The Eulogy of Charlene Gardner |
Subject: Mail Order Manager: Charlene Gardner & Asst. Operations Mgr.
To: Sunbelt Sports Sale’s Customers, Friends and current or past associates
From: General Manager and Chief Operating Officer
Father’s Day, Sunday, June 18 2006, at approximately 9:30 am, Charlene
lost her battle against hard cancer that had attacked her esophagus. It’s
not a mistake to represent Charlene as a loser, in this battle for her
life, which was determined against thereafter she’d fought a good
fight. Why? Because Charlene was already a winner in her life quality. Haven’t
we learned that life’s battles…..don’t always go to
the stronger or faster woman or man? They go only to the woman or man…..who
thinks they can. That was Charlene’s special gift. She was
physically light and mentally strong. She was fragile physically
and indefatigable mentally. She loved golf and OU football, but
She was unnerved by inactivity, especially caused by infirmity. Charlene
yearned to rejoin her co-workers, at Sunbelt Sports.
When I last spoke to her on June 8th, She pledged that sentiment to me, saying,” Tell everybody at the store, that I Think we’re going to have a big year and I wish I could be there now, to get the new people in shape for this season.”
I responded, “You know Charlene, whether you can rise up again, suit up again and take your rightful place in the concourse or not, I promise you that we will dedicate this season to you,”
Charlene cried, “I wish I could come in tomorrow, I miss it so!” It was all so sad. SO VERY SAD.”
To all that read this eulogy, please know that I have the authority to dedicate this company’s performance to Charlene, but I humbly quote Jesus of Nazareth to give you the reason. I call your attention to Matthew 7:16 “You shall know them by their fruits (works). Verse 17, “Even so every good tree brings Forth good fruit….verse 18 “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit….Verse 20 “Wherefore by their fruits (actions) you shall know them.”
As Charlene was older than all Sunbelt associates, except Mr. Jack Rusher, I wrote her a Mother’s Day card on May 9th, 2004, on behalf of all Sunbelt Associates, saying,
“I thank you for the friendship, loyalty & love you so
Freely shed on us, my own sainted mother would have tapped my hand,
Nodding at me and spoke these words, “Charlene is quite a little lady and
Sunbelt is lucky to have her”.
On March 15th, 2006, after the cancer had sidelined Charlene and I feared
For good..........I
send her the following
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