Carolyn P Harper

I would also, like for everyone, to keep my brother, Sean in prayer. He is not here today, because he is currently in the hospital.

We always knew what an amazing, generous and kind mother, MOM was, and, this last week, the outpouring of love and support, has proven this to be true.

Mom, cared deeply for everyone she knew, whether you were her family, friend, neighbor and in some cases, complete strangers.

I would like to read some verses from the bible, that my mom, throughout my life,would say to me.

A TIME FOR EVERYTHING

Ecclesiastes-3verse1-8

1For everything there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven.

2A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

3A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

4A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

5A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

6A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

7A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

8A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace.

My MOM was someone I, personally, looked up to, all of my life, sick child -make a call,

unusual cough-make a call. Favorite dish, make a call, MOM ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE THE ANSWER. My TWO sons, Zachery and Collin, always looked forward to coming to Arizona, for gramma's cooking,

They would ALWAYS’S, compare my cooking to gramma’s, and say “well gramma, doesn’t do it that way.”

Collin & Zach, were so fortunate to have ,had spent time with grandma, when they were little, painting bird houses, Coloring Easter Eggs, MAKING 4thof July decorations & countless other activities, grandma could think of, to keep them busy, “AT GRAMMAS HOUSE”., when we would drive over from California, to visit.

There was one Easter Sunday, while we were sitting at the table, having dinner, Gary, my husband, out of curiosity, asked gramma “Have you EVER had an earthquake here?””…….. Within the same breath, as gramma was saying ”no, not that I can recall”, The table, the chairs, the windows, the ceiling fan, were all bouncing up and down. Only, within moments, to hear, that a 8.0 magnitude earthquake just happened in Baja, California!! Which, turned out to be about a 4.5 in Phoenix, AZ. We weren’t frightened at all, we just thought it was really funny, How it happened, at that very moment.~~~ An, Easter at grammas house, we will never forget.

She adored and loved her grandchildren with genuine passion, and had a special bond with each one of them.

Our MOM, Carolyn, was a beautiful person, inside and out. She,was never one to put herself before others, and always, saw the good in everything, and always, encouraged others to do the same..

MOMwas charitable, considerate and kind, AND every time MOM had a chance, if shenoticeda neighbor was having a baby,she would collect clothes of ALL SIZES, regardless, if it was a girl or boy, walk them “over across the street”. She did this for years.

When I was little, MOM, was always involved in something. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, teaching Sunday school and through BIRTHDAY PARTIES, that were always, one of a kind….

MOMwas caring, thoughtful, hardworking, compassionate, loving, believed in Jesus Christ as her Savior, , which, we all know, her favorite bible verse being John 3:16.

It is so difficult to think of all of the words, that described my MOM, as a person and how much she meant to us.

My MOM was a homemaker her entire life, and many people don’t think of this as a “job”, but I can tell you, we always believed, she worked harder than most mothers, I know. As I witnessed myself. With dad, being in the military and even after he retired, we moved all the time, all over the United States. She was always ready to go, no matter where or what part of the country, we were moving to. Packing & moving, over at least 15 times in my life, as child, well into high school. SHE WAS ALWAYS READY TO GO. My favorite early childhood memory, is mom, ALWAYS dressed “her girls”, Candace , Cindy and I, in the same outfits. From as early as I can remember, yellow pantsuits, check skirts with white blouses, matching pink dresses, whenever we WOULD ,JUST pack up at go.

My brother, Sean, on the other hand, always just “went along”, whatever, momma was doing, that was “A okay” with him. Sean, was the cutest little brother, in the whole wide world.

I remember, when mom and dad, had first told us “we were going to have a baby”, in the house, I was about 9 years old, living in Little Rock, Arkansas. Candace, Cindy and I, were like the giddiest little girls on the block!! We rode our bicycles, up and down the sidewalk, telling anyone who would listen, “we are going to have a baby”!!

He showed up on New Years Eve! 1969. We had this big wooden rocking chair, I rocked with him next to me, as often, as mom would allow.

Funny thing, just a few weeks ago, Sean, mom and I were talking, on the patio, one of her favorite places at home. About the time that we were moving to Puerto Rico, I was about 14 years old. Sean being, I think 5. Mom, told all of us we were going to MIAMI, then to Puerto Rico. Couple years later, on the way back to the states, dad says “We are going to Miami”. Sean quickly corrected dad, No Daddy, Its MOMS AMI~~. Another cute moment from Sean.

MOM. worked hard to raise her family, and was very dedicated. She was up early to help get us all ready for school, was there to drive us home, make dinner, help us with our homework, and put us to bed. She made sure that we studied hard and were always signed up, for a variety of activities, softball, volleyball, which she, along with dad, always gave us 100% support, whether we were struggling, or doing really well.

Mom, taught me a lot of skills that I will always be thankful for, most of all how to be a loving mother.

However, she also taught us about cooking, baking, sewing, Remarkably, she always manage to make, my sisters and I brand new dresses and pants, for school, during most of our childhood. We even learned how to grow our own vegetables and fruit, in the gardens we would have, in several places that we lived. I will never understand where or how she always had the time to do these things for our family, but she did! With a smile on her face, and always making everything appear “simple”

When we were little, we loved to help mom in the kitchen, mom never had any formal training, but I also told her, she could write a cookbook. You would believe that she was a trained chef, or something, because, again, appear “SIMPLE”.

Another, one of my most wonderful memories as a little girl, was Dad, being a scout master, most of our childhood. This was so much fun, making camp fires, roasting marsh mellows, to make my first ever S’MORE! WOW! You would have thought we hit pay dirt! Going camping, taught us girls so many, extra ordinary things! Most importantly, NEVER MAKE PEACH COBBLER, in a cast aluminum pot with a lid , and forget about it!! Because, the whole thing is gone, when you get back to it! Not because the animals got it, but because, it all melted into the bottom of the fire pit!!

We were all very fortunate in this way, when it came to starting our own families. .

WE LEARNED many valuable life lessons,

When I was younger I wasn’t able to comprehend how much time and care she put into her family. Now that I have children of my own, I can truly appreciate the amount of effort she put in to raising us, and for this, I will always be appreciative.

She has touched the lives of so many people and even though she is gone, all our fun and adventurous, memories, will live on, in all of our hearts, forever. Her spirit has not left us. Everyone who was ever touched by my mom, in some way, in his or her lifetime,

should have faith, that she will be watching over them, because that is just the kind of person MOM, truly, was. Adventurous, caring, loving, Incredible mom, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister and most of all, FRIEND.

Take comfort in knowing that right now, she is in heaven, breathing in

huge breaths of air. For now, at this moment, we know she is feeling fantastic, rejoicing, and probably singing at the top of lungs, her favorite songs, because that was one of themany things she loved about life. Singing!

I feel like I could stand up here all day, speaking about my mother.

She was my mother, but also my friend.

I will miss her every day for as long as I live.

The Special Angel Carolyn Pearl Harper-Blinn ascended to Heaven July 28, 2015. She is survived by her husband of 56 and 1/2 years by Marion F Harper Jr. (Bud) They were married in Newkirk, Oklahoma on December 20, 1958. She is survived by Daughters, Cynthia Ayala of Tucson, AZ, Tammy Gladd of Corona, CA, Candace Gruber of Beavercreek Township, OH, Son, Sean Harper of Glendale, AZ, Brother, Harvey Blinn of Hurst, TX and Sister, Olivia McDaniel of Wichita, KS. She is also survived by two Granddaughters, and four Grandsons. She was proceeded in death by her parents, Edgar Blinn, and Ada Blinn, three sisters, Marilyn Krauter, Sherilyn Jackson, and Evelyn Chadwick. She lived in Glendale, AZ for more than 20 years. Before that she was always with her husband in many different parts of the United States because of the type of employment he had. She was a devoted mother of four wonderful children. She enjoyed collecting dolls, bears, baby blankets, and various pieces of baby clothing. Most of which she gave away to individuals that had a need. She was passionate in helping others. Memorial Service will take place Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at FDA-Greer Wilson Chapel, 5921 W. Thomas Rd. Phoenix, AZ. 85033 from 9-11:30 am. Followed by inurnment at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85023 1:30 pm.