Betty J. East

Funeral service for Betty Jean East, 83, will be 1 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2015, at Gray Brown-Service Mortuary with Dr. Scott Whetstone officiating. Burial will follow at Forestlawn Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. to night. Mrs. East passed away Tuesday in Trussville.

Survivors include her daughter, Cheryl Hays (Gary); grandchildren, Josh and Zach Hays; sister, Jackie Angel.

Mrs. East is preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Hubert H. East; parents, Harry and Sarah Timmons; brothers, Glenn and John Timmons; sisters, Margaret Martin, Marion Hitt and Carol Rust.

Pallbearers will be Josh and Zach Hays, Bobby Wages, Mike Knight, Cabot Holt and Joe Hays.

Mrs. East was a lifelong resident of Eastaboga and a devoted member of New Haven Baptist Church. I have realized one very important aspect in my life, God doesn't ask or need our input to carry out his plan. He formed us in the womb, and knows exactly when to call us home. So when I prayed for complete healing for my mom, He answered my prayer, but the complete healing had very different perspectives. To know my mom was to love her. She didn't meet a stranger and she seldom complained. She truly loved her family and friends and was one of the most unselfish people I knew. She baked the best pound cake ever and her snowball cookies were often requested, especially for the holidays.

Due to illness, mother had lived with us these past 6 months. Even though she was hospitalized several times and very ill, we loved having that time with her. We went from watching Fox News, to watching Wheel of Fortune, The Waltons, and everyone knew the big screen was designated for the Hallmark Channel. On Tuesday, we went for a walk per her request. For the first time we took a short stroll outside, the weather was beautiful. She looked and felt better than she had in several months. We laughed as we climbed the stairs, she had no need at that time for the oxygen they recently brought to the house and she settled in to watch The Waltons. I never had the chance to hear her voice again. While the paramedics worked, a single dove took watch in our yard only to fly away when they left.

That night, as I entered her room, I saw a perfectly made bed, covered by a hand painted quilt. On the center, was a pillow made form a yellow shirt my dad used to wear. For months, that shirt stayed in a box in the closet. The reason? "I don't want it to get dirty" she said. I don't know why it appeared on her bed that night. Perhaps she knew she was going to her eternal home to see her Lord and Savior and my daddy. Maybe that was her way of telling us goodbye. I cannot imagine going through the valley without a savior to carry us through, but joy does come.

We love you mom and you brought that joy to everyone. I will see you again and I can just hear my daddy saying, "Shorty, what took you so long!"