Funeral for my Cousin Jim

This morning we got up and everyone just had a quick breakfast. The funeral for my cousin Jim is this morning. Frances, Jack and Eva left the house a little after 9 a.m. and headed down to the funeral home in West Frankfort. Mike and I left the house about a 9:30 to go to the funeral home.

We met Jim and Sally's 3 sons and their families this morning. Their son Ben is a minister and he conducted the funeral service. Their son Matt lives in Texas and Dan lives in West Frankfort and was a big help to his parents while Jim was ill. It has only been the last several years that we had gotten together with Jim and Sally and never got to meet their children. 

The funeral service was at 11:00 and then followed by the burial service at Boner Cemetery. Afterwards the family invited everyone to Jim and Sally's house for lunch which was provided by their church, First Baptist Church of West Frankfort.

We met Frances, Jack and Eva at Jim and Sally's house and had an opportunity to visit with
Matt, Dan and Ben and their families. We also met some of Sally's family and some of Jim and Sally's friends. 

I can't not mention the food - church people know how to come together for support and they definitely know how to cook! We had KFC chicken (OK, they didn't cook that), pork loin, baked beans, green beans, 15 bean stoop, potato salad, several pasta salads, tossed salad, more beans, and I don't know how many desserts. 

Eva wanted to drive back home this afternoon, so we all went back to Frances and Jack's about mid-afternoon after we said our goodbye's to everyone. 

Just a final note tonight - Mike and I have been to a number of funerals for his and my family over the years. We see relatives that we haven't seen in years - we may write to each other at Christmas - but we never seem to get together for a visit - except at funerals. And today was another example.