My Mom, Wilma Fay Henthorn Ward, was born June 10, 1938, the cherished daughter of Jesse Otto Henthorn and Alberta Wells. She was her Daddy's little girl, the youngest of three girls.

She had two sisters just like me. Marvie Maxine Henthorn Thompson and Mary Marlene Henthorn Jenkins. She lost her sister, Marlene, and her husband (Norman), to an auto accident in 1967. Her Mom and Dad have passed away too.

My Mom was the sweetest, gentlest hard working Mom any daughter could ever ask for and I lost her April 16, 2024. I was her middle daughter and she loved me dearly. I know she did. She had two other daughters too and loved each of us more than life itself.

My Mom had the prettiest curly hair and a smile that would light up a room. I get my curls from her and my smile too. She didn't like fancy things. If she got candy or fancy flowers or expensive gifts, she would often tell me. "I wish they would just come to see me instead." Just give her some dirt and some flowers and she was happy. Go visit her and talk to her, share her food she made with her and she would make you feel as if you were the most important person ever.

She sacrificed things in order for me to have things. I can remember her sewing room as I was growing up, piled full of fabrics and patterns and many nights she would sit and sew my dresses and clothes to wear. We didn't have much but my Mom made sure I had what I needed.

I had my eyes operated on when I was just three years old and she told me it was the hardest thing she ever had to do, leave me with my arms wrapped in casts hanging outside of the bed. She almost lost me to double pneumonia when I was a baby too.

As I got older and married I lived close to my Mom and I made sure she knew how much I loved her with visits and even made her clothes when I was sewing to thank her. I have photos of her opening the gifts that I made for her. I tried to give her things she may have gone without for me. She gave me flowers from her garden that are still in my yard today. When some of hers did not make it I gave her some of the ones she had given me. She loved her flowers.

And pink. Oh my goodness did she ever love the color pink. One Christmas I made sure everything I got for her was pink, even a popcorn maker. She LOVED popcorn. Oh was she ever happy that Christmas.

Mom did not go places on her own, so one day I took her to see her eye Dr to get contacts. We had to go in my art van because I could not get my other vehicle to start. OH was that fun. That as a very long drive but she also got to see me get my hair done, sat on the couch and just talked and talked and talked. I had never seen her this way. I took her to my favorite place and got her this fancy dessert. She LOVED the chocolate.

Describing my Mom is really easy because what you saw was who she was. Her world revolved around other people. I wish she had done things more for her, but that was not my Mom. Take her to a flea market and she had a trip down Rodeo Drive. That was my Mom.

What did my Mom teach me thru her life? She taught me to be kind to other people, that no one is any better than anyone else and that material things don't matter.

Most people have the details and dates and things in something that is written after they are gone. My mom deserved to let the world know details and dates don't matter. What matters is every day my Mom was here she made sure that those who were in her life knew she loved them. No belonging to any organization doesn't make you who you are. Love makes you who you are.

Wilma Fay Henthorn Ward was simply

LOVE

I am going to miss you Mom

Your baby girl,

Kim