Posted by
William D. Dannenmaier on Saturday, March 20, 2010 7:13:41 PM
Whoever reads this should stop and consider people they have known. How many were persons of whom you could say nothing but good: people who had never done or said anything of which you disapproved? Not many I bet. That is why Thurman and Nell or so special to me. In the sixteen or seventeen years since I met them I have never known either to say or do anything that I didn’t approve of or enjoy.
Nell did not make a great first impression, at least on me. I saw a middle-aged, grossly overweight woman sitting against the wall, about half way between the entrance and the podium of the community center. I didn’t notice Thurman at the time. In fact, I didn’t really notice Thurman for several weeks even though he attended, as did Nell, all meetings of the Community Center. Thurman sat in the back, as close to the exit as he could get and never said a word.
I came to appreciate Nell. At that time the Community Center had bands that came every month and played for the community for free. It was very nice of them. Then I learned that it was Nell who arranged for these musicians to donate their time and talents to our community, a community in which few of them lived. They all liked Nell and came to please her. It seems that in her youth Nell had sung with a country music band, she knew everyone in the business and they all knew – and liked – her. One night she got up on stage, at the band’s request, to do a number. Nell could sing, she could also yodel. She was good. But I still didn’t know her personally.
Then came the fall barbecue. It was Nell who set up booths (throwing darts at balloons, fishing for prizes) for the children. Nell not only set up the booths, she paid for the prizes the children won. Working the “fish” booth at her request, I came to appreciate this woman. As poor as her health was, she was a severe diabetic which accounted for her weight problems, she was always willing to work to help someone else or the community.
In the years I knew and worked with Nell at various events, I never heard an unkind word from her or a critical remark about anyone else. Nell was a great lady.
It was during one of the fall barbecues that I began to appreciate Thurman. I had driven my four-wheeler down to where men were building a fire to produce the hot coals necessary to roast a pig: it takes all night to cook a whole hog, and requires a lot of coals. Thurman and two other men were there. A stack of wood nearby needed to be cut into smaller pieces. As I had my chain saw with me, I began cutting. Thurman, without saying a word, came over to where I was working and began getting the pieces out of my way and setting up the planks to make it easier for me to cut them, all without saying a word. In the mean time, the other two men were busy telling each other about their hunting exploits. Thurman and I both half listened. Finally, Thurman leaned over and asked, “Do you think either one believes anything that they are saying?” I nearly doubled over, not smart when a running chain saw. Thurman had a wonderful, insightful, dry wit.
As years passed, I enjoyed the times I sat with Thurman on the bench outside the Center. There was little conversation, just pleasant companionship mixed with occasional conversation. Thurman’s comments were always thoughtful and laced with a dry wit. As with Nell, I never heard an unpleasant or critical word from him about anyone.
Nell died a few years ago and since then I have rarely seen Thurman. He came to Community Center, I suppose, to be with Nell. Sheila says he was her anchor. They were a wonderful pair. I heard that after Nell’s death he left their home and refused to return, staying with children. Recently I learned that Tamra, one of the young ladies who are so pleasant and helpful at Murphy’s grocery, is married to their grandson. She tells me that Thurman is alive and well and still walks the farm every morning, regardless of weather. She is too young to have known Nell, or for Nell to have known her, but she would fit into their family wonderfully, both Nell and Thurman would be proud of her as she would be proud of them.