It was such a shock to learn of the death of Karlynn Leeper of Rossburg.

It’s not that I am not so used to hearing about deaths since, for one thing, I get most of them ready for The Daily Advocate publications. But, this one stunned me, and I’m real sure her family is just as much in shock.

I was at home Sunday night, when I went over to check to see if anything came across on the laptop. The first thing I saw was Karlynn’s photo on the screen. After reading the words underneath it, it wasn’t good news. I thought there must have been a mistake.

How can such a thing happen to such a beautiful person?

For those who didn’t get to read her obituary, I will share an excerpt from what was contained in it that I was told one of the daughters wrote. It read as follows: “Karlynn’s life was full and she was full of life. She could easily be described as the life of the party and knew no strangers. Every aspect of her life revolved around her family, as she was their rock. She invested her time showering all of the love she had on her 11 grandchildren. She was as selfless as they come and offered a listening ear to all with emotional, yet blunt, empathy. She was a creative visionary who paid close attention to detail and adored all things that sparkled and shined. She was a self-proclaimed event organizer, who herself, was as un-organized as they come. She had a knack for storytelling, a reputation for being late, and an infectious cackle. The capacity of Karlynn’s heart was immeasurable.”

Isn’t that wonderful to always be remembered like that? So beautiful. You can tell by that, that she was truly loved.

I’ve seen her with husband Dennis, her four children and grandchildren, her father and her siblings. She was a natural. She also helped her father in his business.

Yes, Karlynn, you will greatly be missed. R.I.P. Thanks for the legacy you left behind and instilled in your children.

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Don’t forget:

• The next fish fry at the Ansonia American Legion will be Feb. 5 from 4-6:30 p.m. Cost is $7. Ansonia Legion will also be serving Jennifer’s Burritos on Jan. 22 from 5 to 7 p.m.

• The Treaty City Seniors Dance will be held for the first time in Greenville on Monday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge on East Third Street in Greenville. Tom Everhart will entertain with his rock and roll music of the past. There will be food to purchase, soft drinks only, door prizes and a 50/50 drawing. This just isn’t for seniors, but for adults of any age. Organizer Lynn Newbauer said, “New children please.”

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Happy birthday:

• Jan. 20 to Tosha Brown.

• Jan. 21 to Connie Hodson, Junior Bryant (65), Tina Lyme, Cindy Shuttleworth, Denise Huff and Jennifer Brown Trittschuh.

• Jan. 22 to Ryan Francis, Greg Moody, Jim Holland, Tammy Hodson Mendenhall, Linda Miller Budde (60), Shawn Trissel, Leon Rogers, Diane Delaplane and Mindy Saylor.

• Jan. 23 to Carrie “Missie” Hall Guillozet, Richard Ray, Dixie Whittaker, Carl Bricker and Dianna Sleppy.

• Jan. 24 to Carmen Sanders, Mindy Bowers Schaefer, Toni Midlam, Rick Lee and Marlene Troutwine.

• Jan. 25 to Teresa Ketring, Florence Dickey Wright, Kirk Hrbison, Dianna McCullough, Greg Knick and Ken DeMange.

• Jan. 26 to Barbara Riffell Helms, Steve Cunningham, Stephanie Burk, Jodi Gilpin Morgan, Joe Wappelhorst (20), Cassidy York (16), Terry Black Sr., Carla Kunk, Kay Bunch and Terri Martin.

• Jan. 27 to Aaron Teegarden, Chad Beam, Ethel Lenker, Roxanne Meadows, Ruth North and Sharon Grice.

Happy belated birthday to Victor Wright on Jan. 14.

Happy anniversary to: Dean and Sandy Easterling on Jan. 23; and Todd and Darla Printz (30) on Jan. 26.

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Don’t forget to pray for: Stacy Dorko, Teresa Ketring, Tim Ridenour, Jennifer Platfoot, Dan Norton, Keith Howard, Betty Grimes, Kathy Magoto, Dean Brewer, Ken Morton, Lisa Hall, Dick Neff, Tammy Shapiro, Ken Martin, David Magoto, Charles LaFuze, Phil Clark, Sonny Hunt, Kenny Chancy, Jim Marker, Roger McEowen, Terry Longfellow, Bill Drew, Don and Linda Myers, Nina McDaniel, Rusty Wilson, Lee Moody (our father), Linda Johnston, Ron Kreitzer, Pappy Harshman, Gerald Rhoades, Harold Rismiller, Rick Jones, Delores Duncan, Ansonia Police Chief Frank Shapiro, Randy Heck, John Klipstine, Elsie Svajda, Dave Sherman, Sue Chitty, Phil Chilcoat, Christine Pipenger, Paul Barton, Terry Ungericht, Gracyn Blackburn, Jim Moody, Lowell Arnold, Robert Codling, Kohen Thwaits, J.C. and D’Arleen Waymire, Deanna Jones, William DeBord, Dave Starline, Bob Hiestand Jr., Kathy and Tom Hamilton, Joanne Sharp, Larry Bemis, Ivan Miller, Cindy Elson, Cary Van De Grift, Dina Dancer Morris, Teresa Mayo Amspaugh, Jim Crotcher, Tina Kiser Deaton, Alvera Schmitz, Jerrod Pratt, Vicky Henderson, Julia Frey, Tonia Thompson, Fred Monnin, Bob Coppock, Stephen “Brownie” Brown.

Also, Nate Epperson, Brad Pipenger, Faye Schlecty, Michelle Sparks Reed, Sheila Reed, Bill Beasley, Steve Cunningham, Kody Ketring, Bob and Sandy Finkbine, Kevin Dickey, Joe Martin, Tracy Bailey, Brenda Grimes, Margaret “Peg” Bundy, Kevin Hemmerich, Ray Dickey Jr., Penny Starns, Tim Heck, Vanna (Hannam) Abbott, Suzy Heck Schilling, Addie Henderson, Barb Morrow Zimmerman, Samantha Smith, Shannon Peters Hall, Todd Walls, Ron Kramer, Melissa “Missy” Helmer, Susie Gress of Nebraska, Dana Holzapfel, Kara Didier, Carla Welch, Bill Schuette and to all those others who suffer from the many debilitating diseases. And, God bless all of our military people serving and protecting this nation.

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Jamie and I send our condolences to the families of Karlynn Leeper, Phil Schlechty, Bill Fox, Iris Jean Wills, Kathryn Collins, Dick Shively and Tom Harless.

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Think about it: “The greatest gift we can give to others is our prayers.” — Unknown