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OPINION
There’s something special about all the florists I’ve known thus far in life. Perhaps its because they work round the clock using their God-given talents to create beautiful arrangements that will surely bring joy, happiness and comfort to those who receive them.. Its as though they transfer some of the beauty and joy that is within them to the lovely creations they make. Such seemed to be the case for a long-time local businesswoman and resident, Barbara Stevens. I’ve known this brilliant “rose” of a lady since about my first week of working at this newspaper – which would date us back to October/November, 1981. Barbara, always a rose of a beauty herself, just seemed to emit graciousness, cheerfulness and love. I always felt so welcomed at her shop, Security Florist- whether I was delivering a newspaper, picking up ad copy or ordering flowers. I remember her caring ways, for instance, when my late stepfather was first diagnosed with cancer, and how the whole Stevens family (and extended family) at Security Florist were so kind and supportive of all of us when he lost his battle with cancer. Perhaps that why we were so saddened when we learned Barbara had been diagnosed with cancer. She was so warming and caring with us, and we tried to reciprocate. You feel so very helpless when someone you care about is given such a dreaded prognosis. Yes, these days, a lot of folks do survive their cancer diagnoses, and others live longer than they might have previously, thanks to a lot of improvements in fighting cancer, which are wonderfully funded, in part, by the American Cancer Society. Two weeks ago, in our special Relay for Life section inside the paper, I wrote about two cancer-diagnosed people who would be in my thoughts during this year’s Relay- a friend and neighbor, Richard Freeman, who only had weeks to live after his diagnosis. The other person was Michael Downing- one of the most well-known young people to come from the Fountain Valley, who “went public” in his up-and-down fight with cancer, starting with when he was diagnosed- at the time he was a member of the Fountain-Fort Carson High School Trojan football team. And now, sadly, Barbara will join the countless others who shall be remembered dearly- not just during the Relay’s luminaria ceremony next year, but all the time. She is one more face in a crowd that mustn’t continue growing- we must find a cure and in closing, that’s why I am so thrilled to know that this year, you, the wonderful, beautiful people of the Fountain Valley area, raised about $55,000 at the Relay Friday night. I have to think Barbara’s spirit was there, with the others- Richard Freeman, Michael Downing, my late stepfather Carl H. Wiese, his co-founder at this newspaper- H. Kay Larson, who died of cancer just months before I joined the staff back in 1981- the month I first met Barbara Stevens. In closing, I want to express our deepest sympathies to all of Barbara’s family, most of whom have/do continue running the family’s business, as well as their long-time staff members/friends, and all who held Barbara dear in their hearts. She will be greatly missed, but more important, she will be fondly remembered, for her lovely, caring ways, and her beauty and grace- she truly was a rose of a lady! CONTACT THE WRITER • PATRICIA@FTNVALLEYNEWS.COM |
