...and that it's amazingly wonderful. I did my best over the past 12 years to take care of Gran and Grandad. I loved them both dearly... they had done so much for me in my teens and early twenties.
I had a hard time, especially the past three years not getting frustrated with Gran. We had to take her car away from her three years ago because the doctors said she absolutely could not drive, I had to turn off her stove and get her on meals on wheels. I had to hire a neighbor to help give her daily medications through the week and we took care of Fri-Sun. We tried desperately to help her keep her house clean. Then we had to do something that was the hardest thing I've ever done... we had to move her out of her home that she shared with Grandad for almost 30 years and move her into an assisted living facility in Rockwood, TN. I hated taking her from her home, I hated that it had to be 50 minutes from Knoxville... but it was a facility that took VA benefits (which she qualified for because of Grandad) and their staff was phenomenal.
I could have never gotten through all this emotionally had it not been for Don. I know Don loved her but he was a rock for me and was always there to help.I got so frustrated and exasperated with her over these last years. I always tried to think "How would I want to be treated if I make it to 87 and start outliving my mind"... I always tried to remind myself that the day would come when I would miss her terribly.
Well, that day came last Friday. I received a call from Patti Jo, the director at Victorian Square at 3:40am telling me she had a massive heart attack and had passed away.
Don and I last saw her the Friday before. She recognized me as being special family but had no recollection of Don and when we mentioned Katie... she didn't know her.
Katie was the light of her life the past 10 1/2 years. When we brought Katie home from Memphis, that was the last day she smoked a cigarette. I had said that no one would be around Katie that smoked... so she stopped cold turkey.
Katie was truly blessed to have had her in her life until she was 11. I know Katie will have great memories of her and to have memories of a great grandmother is very special.
I'm sure that even in the times I was frustrated, she knew how much I loved her.
I am confident that her and Grandad are together again and that all of us have one more guardian angel looking down on us.
I will miss you always Gran and I loved you!!
Mary Dobson Muecke
MUECKE, MARY DOBSON - 87 of Knoxville, TN, went to be with our Lord April 30, 2010. She was born in Rockwood, TN on December 14, 1922. She married Charles T. Muecke, Sr. on April 4, 1940 and they were married for 64 years until his death on October 4, 2004. She was retired from Robertshaw Fultons but also worked many years in retail. She was a member of The Lords Chapel and she did volunteer work for many years at Fort Sanders Hospital as well as the American Red Cross. The last two years, she resided at Victoria Square, in Rockwood, TN, where she received wonderful care. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Charles T. Muecke, Jr. & Marilyn Muecke of St. Augustine, FL; her granddaughter and her husband, Leeann M. Samples and Don H. Samples of Knoxville, TN. She had a great-grand-daughter, Katelyn Marie Samples, age 11 whom she adored. Also survived by brother & sister-in-law Jack & Sue Muecke of Kingston, TN. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great grandmother and will be missed. She was full of humor, charm and had a love for the Lord. Receiving of friends and family will be Monday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Highland Memorial Funeral Home. Chapel service will be on Tuesday at 10:00 am with the Internment to follow; Rev. Shirley Delap officiating. Highland Memorial Funeral Home 865-588-0567
