Page 40 - 586341 Sun City_Sept 2016
P. 40
TO THE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN OF JOHN VIERS A LOVE OF GOLF, AN INDEPENDENT
SPIRIT AND A ZEST FOR LIFE
I met your great grandfather in June mashed - were served for 100 children and
of 1990. It was cold in Cleveland, so we staff. Great grandfather said he would “Papa has passed
got to know each other talking at the never forget cleaning out the potato bin.
kitchen table. It was here that your great When the bin was almost empty, he had on to me his love
grandfather started to tell his story. to climb in and scrub it out, removing the
rotten potatoes that stuck to the bottom. of golf. I remember
In 1921, when your great grandfather
was about four years old, his father died Your great grandfather saw his mother from a very young
in a roofing accident. Back then, if the about every two weeks, when she would
sole provider for a family died, it was very commute via bus from Cleveland to age, going to the
difficult for a family to stay together. Your Springfield. As the years progressed, her
great grandfather was sent to the Knights visits decreased to zero. driving range with
of Pythian Children’s Home in Springfield,
Ohio - 150 miles away. After 15 years, great grandfather was my grandparents
retired from the orphanage. He lived with
He didn’t know that four of his siblings had an older sister, got married and joined Addie when I would visit
also arrived there. It would be four years the Army. He used the metal skin from a them. With Papa by
before he saw his younger brother. Children downed aircraft and the tip of his bayonet
were “retired” at age 18 so by then, only his to record the sequence of his tour of duty. my side, I slowly learned how to swing
younger brother was there. In 1944, he was awarded the Silver Star
for gallantry in Bougainville. a club. Papa attended every single golf
The children were kept busy. Each job
that could be simple was made more time Daneen Viers tournament I played in and even played
consuming. Potatoes - never baked, always
with me on the weekends for extra practice.
Papa’s passion for the game of golf inspired
me to play the best golf I could each time I
picked up a club. I am so grateful he has
passed along his love for such a wonderful
sport to me.”
~Addie (granddaughter), 24
“Mema has shown
me how to stand
up for myself as
GRANDDAUGHTER GIVES ADVICE TO HER PAPPY a young woman
in today’s society.
increased heart rate and a substantial Mema has always
drop in blood pressure. She was put on
a ventilator and sedated until stable been an example of a
enough to undergo emergency surgery to
remove her colon. Once back in the ICU, Nora leader and a strong
tubes were inserted into each lung to woman. She ran for
drain excess fluid, and she was placed
on dialysis. Tatum spent a total of 39.5 Congress during a time when women were
days in ICU, followed by a return to the
oncology unit for a total of 91 days in not heavily involved in politics, and she has
Dallas Children’s Hospital.
always advocated for the equal treatment
Tatum was released on January 4,
2016, having endured more than any of women. Following her example of a
four-year-old should. Through it all,
she was braver than most adults. She strong independent woman, she inspires
will continue chemo for the next two
years, but she’s a trooper and handles me to continue to work hard every day.
it in stride. Because she was sedated
for nearly 40 days, regaining use of her From proving myself on the soccer field
legs will require more therapy. For now,
she uses her walker like a pro. as a female college athlete to putting the
David Teague and granddaughter Recently, I was diagnosed with time and effort into academics, Mema
Tatum prostate cancer. Before beginning
treatment, I called my now five-year- has helped shape me into the woman I
On October 6, 2015, my four-year-old old granddaughter to ask how I could
granddaughter Tatum was diagnosed be as brave as she. Tatum said, “Pappy, am today.”
with acute lymphoblastic leukemia just turn your head to the side, close
(ALL). Tatum began her 28 day phase your eyes and go to sleep.” I think that ~Nora (granddaughter), 19
of induction chemotherapy as an in- was pretty good advice.
patient at Dallas Children’s Hospital, “Mema and Papa
as she also developed a bone infection David Teague
in her right leg and could not walk. have taught me
Though a physical therapist had begun
helping Tatum to regain use of her how to live life. Life
leg, therapy was short-lived after her
large intestine became inflamed. Her throws curve balls
doctors prescribed a strict diet of no
food or drink and paused her chemo. when you least
Early on the morning of October 31,
Tatum was rushed to the ICU with an expect, and often
they make little to
Ryan no sense. Value the
people around you,
create lasting memories and live in the
moment because that is all you will ever
be guaranteed.”
~Ryan (grandson), 22
The Grandchildren of
Kim and William Moran
388 | SUNRAYS SEPTEMBER 2016 ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
