Jimbo's Jots

This is what I shared at my sister’s memorial service over the weekend. We will miss her, but we take joy in knowing she knew God and was in His care her final weeks here on earth. In the picture on the left, Susie is the one on the far left.

When she was born, she was given the name Martha Sue, but we all knew her as Susie. I always called her Martha Susalena Caaaalkin. When I went into her room before her last big surgery, I walked in and said Martha Susalena and she finished it with Calkin. She was a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a niece, a teacher, a singer, a co-worker, and a patient. She was a friend of many and a friend of God. Susie was born in Newport, Arkansas on Thursday, January 10, 1957. At home waiting for her were Mom and Dad, Robert (Bob) and Patsy Calkin along with big sisters, Janet Marie and Roberta Kay. Soon after the family moved to Illinois. Then Marilyn Lee, Stephanie Renee, Osro Edwin and the favored child, James Ewell came along. Our sisters, Janet Marie Laird and Mary Rebecca Calkin preceded her in death.

After graduating from high school, Susie went on to Freed-Hardeman University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education. Upon graduation, she moved to St. Louis to begin teaching at the Christian Academy. After leaving the Christian Academy, she stayed in St. Louis and worked at various jobs around the area. It wasn’t until her health began to fail that she stopped working. She continued to work with the church at Florissant in the children’s education ministry, the praise team and the musical.

Susie was about family, food, music (especially singing), and home. Very much like her namesake from the Bible, Martha, she was hospitable and kind as she and Stephanie always opened their home and made you feel welcome the whole time you were there. She baked cookies each week for the kids’ Bible class because she felt children need a homemade cookie.

Her favorite holiday was Christmas, not just because of the presents, but also because of family being together. My wife will tell you that during the month of December, a day will not go by that I was not calling the girls or they were not calling me. It was always about being together with family, spending time together and laughing.

All of us kids appreciated music, more specific great singing. We grew up in a family that sang. Mom and Dad traveled in a singing group and took us with them most of the time. We would turn off the radio and sing whenever we travel. We even had a van that we could have painted on the side, “The Singing Calkin’s”. But that never really caught on. Until recently, we would sing whenever we got together. But schedules and hearing loss have forced us to forgo the music portion of our times together. Susie was so excited to participate in the praise team at Florissant.

There is much more that I could tell you about my sister, much of which you know. No doubt you have your own stories of Susie that you will be sharing with family and friends over the next few days, weeks and months. In a few minutes, several of us will be telling stories about her humor, compassion, and service. You will hear about waterslides, Mr. Bubble, practical jokes, free canteen and much more.

Susie went to her HOME on Friday, March 13 around 11: 30 am. Those of us were able to share in those final minutes sang her into the arms of God. However, not without the struggle of remembering the words, to which Susie would say, “That was just pitiful!!” as she would hand us a songbook and tell us which page to turn to to get it right.

I close with the words of Paul, slightly amended, that make me think of Susie.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope, [to grieve as those who have no HOME, amendment mine]. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (1 Thessalonians 4:11-14)

I believe one day we will see Susie and she along with God will welcome us HOME, just as she welcomed many to her home here on this earth.