Thank you all for coming today as we say our final goodbye to Mary. She would be so happy to see every one of you–family members and friends. It gladdens my heart to see all of you Yellow Pages folks here today. It has been so many years since Mary was with the company and it is wonderful to know that she is still remembered by all of you.
I want to say a special thank you to two people who helped care for Mary over these last difficult months; Deanna Monbeck and Priscilla Sims. Priscilla could not be here with us today, but I know her thoughts are with us and with Mary. These two ladies showed Mary the love and affection that she so desperately needed at the time she needed it the most and I will never be able to thank them enough for all that they have done.
Each and every one of us loved Mary. We all knew her struggles and the insurmountable obstacles she tried so hard and so valiantly to overcome. After seeing her confront the ravages of her illness day after day, I can honestly say that I have never known a braver person or a stonger person. And I have never known anyone in all my life with a kinder soul or a bigger heart than Mary.
This is a very sad day for all of us and certainly the saddest moment in my entire life. We have to leave this place today knowing that Mary is no longer in pain and is no longer suffering, that she is no longer afraid, and that she is, at long last, at peace. Go with God, my beautiful and precious girl. And know that we will remember you and cherish you forever.