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

Grandma Wheatley by Michael Wheatley

Aside from the usual
memories of the candy in the secret door and playing countless skip bo games
with grandma I remember when we went to visit them while they were serving in
Georgia.  Our whole family loaded up into the station wagon and drove to
Georgia.  We were so excited to see Grandma and Grandpa.  At that
time I didn't fully understand what missionary work was but looking back on the
experience some of the pieces fall into place.  I remember our family
joining Grandma and Grandpa in their apartment (talk about a full house). 
We played games together, waited out southern thunderstorms together and we
went with Grandma and Grandpa to make the rounds before church to invite and
pick up investigators to attend.  We went and saw Disney's the Jungle Book
in a theater where you had to apply some real physical effort to unstick your
shoes from the floor after the show.  These are the memories of a boy, who
atleast at the time was oblivious to his surroundings, yet they have stuck with
me in my mind because they are linked to the memories that I have of my sweet
Grandmother.

We were out for spring break to ski in the weeks before Grandma passed
away.  I was preparing to graduate from high school and attend college and
then head off on a mission.  We said our goodbyes with a sudden realization
that this would probably be the last living image that we had of our
Grandmother.  As we walked out the garage door she took everyone of us by
the hand and said a little something, apparently recognizing herself the
finality of the goodbye.  She told me that I would make a good missionary
and I was a little embarrassed at the compliment.  Here was my Grandmother
feeble and sick and yet encouraging and optimistic about the future, even if it
wasn't her own.  I have since read some of her poetry and talks given in
church and have seen how she was very concerned about making others feel good
about themselves, that they belonged and that they were special.  I admire
this charitable quality in my Grandmother and believe that that is what I will
remember most about her.