Thank you

To all our friends and loved ones;
Thank you for your support and love over the last few weeks and days. So many of you have called, brought food, or were here for the funeral yesterday.
We had a very memorable wake for Pap on Saturday night, with family and a few close community friends here to "make a toast and break the glass." Visitation on Sunday was truly a blessing as so many came by the Clement-Keel funeral home in Gainesville.
There were so many at the funeral that we were unable to visit with, but we appreciated the many, many friends who came to pay respects. Due to the wet conditions, the "graveside" Marine Honor Guard was done on the grounds of Sivells Bend Methodist Church, and dinner and visiting was at the Moss Lake Volunteer Fire Department afterward. Internment was in the Bear Head Cemetery. We are talking about a tentative Cemetery Day the first Saturday in May, to clean up the cemetery, but stay tuned for further developments.

The Solaris Hospice DME came out this morning and picked up the equipment. What a blessing it was to be able to have Pap here and comfortable until the very end.

Now to begin the next chapter for Gram. As always, your love and prayers are important as she begins her life after Pap.

Jamai

Obituary

JORDAN ED (JAY) PYBAS

Jordan E. (Jay) Pybas, 84, died February 3, 2011 at his home at Sivells Bend, Texas with loving members of his family surrounding him.

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Clement Keel Funeral Home in Gainesville, Texas, with ministers Rev. Laura Lopez-Silva, granddaughter, and Rev. Johnny Silva, pastors from Corpus Christi UMC officiating. Burial will follow at the Bearhead Cemetery in the Sivells Bend Community. Internment Ceremony will follow at Sivells Bend United Methodist Church. Pall bearers will be grandsons, Josh Freeman, Jacob Freeman, Jordan Hughes, Brian Hughes, Russell Lopez and Russell Priest and Philip Marsh. Honorary pall bearers will be John Priest, Juan Lopez and granddaughters, Amanda Hughes, Melissa Ramos, Audrey Priest, and Bonnie Freeman. Friends are invited to join the family for food and reflection at the Moss Lake Volunteer Fire Department following the internment.

Visitation will be Sunday 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Clement Keel Funeral Home.

Jay was born December 26, 1926 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the son of Jordan C. and Tressa Richards Pybas. He served in the US Marine Corps 1943 to 1945 based at Adak, Alaska. He married Barbara Davis of Cooperton, Oklahoma, August 5, 1949. They came to Warrens Bend, Texas on their wedding day, settling in the Red River bottom, acreage that had been used by the US Army for Camp Howze, 1942 to 1946. They were true pioneers as the army had removed all improvements, houses, barns and fences.

He was an innovator in his farming and ranching activities. He was a charter member of the Farm Bureau in 1952, also, a charter member in 1970 of the American Simmental association with number 773. He was an early pioneer of artificial insemination in beef cattle in 1962 which was used originally in dairy herds. Jay and Barbara held many cattle production sales focusing on pedigreed bulls for the commercial cattleman. He also worked with Texas A&M and with Eli Lily and Upjohn laboratories on agricultural research projects. He and Barbara shared a love of flying, keeping their two airplanes stored in their hay barn for easy access.

Jay served on the Sivells Bend ISD school board for 13 years, helping to complete the renovation of the school in 1953, after the Camp Howze area was sold back to former owners and more families had returned to the district. He led the formation of the Sivells Bend Community Progress Club, and was active in the Cooke County Democratic Party.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara Davis Pybas, five daughters, Margaret Lopez, Pat Pybas Priest, Lou Ann Hughes, Jamai Freeman and Grace Pybas, eleven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Jordan Ed Edward Pybas in 1995.

**Note:  Funny how many family members did not know that Dad was J. ED and Eddie was J. EDWARD.  Dad's middle name came from his maternal grandfather Ed Richards.  Eddie was named for his maternal great-grandfather Edward H. Tate.

Memorials may be made to Home Hospice of Cooke County, 1001 East Broadway Street, Gainesville, TX 76240-4237.

**CHANGE IN PLANS***

Funeral:
11:00 am Monday
Clement Keel Funeral Home, 1204 E California, Gainesville, TX
Inrternment ceremony will follow at the Sivells Bend United Methodist Church.
Friends are invited to join the family for food and reflection at the Moss Lake Volunteer Fire Department following the internment.


Wake:
Ranch, Saturday evening


Visitation:
2-4 pm Sunday, Clement Keel Funeral Home

J. E. Pybas 12/26/26 - 2/3/11

Dad passed away this morning between 4:30 and 7:15 am.  Someone had been by his side all day yesterday, reading at his bedside or talking to him, even though he had not been able to show any cognition in days.  Jamai sat with him until 2 am then I sat with him until 4:30 when I went to sleep in the den.  Pat checked on him at 4:30 am.  I woke up at 7:15 and went in to the bedroom.  He was cool to the touch but looked peaceful.  Mom was sleeping in the twin bed next to Dad.  We roused the family (Pat, Jamai, Grace, Laura, Jake, Bonnie, Mom, and me) and Laura administered the Commendation.  It was very nice to have the family members surrounding Dad's body and lifting prayers.

Then we began the day.  It is still VERY cold here and the roads north of Moss Lake are treacherous - especially Bear Head hill.  I called Hospice to let them know Dad had passed.  They said the conditions were too bad for them to come and pronounce death and I should call the sheriff.  I called the sheriff and they said it was Hospice's responsibility to declare death and Hospice would have to come out.  Meanwhile, Hospice notified the funeral home to pick up the body.  The funeral home people arrived and waited, and waited.  Finally the decision was made to transport the body and the JP would delare death later.  Hmmmm.

We sat at the kitchen table and talked about arrangements.  Funeral will be at Sivells Bend Methodist Church on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 11 am.  Laura and Johnny will conduct the funeral service, Jake plans to give a eulogy, and perhaps up to 3 more people may speak if they wish.  We will have burial at Bearhead Cemetery, but it will be slick and people will have to walk to the gravesite (wear good shoes!!).  The weather is forcast to snow/sleet here again on Monday, but hopefully no precipition on Tuesday.  We will have food at the Ranch following burial, and all friends are invited to come.  We will have visitation at Clement/Keel funeral home on Monday from 4-6 pm.  We are planning a wake on Saturday night at the ranch.  We all know Dad's instructions about taking a drink in his honor. 
See *Change in Plans* blog page
Dad's wrinkles seemed to disappear yesterday as the day went on. Last evening we remarked on how much younger he looked.  I am thankful he was able to be at home and there was lots of family around. 

The Lopez family had planned on being in Edmond this weekend for Sara's 3rd birthday but now we will have a cake here.  Juan had already made plans to fly to Dallas this morning, so he and Margaret are on their way to the ranch now.  More grandchildren will flock to the Ranch this weekend.  Sunday Sizelove has offered her lake cabin for overflow lodging.

We love you, Dad.

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2010

Brrrr. 4 degrees on the thermometer. Grace woke up around 7a, and realized there wasn't any water from the faucets in the north bathroom. Hurriedly opened the faucets, and turned on the heater, and hoped for the best. Grace and I built the fires, slept the floors, and tidied up, and about the time everyone else was up, the electricity went out. It was part of a state mandated rolling blackout because of the energy drain on the grid, but it caught us off guard. Being the resourceful women we are, we started breakfast on the wood stove (biscuits and eggs) but the power came back on while we were in the process.

During the night, Pap's breathing changed, very shallow and rapid, and Lou Ann woke me to come check on him. He has been unresponsive and not even fighting when I am taking care of cleaning and dressing him. We are now taking turns sitting with him all the time, reminiscing and talking about plans and memories. Life goes on and revolves. It is comforting to know that we circle through, still talking to and around him. Taking turns sharing and laughing and crying in turns. He is at home, comfortable and surrounded by those who love him. He never wanted to be in a hospital or nursing home at the end, and we have been able to do this for him.

Bless Mike Hargesheimer, he found a motor and fixed the heater mid afternoon and began to warm things up in the house. I went to my house to pick up a few things and was on my way back when Lou Ann texted me and said he was beginning apnea. He is breathing in an irregular pattern, short and shallow. Kussmaul for those in the medical field. We are here close, staying warm, and keeping the vigil.

Tuesday, February 1, 2010

The ice and sleet started last night about 11pm, and pounded the windows on the north side of the house. We woke up to ice and snow, and 15 degrees of cold with the Arctic cold front. Pat had been up to do emails at 6am to be sure that the employees of the Dallas Regional Chamber did not venture out on the deadly black ice, and then went back to bed. It was slumber party, with Pat, Lou Ann, Jamai, Grace, Bonnie and Laura here with Gram and Pap. We were all snuggled in and warm in front of the fire place, and a pot of hot coffee, but then, yikes! the central heater went out. We hustled around to light fires in the wood stove in the north bedroom, the cookstove in the kitchen, and a huge roaring blaze in the fireplace. Closed the doors to nonessential rooms, and worked all day at keeping those fires going. Thank heavens for electric blankets. Philip came through with a bale of hay and a bag of dogfood. Thank goodness because the dogs (all 5 of them) were cold and hungry.

Pap seemed comfortable with his hospital bed and electric blanket, except the electric blanket won't stretch across both beds, so Gram snuggles close to her husband of 61 years. He is not cognizant of who is around, but we talk to him, and let him know we are near.

Monday Jan 31

Today was a busy day with all the Hospice people coming and going.  The nurses aid came around 10 am, and she and Jamai got Dad out of bed and into the wheelchair.  Jamai gave Dad a breathing treatment, which he hates.  We had to hold his arms down so he wouldn't take the mask off and he tried to yell at us.  However, he is so weak he doesn't say much.  We got him settled in his chair for the day.  The Hospice Social Worker came and we talked about what to do at the end of life.  The Hospice Nurse came and checked Dad.  She acknowledged a considerable change since she saw him 2 weeks ago.  The Hospice DME guys came and brought a hospital bed.  The bed will make it much easier for the aids to care for Dad.  We took the queen bed out of the bedroom, and put in the hospital bed and twin bed.  We scooted the beds together so Mom can be close to Dad; hopefully she will be able to get more rest now.  Grace picked Laura up at DFW and they came up around 11 am.  Susie brought over beef/vegetable soup and Sunday brought pulled pork.  Pat arrived about 6 pm.  Jamai worked 2 to 9 and she and Jake came over to put Dad in bed.  Dad ate about 1/2 cup of BlueBell ice cream today, but did not interact much.  I sat next to him in the den and read stories from his book, and he seemed to understand.  I even think he tried to smile, but it is hard to tell.  Mom is tired, and still has some cough.  Please keep praying for God's mercies.
We are preparing for the artic blast forcast to arrive late tonight. I have stacked wood in the kitchen for a fire in the morning, and we have lots of wood stacked on the porch thanks to Celso and Matt.