Nellie Neyens ... Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Friend, Prayer Warrior, Hero Born Tuesday, March 25, 1924 in Lanagan Missouri to Aza and Ella Carter. At age 12 the family moved to Bellingham, WA. At age 18 she married her first and only true love, J. Eugene Neyens. The two met on a boat cruise, though neither of them knew how to swim. Eugene and Nellie Neyens had six children : Laura, Viola, Gary, Sam, Kay & Rita. From those six children they went on to have 17 grandchildren : Leona, David, Gordon, Danny, Bruce, Lana, Debbie, Rachel, Becky, Ray, Autumn, Tiffany, Nate, Elisha, Kendra, Nathan, Jazlyn. To date they have 8 great-grandchildren, with # 9 due in December and more to follow. In 2002 Eugene and Nellie moved from Bellingham, Wa to Stanwood, WA. where they lived with their daughter and family. They were in year 63 of their marriage when God called Eugene home in 2005. From that time to her death Mom longed to be reunited with Dad. Her earthly eyes were growing dim, missing him. After Dad's passing, Mom spent a lot of time in her flowerbeds ... The rest of her time was spent playing with her grandchildren and ensuring everyone's needs were tended to. The day before she became ill she was outside with her daughter and grandchildren, sharing thoughts and volunteering to help potty train her 2 y/o grandchild... Then went off to tend to her flowers. August 15, 2007 she became ill. She was hospitalized that same day and spent the next 6 weeks in the hospital, having 2 major and 1 minor surgery during this timeframe. Her health quickly faded and while we hated to see her go, we all longed for her to be out of pain with no more suffering ... so when God called her home at 6:15 AM, Tuesday, September 25, it was a bittersweet goodbye. She passed away at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mt. Vernon, WA., where she received wonderful care in her last hours. She will be missed greatly by her family and dear friends. She was a wonderful woman, a true prayer warrior and the very essence of what a true "christian" is suppose to be; a Godly example to all who met her. It is my honor to have known her and to have called her mom. She has always been and will always be - My Hero. Psalm 91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the LORD, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." Mom's Best Cookies: 2 cups granulated sugar 1 stick margarine or butter 1/2 cup milk 1/3 cup Baking Cocoa 3 cups Quick Oats (uncooked) 1. In large saucepan, combine sugar, margarine, milk and cocoa. 2. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Continue boiling 3 minutes, stirring frequently. 3. Remove from heat. Stir in oats. 4. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper. 5. Let stand until firm. Makes about 3 dozen.