June 20, 2014
Dear John, Chet, Laura, Mitch and Nori,
It was with such sadness that we heard from you about Sue’s
death. We are so very glad you reached
out to us and let us know, however, because it gives us a chance to write you
and let you know the impact she had on our lives. Our choice would have been to do this in
person, but our personal circumstances prevent that, so this letter, we hope,
is the next best thing.
I want to write first about what Sue meant to me. As I look back on my life, I can very easily
say that Sue was one of the top five women who have impacted my life. When she befriended me at church in Bend, I
was so desperately in need of a friend. We just had moved so Lynn could start
teaching at Mt. View. I knew no one and was 8 months pregnant with Becky. I felt isolated and alone and so very unsure
of myself. I don’t remember how or when,
Sue came in to my life. What I do know
is, when she did, I thought she was the wisest woman I could ever possibly
meet. She had this adorable family, a
loving great husband, a wonderful, warm and open home – everything I wanted in
my life. I was so young and
inexperienced. Sue was ever so patient
with me. I peppered her with questions
about child rearing, family life, cooking, you name it. She got me involved with a bible study at
church. I learned to love Scripture and
personal prayer because of Sue. She was
my mentor, guide and friend and I feel so lucky to have such a wise and
beautiful woman be a part of my life.
To know Sue, though, was to know her family too. The Nakadas
opened their hearts and home not only to me but also to Lynn and, first, Becky
and then Andy. To this day when we watch
fireworks, we name them – a tradition began at a Fourth of July celebration at
the Nakadas. Becky remembers floating
pine cones in the stream next to your home, watching them go under the bridge
and see them come out the other side – a delight and surprise every time! And then there was the infamous “Neko” experiment. Lynn loves cats and so Sue gave us one of
your kittens. I think she said NEKO
meant “cat” in Japanese. Well, Neko was
a handful and thought a litter box was every pillow in the house. Eventually, Neko went back to his original
family.
As I read this letter, I am sad I never told Sue how much
she meant to me and to my family. We
need to do this before someone leaves us, not after. But we want all of you Nakadas to know that
the Ellis family will never forget your kindnesses to us when we lived in
Bend. We ache for your loss. We will be praying for you.
Love,
Nancy, Lynn, Becky, Andy & Joe
(born in Eugene
1987) Ellis
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