This is the eulogy delivered at a Sunrise Baptist Church memorial service on January 25, two weeks after Debbie Lott’s passing.
Barrels of ink have been spilled contemplating what it means to have a good death. According to almost every measure, my mother Debbie Lott had a good death two weeks ago today.
Many friends visited in her last days. Some traveled great distances to do so. She had one final Christmas dinner, surrounded by family. Her children and grandchildren rushed to her bedside.
There is a saying: “Art is the fight against decay”.... I believe it to be true, and never truer than in this final flurry of expression.
Mom made her exit holding the hand of her husband of over 50 years. She was at peace with all and professed to be ready to go if those dread cancers couldn’t be fought off.
So, yes, she had a good death, but I’d rather focus here on her good life.
I am going to quote at length from a remembrance written by her husband and my father, Pastor Bob Lott, one week after her passing. I will try very hard, and probably fail, to hold off the waterworks while doing so.
She was 14 when they first met, Dad thinks, though maybe 15 as these things go. The Temple Baptist Church high school group from Portland, Oregon, was having “a waterskiing outing” at Lacamas Lake in nearby Clark County, Washington.
Now, you have to understand one “rule” of this event to make sense of what came next. Everyone had to go into the lake. If they didn’t, a certain amount of hazing was allowed and even expected. Baptists take matters involving water very seriously.
“I arrived a little late and noticed her. My reaction was, ‘Who is the new girl?’” Dad said. “She was beautiful. I didn't make a very good impression that day. I ended up pushing her in the water and getting her clothes all wet. It wasn't a great start.”
Fortunately, things got better from there!
“Over the next few years our relationship blossomed,” Dad said. “We became very good friends and had so much fun together....