When I first met Zelma I knew this was no ordinary woman.  I was constantly amazed by her and as the years went by the amazement increased.

She was pretty, energetic, proud, creative, charitable and loving.  She loved music and poetry and was blessed with a sense of humor beyond description.

Thinking of her brings back memories of wonderful Sunday dinners and the traditional Sunday evenings eating home grown, home canned, peeled apricots with hot chocolate and toast.

I have many memories of her caring for her friends and neighbors and realizing that these acts of service were as natural to her as breathing.

She loved gardening, working in her flowers early in the mornings and picking raspberries.

Zelma was very creative.  Whatever she needed she made.  No project was too big for her.

David often read poetry to her and she loved it.  She would lean back in her chair, her eyes would get all watery and it was as though she was a million miles away.

Her patio was her stage.  She would sit out there and tell stories and perform with her grandchildren and we would all laugh until we were exhausted.

Zelma was a great cook, even though she didn't like doing it.  She always said she hoped we didn't have to eat in the next life.

There was a special time that we spent together.  Whenever our husbands went to the lake fishing we would go to lunch wherever she chose and then just sit around and talk.  It always gave me great pleasure to do something special for her and to spend time with her.

Every summer when her children were growing up she had a load of sand and a load of board ends dumped in her back yard for the neighborhood to play in.  Roads and bridges were built for months.

At Christmas time reindeer prints were put in the snow that was on the roof to prove that Santa had been there.  Zelma went the extra mile in whatever she did.

My mother-in-law knew how to make a home.  Anyone entering felt welcome and loved.  She was the example of what I wanted my home to be.

She put being a housewife and mother in their proper place.  A place of honor.  We need more Zelma's in this world.

It is with praise, honor, respect, admiration and love that I pay this tribute to her, my mother-in-law and mom, Zelma Hunt.