Merrilyn Edna Gudmundson

Once again, the angels shall sing
For another woman has received her wings

Nineteen-forty-six was the year
That Grandma and Grandpa sang songs of cheer
For God delivered a new soul to a beautiful babe
February 23rd will always be a special day

Growing up on the farm, miles away
Playing with your best friend, Auntie May
Watching over siblings, Lorne, and Jeanie
With a smile that was always beaming

In sixty-seven you married a man
With Marvin J. Gudmundson, a new chapter began
A giver of life is what you will always be
A giver of life to Kerry and me

I never was the perfect child
Sometimes calm, sometimes wild
Often confused, with no direction
You guided me, without my recollection

Everything you did, was to better me
What was foggy then I can now clearly see
You wanted me to grow, to better myself
You pushed hard, and gave of yourself

And when I did fail, which was all to frequent
You would bail out and help this delinquent
When I was in distress, you brought me home
Even through great distance, I was not alone

Because of that I was able to meet the love of my life
The woman who would become my wife
The daughter you wanted, the daughter you got
We all know that you loved her a lot

When Teri and I were blessed with child
You were so happy…  you loved to smile
Spoiled and loved, that is what she would be
The perfect granddaughter is what you always did see

As things got hard, you tried not to let it get you down
You always wanted your family around
And as you could do less and less
You still felt truly blessed

I was the baby, the mamma’s boy
I got to see a lot of laughter and joy
But the real work was left to my big brother
Who loved you so much, my dear mother

From shopping to cleaning to just stopping in to say hi
He was always there for you, and I will not lie
I am thankful he was, as you were never alone
He made sure your place was not a cage, but a home

From your church family to your friends
From the Gudmundson’s to McLarty’s, love never ends
I am thankful, so thankful for everyone
Who loved this great woman, who loved my mom

It will be hard, this next chapter in life
Who to call when I am in strife?
I have dialed your number a few times now
So I could vent, about life, about pain, about how

How you could be taken from us so soon
How you will not see your spring flowers bloom
I know you will watch down and you will still guide me
But it won’t be the same, and it never will be

God reached out, and you took his hand
So that he could lead you to the promised land
Say hi to dad and to everyone above
And know that you were, are and always will be 
Loved

Once again, the heavens shall sing
This amazing woman, angel has gotten her wings

- Kent Gudmundson -