It is a rate thing, indeed, for two people to be united in friendship for 80 plus years. But that has been the case for me and Martha Anne Bauer Gray, who passed asway on June 26, in New Braunfels, Texas.
When we were children, I was in the Bauer home almost as much as I was in my own, so it seemed. Always, I felt welcomed and wanted by the Bauer family.
At first, my visits to the Bauer house were with two other friends (e.g. Jerry Simmons, Margie Jo Bradley) from the neighborhood. We knew the Bauer children were always up to something; and when our curiosity was sufficiently aroused, we'd make a Bauer visit to see for ourselves what was going on. When our visits were discovered, we were never chastised or told to go home; we were just made to feel comfortable and accepted as friends.
My Bauer visits changed in high school when they were usually made with my best friend, Teddy Gray, who had taken a liking to Martha Anne. First, the three of us would go to the "game room" for some billiards. Then, rather suddenly, Teddy and Martha Anne would depart for elsewhere in the house. I never asked "to where?" or "why?"'; that was their business.
Teddy and Martha Anne were married in their early twenties, and over several years had seven children, all of whom survive today. When he was age 60, Teddy "uncloseted" himself and lived the last eight years of his life with two men in Austin.
Teddy died in 2003; I led his memorial service and the throwing of his ashes into the lake near Granite Shoals, TX.
How Martha Anne survived the "ups and downs" of her stormy marriage to Teddy is perhaps a question I'll be asking for the remainder of my life. But for now, my succinct answer is: She survived because she was an exceptionally strong woman, with solid values and a consistent desire to do what she thought best for her children.
I had not seen Martha Anne for at least five years prior to her death. But I did keep up with her during that time, mainly through daughter Madeline Gray Smith of south Alabama.
Thank you, Jesus, for including Martha Anne Bauer Gray in my life. I have been truly blessed by her and find comfort now in knowing she is enjoying her heavenly blessing.
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