Cecile Lamb

Mom's Thank You!  In one of our recent conversations with Mom she said, "There are so many thank you's I haven't written and now I can't write. Do you think you could write a BIG thank you for me?" Great idea, Mom! You always taught us how important it was to thank others. "Hearts, like doors, will open with ease  To very, very, little keys,  And don't forget that two of these  Are 'I thank you' and  'If you please'." Mom forgot to leave us a list of those to thank, so we are backtracking through her life and the lives that touched hers. Big job! She was one busy daughter, sister, wife, mom, grandma, great grandma, aunt, church and community leader, helper, encourager and friend. Mom was born in Oklahoma City just after Christmas on the 28th of December in 1921, the youngest of seven children. Her dad was killed in an accident when she was 4 years old! so she was raised by the rest of her family. She learned much during those depression years; sewing her own clothes, helping stretch meals with her creative cooking and how to be content and have fun on very little. She had an ear for music and she learned to play the piano by mimicking her older sister with lines drawn on a window sill. She learned to harmonize singing in a gospel trio (even on the radio station KOMA). She earned an art as well as a business scholarship in high school, but because of a major surgery (which saved her life) she was unable to use either. She was thankful these talents lead her to a full time job at Elko Photo Finishers in Oklahoma City. It was during this time she met a handsome sailor from Jackson, Wyoming at a USO dance. She loved to dance! And more importantly, after a short WWII courtship of 4 months, mostly through letters, she loved our Dad, Tom Lamb! Dad had only a two week leave before he was shipped to the South Pacific so ! they married on May 31, 1943 and headed to Wyoming by train to meet the in-laws! This little bride from the flatlands learned to love those mountains and the people of Jackson Hole on their honeymoon. After Dad was shipped out she went to live with her Mom in Oklahoma. During this time their first daughter Mary was born in 1944. She was 9 months old when Dad came home. Then came the twins Tommy and Connie three years later. In the fall of 1948 the family packed up and moved to Jackson. Dad would help his dad George Lamb in the lumber yard. It was a new adventure for Mom, learning about long winters and being closed in by the mountains. That winter of 1948/49 was one of the worst on record. She was again thankful they made it through. She learned a lot that first winter. Kerry was born on the 4th of July 1950 - Grandpa's little "firecracker". The home was enlarged as was her family. Tracy joined us in 1955. Mom loved kids and was so thankfu! l God gave her five little Lambs. Mom loved her family and kept us fed and clothed. Hand-me-downs and her own creations kept us warm. She cut and permed our hair and joined in our activities. Home-room mother, PTA, Cub Scout Den Mother, Sunday School teacher, BYF Youth leader, Junior Choir, 4-H leader and Girl Scouts just to name a few. Mom and Dad both loved to see new places so we would travel to see many sights on our way to Oklahoma to be with family each Christmas. She connected us with our southern roots as well as other places. To help fund these excursions, Mom had several home businesses, selling Thomas Terry cards and gifts as well as a cosmetic line called Beauty Counselor. Her pre-Christmas sales were fun for us all. As we grew older, Mom branched out as a Red Cross volunteer and a Gray Lady at the hospital. She also held many positions with the American Legion Auxiliary. She loved working with and sending kids to Boys and Girls St! ate. She and Dad had fun dressing up for the 49'ers and yes, they both loved to dance! They both also found joy in working with the Gideons distributing Bibles. And flags...she was known as the "Flag Lady of Jackson Hole"; selling flags to raise money to keep flags in every school room in the valley. She faithfully taught flag etiquette to many kids and adults. Mom was patriotic to the core, many times sharing about people and America in her column "Circling the Square" for the newspaper. After the kids branched out and Tom retired, they had many traveling adventures and were always so thankful for new friends they would meet in each country. Back home between travels, which included welcoming new grandkids into the family, they worked as a team appraising homes. Mom always said she held the "dumb end of the tape measure", but we know she did much more! As they loved being welcomed in so many countries themselves, they joined Howdy Partners, and gave many a traveler a heartfelt welcome to Jackson Hole. They had already been doing this for years in their own home, being well versed in the 2 seasons here; 9 months of winter and 3 months of company! Mom and Dad were so thankful for the Historical Society and worked to preserve the history of this valley where Grandpa George Lamb homesteaded in 1914. They were docents for the Wild Life of the AmericanWestMuseum. But the role Mom had the most fun with was being the "Pocket Lady" in the park to raise funds for the Fine Arts. The kids loved her and she them! Mom loved her church and working in it but more so she loved Jesus and seeing others learn about Him. Besides teaching Sunday School, she played the piano at church and at care homes. She and Dad would furnish the sourdough for the Sunrise breakfast each Easter. The tradition is still carried on. Mom was so thankful for those who took up the task when she could do it no longer. She was so thankful for each one! who took care of her at the LivingCenter. She was ready to meet her Jesus, husband Tom of 66 years, her oldest daughter Mary and so many others as she left us to meet them in the early hours of May 2nd. Thank you to all who had a special part in Mom's life. Though this is Mom's Thank You to all of you, this family, is so thankful for her and her life of 92 years. Thankful and left to honor her and her life are her children: Tom Lamb IV (Linda); Connie Lamb Taylor (Denny); Kerry Lamb and Tracy Lamb; son-in-law, Bob Stewart; grandchildren Stacy Bloink (Mike); Tom Lamb V (Tammie); Todd Taylor (Janelle); Dennis Lamb (Joy); Rob Taylor; Jami Stewart (Kim); Aaron Taylor (Lindsay); Jeanie Harris (Kevin); Kendal Doebler (Gabe); Jay Albritton (Leah) and a whole flock (24) of great grandkids, nieces and nephews and friends.  Oh, and a fabulous bunch of animals that she absolutely adored (dogs, cats, horses & ponies, turtles, Horned toads, Bert the bat, birds, hamst! ers, Guinea pigs, and of course bum lambs. SHE THANKS YOU ALL! Funeral Services will be onThursday, May 8, 2014 at FirstBaptistChurch on Kelly & Glenwood. Viewing at 10 am service at 11 am. Luncheon to follow service.

Video Tribute

---