Wow, and I thought I had a lot of friends.  Thank you all
for coming.

A friend once told me how they would place a clip on the lip of
a horse when working on the hoofs to distract the place where
the discomfort realy was.  I have a clip here, I may use in the
same fashion.  If you see me place it on my ear, please don't
interpret this as a fashion statement.  It is because I'm being
selfish.  Unlike Marva.

Marva was always thinking about others, including her children.
When Ray and Marva would leave for the evening or the weekend,
she would tell us in person, or on the phone, which was one of
her favorite tools, "there is milk in the fridge".  Speaking of
food, Marva one told us this story of a particular culture that
would belch after dinning to inform the chef of their satisfaction.
Good grief, don't tell this to the Jones clan.  We took this
information and ran with it.  After a couple of days of belching
at the dinner table, Marva put an abrubt halt to this practice.
After much protest and debate, it was agreed we could belch at
Lake Powell and only Lake Powell.  About 10 years ago, Ray, Marva,
and myself were at Lake Powell, just south of Good Hope Bay.  We
stopped and Marva made us lunch.  I'm at Lake Powell, so I belch.
Ray Belches.  And then Marva, ... farts.  I have a note here that
says of no one laughs tell them "you had to be there".  The bottom
line is, no pun intended, Marva was human after all.

Many of you may find it strange or lacking respect why I, and
my siblings, refer to our parents as Ray and Marva.  I don't
recall the particulars, but as a child I was attempting to get
my mothers attention.  I shouted "mom"!  She didn't look, because
she was conversing with someone.  Recall, if Marva was not on the
phone she was more than likely still talking to someone.  Anyway,
it was another mother that looked at me.  I tried again, yelling
"Mom".  Again, Marva didn't look, it was another persons mother.
I'm about ready to give up, when I shouted "Marva".  That got her
attention, and precedence was set.

Ray, I want you to know I have one thing better than you.  I
know you have known Marva the majority of your life, but I have
known both of you my entire life.

In conlusion I would like to say: "Look on the bright side",
there's milk in the fridge, Merry Christmas, and mom, I love you.