Harris, Carole Benon (Nov 5, 1925 – May 8, 2000) by Debbra Wheatley

Benon Wheatley by Debbra Wheatley

I was the first in-law and was immediately and always
welcome as part of the family. I like to think Benon enjoyed me as a daughter
she never had and we ended being very close; she was more of a close friend to
me than a mother-in-law. I always felt I could tell her anything and she certainly
told me lots of things only shared with close friends.

For me the most endearing thing about Benon was her ability
to make you feel welcome in her home no matter what. Anytime we showed up she and
no matter what she was doing she would drop it all to visit and, of course,
bring some food out.

I remember dropping in unexpectedly the morning of Nichole's
first birthday with a puppy not house trained. Benon was in the middle of Saturday
morning housecleaning when we arrived and dropped it all to play with her grandchild
and puppy. And not once did she say maybe the puppy should not be in the house…she
just went with the flow…as usual.

I have many wonderful memories of Benon; she never got mad, was
always pleasant, never said anything bad about anyone, was the world's greatest
optimist, and could find the good in just about anything. No matter what her
kid's did…and whatever the heartache, she always stayed positive.

One of my saddest memories was when Lester and Benon came
down for dinner and to see the barn which was nearing completion. We got back
from dinner late and it was getting dark so she took a rain check on the grand
tour. She never made it back and one of the last things she said to us was "one
of my few regrets in life is I never got to see your barn."