Dean's Page

I'm now at the last, but far from the least of my family. I've saved the very best for last. Please forgive me, but I'm about to get long winded here. As I stated on my page, I married the former Wilma Dean Parnell, of Jonesboro, Arkansas during my tour at Glynco, Ga. That was 29 August, 1964. She was all of 5'1" tall and maybe 90 pounds. Bear that in mind as you read through this. Since then it's been a rough road for her. Dean went through my first overseas assignment like a trooper. She grew up, one of eleven children. She was smack dab in the middle. Her Daddy was a farmer, and although they weren't rich financially, their family was surrounded with love, and in that respect, they were some of the richest people I ever met. I used to love to sit and listen to them talk of their childhood, Calvin (Pistol) driving a tractor up a tree when he was just a tyke, Dean whupping up on anyone who got in her face and her brothers racing their cars out in the cotton fields. I am really fortunate to have in-laws like the Parnells.

Dean graduated from Nettleton H. S., just outside of Jonesboro, Ark. (Actually a part of Jonesboro now.) Her family was, and is, extremely active in church work. They would gather in the evenings and have nightly devotionals. Her Daddy was a Deacon at Nettleton Baptist Church, and her Mama was a full time Mama. With eleven kids, there wasn't time for anything else. She was a great cook and she was always there for her kids. She was a beautiful lady, inside and outside.

All the time we were in the Memphis area, her brothers and brother's-in-law were my hunting and fishing buddies. Not to mention the nephews. After we married she moved to Ga. with me and we had a pretty normal early relationship. You know, fussing, fightin' and wondering what in the world possessed us to get married. It was while we were in Ga. that her Daddy died. It was a sad trip to Arkansas. While in Ga. Dean worked at SeaPak and King Shrimp. Both seafod processing plants. SeaPak was on St. Simon's Island, where we lived for awhile. We'd get 5 pound boxes of shrimp that were caught , processed and frozen, and in our freezer, direct from the plant, that day. She was an office employee. We'd be down in Jacksonville, Fl.a., Marineland of Florida, St. Augustine or up in Savannah, Ga. almost every week-end. We really enjoyed the seafood restaurants around the SouthEastern parts of Ga. Dean enjoyed shopping in Jacksonville, Fla.

It was off to Viet-Nam again. Again, she handled it like an ol' salt! I returned to Memphis, we bought a mobile home, a color t.v. (wow!) and a new Pontiac Gran Prix. We were living high on the hog. She was working for Memphis Light, Gas and Water and we were over in Ark. almost every week-end visiting her family. I especially liked going shooting, hunting and fishing with one of Dean's brother-in-laws....Pete Craig, and his sons. Dean didn't mind this, because it gave her time to spend with her Mama, brothers and sisters. They all lived pretty close. Most of the times Pete , his sons (Donnie And Ricky), Dean's brothers and I sat up targets in back of his house, in his cotton field and target practiced. Dean would be right there with her sister, and her Mama, who lived next door. About this time, Pete introduced us to cat fish, Southern style. I was an instant convert. Dean could take it or leave it. It and Memphis bar-b-que, we'd drive miles for! Me for catfish and both of us for bar-b-que.While stationed in Memphis, Dean and I were members of Faith Baptist Church, in Atoka,Tn. She was a worker in that church. How she managed, I'll never understand.

I received orders back overseas, and I spent a tour in Okinawa with VMO-6 and HML-367. Dean just kept the home fires burnin'. Again I returned to Memphis. Dean had said when we got married that now she would get to see the world. If you've been keeping track, she saw Glynco and Memphis. LOL I returned from Okinawa in 1971 and our little girl was born in Dec. of 1972. It had to be smooth sailing from here on out. Don't bet on it. Dec. of 1974 I had a heart attack. I was 34 years old. From then on, Dean was not only a wife, mother and worker, she was now my nurse. We bought a brand new ranch style house in 1977, and everything was looking rosy again. Dean made sure Tonja didn't miss out on anything. She started ballet and tap when she was three. Then acrobats, piano, organ lessons and cheer leading. And Dean still found time for teaching Sunday School , singing in the choir, and working with Girls in Action. (G.A.'s) Not to mention a full time job. I retired in 78 and went to work for 3M. Dean's Mama died in 1980. But, Dean knows she is in a far better place. I had open heart surgery in 81. Bam! Now she's really my nurse. Well, I recovered, and we were transferred to Salt Lake City. Dean hated to leave her job at Memphis Light, Gas & Water and our church. She was doing great, but like the lady she is, she quit, and off to Utah we went. It was only four months after her brother Vernon passed away.

Tonja had to change schools and Dean had to quit her job. What a way to start off. Both of my ladies were putting aside their wants and needs for mine. This was 1983. We loved it in Utah at first, but then our daughter started coming home crying from school. She had been told, by her fellow students, that if she wasn't Mormon, she was nothing. We are Christians and that hurt deep. I resolved at that time to get out of Utah, at my first opportunity. It is a beautiful state with a wonderful climate. I have nothing against Mormons, but I'm dead-set against the cult of Mormonism.

We found a little church in Sandy, Utah, that was just what we needed. Outstanding fellowship. We didn't feel so isolated. It's name was Alta Canyon Baptist Church, and it was a blessing to us. It was real small, but the youth group was exactly what Tonja needed. Not to mention her mother and I. Again Dean wore many hats in the church. She's ALWAYS been a strong church worker. In addition to teacher, choir and G.A.'s, now there was the pulpit committee and Baptist Women among others. 1985 another open heart surgery. Not quite as successful as the first one. I tried to go back to work, but I wasn't able. 3M put me on long term disability. I was now anxious to leave Utah, but our house wouldn't sell. At about this time, Dean's brother Roy passed away. We continued living there and in 1991, I had a bad heart attack. Dean was told I wouldn't live through the ambulance ride from the first hospital to the second. Then she was told I wouldn't make it from the second hospital to the University of Utah hospital. After arriving there, they kept me in I.C.U. for two months trying to build my strength up for ANOTHER open heart surgery. Dean is by my side day and night, as she's always been. She had been told to gather the family. They finally performed the operation. The doctor (from Penn State) wanted to do at least three by-passes, but could only find one vessel good enough for a by-pass. And that was through extra-ordinary means, by the grace of God. The operation was completed, but they couldn't get my heart re-started. They tried numerous times to no avail. The doctor went out to the waiting room and told Dean they were pushing me off to the side while they worked on others. There was little hope. My heart started beating on it's own. Among Southern Baptist's we have what are known as prayer warriors. My wife is a prayer warrior. I finally recovered enough to allow me to go home, but, I'd been off my feet so long, I'd developed drop foot. That's when your feet just hang, and you can't control them. Try walking under those conditions. I'd lost from 225 pounds down to 160. There was nothing that whetted my appetite except fruits and vegetables. I would get hungry for a steak....Dean would make it for me....I'd take one bite, gag and wouldn't be able to take another bite. These are some of the things she had to put up with. And it wasn't just on occasion. It was continually. She was working eight hours a day as a Driver's License Examiner for the State of Utah, coming home to being a Mom, a wife, a housekeeper, chief cook and bottle washer, laundress, a nurse to me and a Sunday School teacher. And she did even more. I did have a physical therapist coming in three times a week and a visiting nurse also. Tonja was helping out, too. They were both trying to take care of the ol' man. Our little church was decreasing almost to the point of non-existance. Dean joined SouthEast Baptist Church in Murray, Utah. Tonja graduated, our house sold, and back to Pa. we came.

It was great being back among my family for the first time since 1958. Again, Dean gave up a job she loved (Driver's License Examiner), a church she loved, and followed me. Remember, she's from Arkansas and these Yankees sure have strange ways! :-)) But, she loves my Mom & Dad, and the feeling is mutual, so that made it easier. Since being here, her sister Doris died of Lou Gehrig's Disease, and her brother-in-law (my hunting buddy) Pete died.

I'd finally overcome my drop feet to a degree, so I can get around, when BAM!! Severe Pancreatitus. Dean was told to gather the family AGAIN! I was completely out of it for days. I didn't know my parents or other relatives. I couldn't remember anything. I came home Thanksgiving day, after two months in the hospital, and had to sit and watch everyone eat. I couldn't force myself to eat. I lived on Percosets (spelling) for pain for a long time. Through it all Dean has been right by my side. Right now, it's been almost three years since she's been home to Arkansas. We hope to rectify that in September. (She went!!) We have found another small church here in York. It's Manor Baptist Church. Most of the youth, who Dean works with, are from the inner-city and Dean has her hands full, being a farmer's daughter from Joneboro, Ark. As usual, she's right in the thick of things. Wearing all the hats. When it's time for her to meet her Maker, I pray there will be a golden crown, studded with diamonds and emeralds for her, cause she's sure earned it. Don't even begin to try and tell me or Dean that there isn't a God. I've abbreviated this believe it or not. I could tell about the second and third open-heart surgeries, when I prayed for the Lord to send me (a) guardian angel(s). No, I didn't see an angel, but I'll swear forever that I felt their presence. Or about my gall-bladder removal, or my intestinal by-pass. Or my hernia operation. All after being told my heart would not stand another operation. Yupper, my wife deserves that crown of gold, diamonds and emeralds. Just puttin' up with me should have earned her the gold crown. I'll be eternally grateful to the Lord for sending her my way!

Dean's postscript...."To God be the glory."

Seated: Clara, Roy , Mrs. Parnell, Vernon and Shorty Standing: Calvin, Dean, Neva, Doris , Reuben, Wanda and Jimmy	Dean with her sisters when they visited us in Utah. Wanda, Dean, Clara, Neva and Doris.