We will dearly miss our Aunt Grace! We have many happy and funny memories that keep coming to mind. As her nephew, one of my earliest recollections was from my childhood days when my family returned from a military posting in Naples, Italy and Grace prepared us a wonderful welcome back to the USA dinner with, you guessed it, an “Italian” theme…it was quite delicious as I recall. During my college years and first tour of duty in the Navy, I lost touch some, but after an emergency maintenance period in 1982 sent my ship from Norfolk to Brooklyn for about a month, I was unexpectedly able to visit a couple of times and create a new adult relationship. Thereafter Grace would make me laugh when I would travel up from Norfolk for a visit and she would ask me how things were in the “warship department” instead of the Navy. In late 1988, after a period in California, I transferred to Philadelphia and met Carol at a work party. Just a few days later our lives became entwined together with Grace and Martin. After all they were on our first date which lasted 12 hours and included breakfast, the Army – Navy game, dinner and post-game party (with Grace setting off the car alarm in the Officers' Club parking lot trying to change her sweater in the car). In the ensuing two years we shared many fun times including Carol’s wedding shower. We were quite honored that Grace did one of the readings at our wedding. There were also a couple of entertaining family Thanksgiving dinners with Grace as the host and two crazy trips to NYC – once to Radio City and another time when she had to drag me out of the middle of Times Square as I stood there with a video camera with cars whizzing by. A few years later Grace was one of our first family members to come visit us in Pensacola after the birth of Jennifer and a new bonding took place. In the 20 plus years since then we shared many special visits, some more serious or even sad, but we were always happy to be together. Our Chinese dinner together last September still makes us smile. Our time spent was always heart-warming and something that we will always cherish. Steve and Carol McElroy
