Michelle Lynnette Acrea Brown

Good afternoon everyone, on behalf of Robert and Anna Marie, I thank you for coming here to celebrate the life of Michelle Lynnette Acrea Brown…. Devoted and loving wife of Robert Brown … mother to Anna Marie; daughter of SJ Acrea and Cherie George; sister of Shayne Acrea and his family including Delcy, Grant, Carter and Zak Acrea. Sister-in-law, aunt, colleague, and dear friend… to so many.

As the family and many friends gathered to care for Michelle in these last weeks, it was particularly heart-warming to experience the support from so many of you here today; and to hear the stories that made up the rich fabric of the Michelle's life with Robert and Anna Marie. Of course those warm feelings and stories were largely a result of the extended family including the staff at Mortgage Master and other dear and important friends:

On behalf of Robert and the entire family, I want to extend our personal thanks to those who stay with Michelle through the night:

Vicki Keough Tanya Hatten SJ Acrea

Dave Tredo Carole and Doug Tredo Delcy and Shayne Acrea Trish Adams Robert and Anna Marie stayed, of course

Marilyn Porter Deanna Pullen Bob Acrea

Marilyn and John and the staff of Mortgage Master, you all went above and beyond in so many ways and a special thank you to all of you.

Denise Franklin, your music holds memories that are very dear to Robert, thank you for brining your music to inspire us. Katharine Setterfield, your love is known and appreciated, especially in the Poem you wrote for Michelle that David Tredo, Robert's brother, will read. And speaking of David, your organizational skills and planning abilities shuttle diplomacy, etc were put to good use in these last days and deeply appreciated by everyone.

We want to thank Trish Adams who was there for Michelle and helped shuttle Michelle and Anna Marie to and from appointments stopping by the house to offer words of support and comfort.

And to Dean Campaan -- Dean you were always cheering Michelle up even getting mashed potatoes and gravy, just because Michelle wanted it. Not to mention all the other ways you showed your love and concern.

Shayne and Delcy – every trip you made to visit Michelle in recent years added joy beyond measure especially when Grant, Carter and Zak could join you.

Robert and all of us appreciate the many many hours that Vicki and Tanya spent tending to Michelle so Robert could take a few days to work. Because of them Robert was able to keep a roof over the families' head and know that Michelle would be comfortable in his absence. Michelle's parents Cheri and SJ hold a special place in Robert's heart too. You know the many and personal ways you cared for Michelle and the families as they came and went.

And to Carol and Doug, Robert's parents thanks for coming back from you're your home in Arizona to help and support as only you could do for all of us.

The special friendship of Tony Kopp and Craig Hone go back many years and the technical skills that produced the video you'll see is nothing short of fantastic. Thanks to both of you from the bottom of our hearts.

Then there are “Thanks” to everyone who came by to cheer Michelle and bring food. Your kindnesses will always be remembered. Forgive me if I omitted anyone.

Through the love expressed by so many of you we learned how deeply Michelle touched everyone who met her. These weeks and months have also been filled with amazing discoveries – about the importance of family and extended family; the sacredness of life; we learned lots about ourselves, and we gained a much deeper appreciation for Michelle, Robert, Anna Marie; and indeed, for each other.

This time together gave us a chance to bring together photos and to re-discover our fondest memories for Michelle. We laughed and we cried to hear many of the good times that Michelle, Robert and Anna Marie enjoyed together and with friends.

You will note in the program that we have put the pictures into a video. This would not have been possible without the many hands to find and select the photos. The family and I also want to thank Craig Hone and Tony Kopp; Vicki Keough and Tanya Hatten; and Trish Adams who did the picture boards and technical work on the video. This video is very special and Craig had a chance to add something at the end of it I think makes it all the more so special . It is so special, in fact, that I have taken the liberty to place the video at the end of this memorial service rather than show it now.

Words from the Heart

Several years ago a book came out that has remained very popular among people of all ages, It's title is: Everything I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten . It's filled with stories about how life is a lot less complex than we try to make it. Let me say that one more time. It's filled with stories about how life is a lot less complex than we try to make it.

Well, in reviewing Michelle's life in stories and photos I realized something. It became apparent to me that All We Really Need to Know We Learned from Michelle. Let me explain . . .

First, I will turn to Fulghum's book where he describes the lessons we all learned in Kindergarten. You will recognize these lessons. A little later I am going to turn to you to tell fun and fond memories of Michelle that show the lessons she taught us just by her presence. Your stories will show specific characteristics and behaviors about Michelle that gives us amazing lessons for living. I will tell you when its time for you to do that.

First Robert Fulghum:

**Share Everything

**Play fair

Did we ever see a time when Michelle didn't share and play fair? Well, some of you probably have stories, but I'm not inviting you to tell those today . . . My real point here is whether it was calling friends often to check in on them or share their home and their food, everyone knew – more importantly, that Michelle and Robert shared themselves fully.

The next two lessons go together two…

**Put things back where you found them

**Clean up your own mess (Why are those the hardest lessons???)

You all know Michelle was an immaculate housekeeper and attentive to all the details whether at home or at work. She never lesft a mess for someone else to clean up. I think the next lesson we all learned in kindergarten would make Michelle laugh out loud. He simply states:

**Flush

This is not only literally true, but there are times in life when one has to metaphorically flush away the old to make room for the new. There was a certain matter-of-factness about Michelle that we loved and we can all learn from it.

Anna Marie, Grant, Carter, Zak kids of all ages, you two SJ . . . .are going to love the next one:

**Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you

Michelle understood this lesson well – it is simply good to pamper ourselves and enjoy the good things in life while we can.

The next two are more serious; but Michelle nailed both of them.

**Live a balanced life – every day learn some, think some; draw and paint and sing and dance; and work some too. This is where Robert came into her life. And Robert -- on behalf of Michelle's immediate family I want to thank you for coming into Michelle's life and giving her everyday of your life the love and support that honored her love for you. Robert told me and others how Michelle lighted up his life and was the center of his entire existence. We are grateful to you, Robert, for caring so much.

**When you go into the world watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Well, I think you all know how clearly that applies to the Michelle's life and every one of you have a personal story of your own to prove it.

I hope you see why these bits of wisdom remind me of Michelle. I think she was always first to demonstrate and live her life according to these golden rules. And I am sure you think so, too.

Others Words from the Heart:

I told you earlier that the second part of “Words from the Heart” is to have you reflect on Michelle's life. I got this idea from a small scrape book of photos from Michelle's early life in Iowa . So you could see what I mean, I asked Carol Tredo, Michelle's mother-in-law, to set these words in calligraphy. Here they are:

M iss-chievious

I ntelligent

C harming

H appy

E legant

L ovable

L aughing

E xtra Special

Please look in the program at the bottom of page of the right had page, see all those words – you may have some of your own, but on behalf of everyone, I invite you to share a fun and fond memory of Michelle that reflects a quality that Michelle exemplified while she was with us.

First up is Denise Franklin who is going to offer a special song:

“I Cherish You” .

<SONG>

Thank you Denise.

Now you are invited to share your fun and fond memories :

Others:

Tanya Carol Marilyn or John

Owen Adams Vicki Tony

Special Music Requested by Anna Marie Joe Nichols “I'll Wait for You”.

Before we go into the readings, Denise's other songs, and the closing video, Robert, the family members and I want to invite you to come to the reception that is being held at Henry's Switch at Lake Wilderness Golf Course. The address is in the program and the directions are printed for you to pick up from the table new the front door. Please understand that the family is leaving immediately after the video and it is our sincere hope that you will join us at Henry's Switch so that we may greet you in a setting that is appropriate for this celebration of Michelle's life.

In closing, The whole point of this service is to celebrate Michelle's life because that's what she would have us do. Fun and Fond memories fill our minds and they live on – in our hearts, and in our imaginations… and that is to be celebrated. No life is over if it makes a memory. May we each adopt a special quality of Michelle's and carry it forward in her honor.

Her Beauty read by David Trdo

Denise Franklin's other Songs

The Closing: The Video

Family Interment Ceremony

Dear Family and Friends,

On behalf of Michelle, Robert, and Anna Marie, I thank you for your comfort and support during these many years and recent weeks and days. We all new Michelle in our own unique ways. She was a blessing to each one of us with her humor, her compassion, her love and her humanity to everyone. We will remember her in many ways. I won't recount all of them now, but later this afternoon with you and those gathered to Celebrate her life. Except for one quality I want us to keep in mind that -- Michelle believed in you. She believed in you. She believed in you . That is a quality of her spirit we must always celebrate and we should all strive to emulate it. We should carry that quality of believing in self and others into the days, weeks, months and years ahead of us so that the memories we have will be honored. How you honor Michelle will be your testimony to her love. May we all do this by believing in ourselves and in each other to the best of our ability whether its doing our best in school or our best in our jobs or our return to the daily routine of our lives. For we have been blessed by one of God's angles in the form of Michelle Brown.

At the close of this brief ceremony I will conclude by saying these words:” and together we all say”, and then we all say “Amen”.

Paulette's Guardian Angle Picture

Ask everyone to say “Let it be so” time I pause

We are gathered here for a very special purpose

To say “thank you Michelle”, for gracing our lives with love and laughter; for being a loving companion to Robert and mother to Anna Marie.

We are here to acknowledge our mutual loss and to honor the pain we feel by her absence because it shows the depth of our love and emotional bonds to her that will continue.

The Wisdom teachings tell us: Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Therefore, let us look each other in the eyes and be comforted because “we learned that angles are real because through Michelle we experienced an angelic presence”.

We are also gathered to let go of our physical connection to Michelle and to trust our memories and to hold fast to the truth and goodness of the love she shared with us and everyone who knew her.

We commend now the life and the spirit of Michelle into eternity and into the loving arms of her guides and guardian angle. We pray that God the Father and God the Mother and God the holy spirit receives Michelle into the tender care of spirit and that we who remain on earth will be blessed and comforted in the coming days and years. This we pray in the spirit of truth and holiness, And together we all say, Amen.

As a symbol of our love and the living memories we have of Michelle, we place a flower as a token of our love and remembrance of her. Let us always remember that no life is over if it makes a memory.

Our Father

Our Father, who are in heaven,

Hallowed by thy name,

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive

Those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory for ever.

Amen