---

I have read a lot of obituaries over the years but can't recall too many suggesting doing an act of kindness for someone. Well, such was the case for the obituary of Jo Ellen Seright. It is my hope this article fits that request, and I would encourage others to do an act of kindness toward someone in memory of Jo Ellen. “Try A Little Kindness” by Glen Campbell, Bobby Allen Austin, and Thomas Curt Spaugh rates as one of my very favorite songs and was a hit in 1969 with Glen claiming the song was the most listened to that year. Such songs are timeless!

When I notified Bud Herron about Jo Ellen, he responded with the following: “Jo Ellen was absolutely a wonderful woman, and I enjoyed working with her very much when I came by the “Hope Star-Journal” to see Charlie or help him out with something. Back then, she and June Gilliland, who also died recently, did paste-up and whatever else Charlie needed for the newspaper. They were fun people. Jo Ellen had such a wonderfully quick wit and usually said what she thought about most things. And, as a columnist, she was exactly what the newspaper needed since she knew the community so well.”

Like many in our community, I have known the Serights for some time and had the privilege of having their children, Stephanie and Samantha (Sam), as well as her grandchildren, Shaeli and Ben, in fifth grade. I would now and then stop in at her husband's shop, Joe's Small Engine Repair, to find a belt for our riding mower and always enjoyed his jolly nature. Of course, I would read Jo Ellen's weekly “Hope Star-Journal” column with the title “Slightly Off the Square” due to not living far from the Hope Town Square and possibly due to her personality according to her daughter Stephanie. While attending Jo Ellen's Celebration of Life, I noticed many of her articles, if not all, on a table which apparently the family cut out and saved. I picked up a few to read and asked Ashley Loyd if she might make a copy of one thinking I could somehow incorporate it in my “Duck Ponderings” column. Ashley quickly agreed. I am smiling while now referring to this particular “Slightly Off the Square” article.

Jo Ellen had misplaced her favorite bra: “I couldn't find the bra that I wanted to wear; I looked on the chandelier, the bedpost, and under the bed, but I couldn't find it. I finally gave up and put on a different one.” I certainly can identify with not being able to find something and don't like to think of the times spent looking for my smartphone and glasses. By now, you would think I should know the importance of always putting them in the same place; however, I continue to make the same mistakes while even returning to AH-HA Corner Cafe several times to retrieve my glasses with Amanda smiling while approaching her knowing exactly why I had returned.

Then, Jo Ellen had other problems with clothes: “I had decided to wear a skirt with two tops for the layer look. The bottom top had sleeves, and they turned out to be a tad too long. So I took the second top off, fixed the sleeves, and put the top back on. The skirt, like everything else that hangs in my closet, had shrunk just a little, but I was able to get it on without too much sucking in.” I stress to my wife not to purchase me pants larger in the waist but know sucking in one day will be impossible if I don't start exercising more frequently.

Finally, she had issues with the jewelry: “The watch I wanted to wear had quit. I found a bracelet and rings that looked good and settled for another watch. I found the necklace that I wanted to wear, but now I had another problem. I could not hook the little circle with my long nails. I put my arm behind my neck, but even with it under my nose I couldn't see it. All at once, a light bulb went off in my head. I hooked the necklace and slipped it over my head.” After purchasing a cross necklace at the Gold Nugget, I took it back and told Becca and Jackie I could not slip the fastened necklace over my big head and that my manly fingers needed a larger clasp which they were able to replace thankfully.

Jo Ellen then stated something I definitely can identify with: “Sometimes my brain takes vacations that my body knows nothing about.” It seems the older I get, the more vacations my brain takes. Just the other day, my wife asked several times, “Where are you David?”

Laughter broke out with the ending of the article, something I can't disagree with Jo Ellen whatsoever: “Men have it so easy. They take a shower, dry their hair with a towel, have a beard so they don't have to shave, and clean their nails with a pocket knife.” I thank God every day I was born a man and have the highest of respect for women!

The Norman Funeral Home pamphlet had within it a poem very appropriate to honor Jo Ellen: “I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when the day is gone. I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways of happy times, laughing times, and bright and sunny days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun of happy memories that I leave when life is done.”

Note: You may want to go to the Hope Library to read Jo Ellen's columns in the “Hope Star-Journal” archives. I have been in that section a few times and am very appreciative of the efforts to preserve the history of Hope's newspapers.