Amy's eulogy:

Recently I've seen coworkers, friends and family lose close loved ones, and I was always able to tell myself how lucky I was to never  have lost anybody so close to me. Unfortunately, I won't be able to say that any longer. Michele was my best friend, my party girl, my maid of honor. Michele was someone special; Michele was my sister.

I don't think any of us ever thought that Michele would be taken away from us so soon. We can look at these pictures and think of our memories of her and know how full of life she was. She had so much happiness, beauty and friends. I've talked to quite a few people these last couple days, some I've never met-- but they all have the same thing to say about Michele--she was always having fun. And to each of you she was someone special. I'm overwhelmed with how many people Michele had in her life--although I'm not surprised, after all she was a cheerleader for six years and cheerleaders were always popular. I think anybody who ever met Michele, even if it was only for a few minutes, had an instant bond to her. She was capable of making anyone feel like they were her friends forever. For example I know my husband loved her the first time her met her. The first thing he did was grab her boob!

I wish all of you could come up here and share your memories of Michele with us. I enjoyed hearing the few you've shared with me yesterday. I want to share a few memories that I have with my sister with you today. We all know Michele had an amazing beauty. I can't remember a time she wasn't in front of a camera. She was always getting dressed up posing for a picture. I remember one time there was a contest and you were supposed to send in a picture to try to model in a sales catalog. Well my Grandma Winnie wasted no time. I think we had a stack of pictures this big. Of course Michele was a little more photogenic than I was. I don't know how many people saw the  pictures of us where Michele was holding an umbrella looking all pretty and there I am with my eyes closed and my face all scrunched up. Needless to say though, neither one of us ever got that call from K-Mart.

Growing up, Michele and I shared a bedroom for quite awhile. I can remember lying in bed with her and we would always take turns rubbing each other's back. She had those long fingernails and it felt so good. I was laughing this morning thinking about it because we would always say we would switch every 30 seconds, but by the end of the night we would be fighting because one of us (usually me) would always try to get those few extra seconds. And if we would be up late, for whatever reason we did this I don't know why and I don't know if her friends from school did this with her too or not but if the clock said 11:11 we would always say, "Whoo-dey, Whoo-dey, Whoo-dey think can beat those royals, Whoo-dey, Whoo-dey, Whoo-dey think can beat those royals!!" And i will continue to always do that. And talking about Royals (that was our mascot from school), as an athlete I would always make fun of Michele for being a cheerleader. And even up until last weekend I would always make fun of her. I even got our stepsisters Nikki and Randi to join me. Michele always got mad and she claimed she didn't say it this way but to all you Elmwood cheerleaders you did say, "Go Roy-Alllllllssss!!!".

I wish I could share every story I have of her with you; everyday I shared with her was special. My bachelorette party, my wedding day, the day my daughter was born. She was there for everything and I'm blessed I got to share those wonderful days with her. But it didn't have to be a special day; Michele was glowing everyday. And I think everybody knows that and will remember her that way---up bee bopping around with a glow in her eye a hop in her step her amazing smile and her gorgeous beauty. I believe there is a reason for everything. And although I've had a hard time justifying a reason for Michele being taken away from us I knew God must have needed her. I've put two things together to figure out that need. One, everybody knew that Michele knew how much she loved her niece, Leanne. Michele was so happy to be an aunt, and I heard that from so many people yesterday. She loved Leanne more than anything; there is no question in that. The second thing was the last thing that Michele said to my husband, and that was that she needed to get a life. Well Michele now has a new life, a better life. The Lord knew that Leanne needed an extra special guardian angel to watch over her, someone to work overtime. There is nobody that could do a better job of watching over Leanne more than Michele. I am truly blessed to have Michele be my daughter Leanne's guardian angel.

Some of you may have been at my wedding reception, and if you were, you heard Michele give Bill and I a beautiful toast. Today I would like to try and do the same for her. Although it is not a celebration of marriage--it is a celebration of her life and her new beginning. "Michele this is to  you--a daughter, a granddaughter, an aunt, a sister, and a friend to all of us. You are in all of our hearts; we love you and will miss you deeply. There is a stone that was given to us that reads " a heart of gold stopped beating, two shining eyes at rest, God broke our hearts to prove, he only takes the best." Michele you truly are the best. Until we are together again, rest in peace. I love you.    __________(that last part starting with "Michele this is to you" is on her gravestone......)

      When Tomorrow Starts Without Me There

When tomorrow starts without me there, I do hope you understand, That an angel came and called me by name. Then the angel took my hand, and said my place was ready, Up in Heaven far above. and that I had to leave behind the ones I love. I left thinking of the yesterdays, Yes I thought of all the fun we had. And I thought of all the love we shared, and the thoughts took away the sad. When tomorrow starts without me there, I will be in a place that is home; It's eternity that God gave to me, and I'm not at all alone. There is a choir singing and a chapel bell above. There's a god altar here where I can say a prayer each day for the ones I love. When tomorrow starts without me there, please dont think that we're so far apart. Every single time you think of me, I'll be there deep within your heart.

Well Kirk wrote Laura a letter from jail. He says he doesn't remember anything about Michele. He doesn't remember anything about the accident. He knows nothing!! Does that suck or what?? He said when he was told about everything all he wanted to do was kill his self. That part made me cry even harder for some reason. I don't think he should ever be forgiven. I don't think he deserves to be totally hated but that doesn't mean he can ever be forgiven for taking the life of Michele. Today in biology I made a drawing and a poem that I'm gunna put in a frame and set it on her grave. I'm thinking of having my boyfriend take me over there some day soon, just the 2 of us. I told him I want him to meet her and he gave me a weird look  then he said okay. So I love you all and thats it for now.

Love Always, your little sister Nikki Faye

PS: Kirk got 3 years plus lost his license for 8 years.

Merry Christmas From Heaven

I still hear the songs

I still see the lights

I still feel your love

On Cold Wintery nights

I still share your hopes

And all of your cares

I'll even remind you

To please say your prayers

I just want to tell you

You still make me proud

You stand head and shoulders

Above all the crowd

Keep trying each moment

To stay in his grace

I came here before you

To help set your place

You don't have to be

Perfect all of the time

He forgives you the slip

If you continue the climb

To my family and friends

Please be thankful today

I'm still close beside you

In a new special way

I love you all dearly

Now don't shed a tear

Cause I'm spending my

Christmas with Jesus this year!!

Sharing In Your Sorrow

I know this time of grief

Is so difficult for you,

And thinking of you hurting

Makes my heart hurt too.

We can never really know

How another feels.

I only hope you know

That my concern for you is real.

I just wish there was something

More that I could do

To take away the sorrow

That is weighing down on you.

Although I cannot change things,

This I can extend--

My loving thoughts, my heartfelt prayers

For you, my special friend.

I get chills everytime I read these two poems over and over again. I really do think that everytime I'm reading these and everytime I'm looking at that ornament and everytime I am crying, Michele is right there beside me, crying with me. This will be my second Christmas without my sister. I've been crying every night and praying, because this is one tough Christmas. But this year for Christmas, I am thankful because this is the first year me and David have been together for Christmas, and me and Beth are actually friends, and then I have all my other *wonderful* friends that care about me. Cynthia, I still love you so much!! I'm certainly grateful for you. You were the only one there for me when Michele had her accident. I hope you never forget that last night we spent with her!! She was so happy that night. And thats all I care about. She was the happiest girl I ever knew!! I've never seen anyone more beautiful either. Beth this gift you have given me was one of the best gifts anyone has ever gotten me. Actually, I think it may be THE BEST. It really means alot to me. More than I can truly say. And when I have my own house, and I put up my first Christmas tree, hopefully you all will be there with me to hang my ~*Merry Christmas From Heaven*~ ornament. I love you all soooooo much!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Love Always,                Nikki Faye

Thanks Cynthia!! That meant alot to me! And Im sure Michele would be just as touched!! I really do miss her!! So much!!

Ya know, I remember the day after her funeral, when I woke up in the morning, I started crying, and you know why? Cuz I couldn't get out of bed! Thats how bad it hurt to lose her! I didnt even want to start the next day without her! And I still have days like that!

I dont know what I would do without you Cynthia!! Your my best friend!! I love ya sooooo much!! How could I not love you? I mean, you introduced me to David!!! lol!! If it wasn't for you....I wouldn't be this happy as I am today!!  LoL!!

I really miss ya gurl!! For New Years, I will be at my dads, and I think we should have a re-enactment of what happened last New Years!! That was soooooo much fun!! And our toasts to Michele, Meagan, and Diane, and Katies cousin....while we were DRUNK!!!!! LoL!!

Love ya!!!         Nikita Fayelynn

Currently Listening The Emancipation of Mimi By Mariah Carey Dont forget about us see related

Michele was like my very own sister. I love her to death and I would have done anything for her. She was so awesome and she is BE-A-UTIFUL. She was so athleteic. She was involved in cheerleading at Elmwood High School. She was so nice to me. I really didnt see her much but she seemed like my sister. I remember when Nikki had a party she was playing volleyball with us in high heels. She was awesome. Well I am so sad that she is gone now. I wish I could go back to that night of the party and tell her that Kirk is a bad man and he will hurt her. She mad me laugh so hard. She was such a big partier but she was awesome. I wish that she would still have been with Bill and none of this would have ever happened. She was a loving kind of person, she would do anything for anyone. She was a gardian angel to her niece Leanne. I wish she was here to have a family of her own. So i could me a so called aunt to them to. Well i am going to put in a last few words before i go. MICHELLE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH <3. I miss you.