for me to say a few words in tribute to Kathleen Speer. I am thankful to this organization for this special honor. I do not consider myself more qualified than any of you to make these remarks. I know that each of you here has a fond and vivid remembrance of Kathleen because she was an unforgettable person in a very positive way. My personal recollections of her are based upon numerous associations with her, including living next door to Kathleen when I was a teenager, working directly across the street from the drug store for five years in the mid 1970’s as a “wet behind the ears” attorney, and living across the street from her daughter, Elizabeth, and her family for the past several years.
Some of Her Attributes
What comes to mind when we think of Kathleen Speer? Faithful wife; attentive, loving mother and grandmother, a woman of faith; friend to many; dedicated teacher—in and out of the classroom; responsible citizen; community servant; animated conversationalist (it was a special moment in the day when Kathleen would grab you by the arm, nudge up next to you, and tell you what was on her mind); enthusiastic promoter full of new ideas; possessor of a well-balanced sense of humor; person of kindness; doer of good. (She was the only person in town who could say to me, “I need a donation,” and to whom I would immediately respond, “Go by the office and pick up a check.” Kathleen Speer possessed a healthy supply of the lasting values of life, and there is no exaggeration in defining her by those complimentary qualities and many others.
Does it seem to you that Kathleen was full of vibrant and vivacious life? I have come to believe that it was the natural by-product of her lifestyle: For those who labor unselfishly in behalf of others, with no thought of remuneration, will be physically and spiritually refreshed and renewed. Her life has touched our lives for the better in multiple ways. Her life will continue to bear good fruits into the indefinite future. We can count the number of seeds in an apple, but we can never count the number of apples in a seed.
Founder of the Museum
Of particular importance to this society, Kathleen Speer had a sense of history. She had a deep appreciation for the past. I commend you for your dedication to preserving history through the work of this organization. Those who, like Kathleen and yourselves, honor the lives and times of their forefathers are more likely to accomplish things that are worthy of remembrance by those who follow them.
Leaving a Mark
Kathleen Speer has left a legacy of monuments, both visible and invisible, throughout this community. Her daughter, Elizabeth, and her grandchildren Daniel and Katie Beth, are three of those monuments. Kathleen has left her mark. The following poem entitled “My Mark” was authored by a talented local resident:
My Mark
I am uneasy about the passing of time,
For I have not left this world a mark of mine.
So who is to know, when I am dead and gone,
That I too walked this earth in flesh and bone.
Everyone should leave a mark of some kind,
For future generations to find.
It need not be a tremendous thing,
Perhaps only a simple song to sing.
I would like my mark to be an inspiration to man,
So when he is down, he’ll have courage to stand.
And he can better enjoy his life,
Not faced entirely by toil and strife.
It would weather the storm of time,
This little mark of mine.
People will say he did not live and die in vain,
And if I could I would give him life again.
So, Dear God, help me make a mark,
That my life will not be as the dark.
And when I am lying in a grave of decay,
My mark will be more than a tombstone, granite grey.
(By Dick Edwards)
What Would Kathleen Say Today?
What would Kathleen Speer say today if she were allowed to speak to us? I have pondered that question. Perhaps her words would not be very far removed from these:
I have had no private purposes to accomplish, no personal projects to build, no enemies to punish—nothing but to serve my family and fellowman. For I did learn through joyous experience a piece of wisdom—that when we are in the service of our fellow beings, we are only in the service of our God. (See Mosiah 2:17 in the Book of Mormon)
She might continue something like this:
To measure the goodness of life by its delights and temporary pleasures is to apply a false standard. The truly abundant life does not consist of a glut of luxury. It does not make itself content with commercially produced self-indulgences, mistaking such for joy and happiness. To find lasting happiness, we must seek it outside of ourselves. No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellowmen. (See Thomas S. Munson, Ensign Magazine, May 1990, p. 92)
In a kind way she might attempt to inspire us with words like these:
In living our lives let us never forget that the deeds of our land-clearing forefathers are theirs, not ours; that their accomplishments cannot be counted to our glory; that we can claim no excellence, no place, no standing, no reward, no respect, no honor, no credit, no recognition, no special position because of what they did. We must rise by our own labors of love in our own time, and that labor failing, we too shall fail.
Closing
May I close with a quote from Paul in his letter to the Galatians?
“Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not, as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.” (Galatians 6:9-10)