With this post we take a short break from the regular subject matter of this blog to pay a tribute to my maternal grandmother.

Edna LaVaughn Sargent Wattenbarger was born on August 28, 1896 and died in January of 1989.  In many ways she was the most significant influence on my early life and development.  Together with my grandfather – George Warren Wattenbarger (some folks insist that he spelled his middle name “Warrn”) – they taught me much about life from the very beginning of my days.  I was born in their home – the parsonage for the Methodist mission church in Bunch, Oklahoma – in the Cookson Hills in the northeastern part of the state surrounded by the beautiful and wonderful Native American people whom they faithfully served and greatly loved.

I was baptized by my grandfather in the Sallisaw Creek which ran behind the white mission church and the home – although I have no real memory of that event I have many other memories and pictures that help me remember the wonderful times in Bunch.  It is where I first got my love of trains – as two times each day I would be in front of the house to watch the Kansas City Southern Belle passenger train speed by.  It is where I was first introduced to my spiritual journey – a beginning with a large influence from the Cherokee peoples who were a large part of the community that my grandparents served.

LaVaughn was licensed to preach by the Oklahoma Conference of the Methodist Church – we believe that she was the first woman to be honored with the distinction.  She also provided the first piano that was to assist in my young musical education as a piano student.

Toward the end of her life she lived in our home – both in Oklahoma and in Kansas – where she always provided a loving and warm environment.  She was a very very special woman and I am grateful for all the influence she had on my growing up years and my life.

Grace and peace