Book of Memories for Linda Joyce Apman

Condolence From Suzanne (Long) Hubbard

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 19:57:26 EDT

Sonny, I was so sorry to hear about the loss of Linda. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. Suzanne (Long) Hubbard, Former General Manager, Perkins Restaurant Stillwater, Ok

Memorial Candle lit by Geraldine Jacob

Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:14:31 EDT

Deanie and Larry Jacob

Condolence From Deanie Jacob

Sun, 13 Jul 2014 12:03:52 EDT

7-8-2014 To the Family: I wanted to share this with you because I was sitting with Linda before Jesus took her home. I wanted to share the words I spoke to her in hope it will comfort your hearts: Also, I was checking my text the evening after Linda passed. I sent this text to her on 7-5-14 it said Good morning my love. Praying for you. I’m going to come see you next week possibly about 2 on Monday. I love you Linda Gods Speed. Deanie ; This was a God thing because Sonny called me on Monday morning and ask if I could come at 2 to sit with her and I said I will be there. Sonny had no idea I had sent that text. Thank You for allowing me to be there to sit with this loving friend. The Blessed Hour As I sit down in this sun filled room the light shining on the face of this sweet beautiful, gracious, and loving lady. My thoughts were what a gift she has been to all. The prayer I prayed with Linda was for peace, love, and no more suffering. I hugged her and held this precious, precious, loving friends hand. As I lay my head on the rail of the bed I said to Jesus thank you for allowing us to be in the life of Linda what a privilege it has been. I talked softly to her because she still was hearing and I knew this because she would open her eyes . I felt the presence of Jesus and angels in this room. I sang in her ear Amazing Grace over and over. She was calm like she was listening. I said the Serenity Prayer, and said just relax dear precious friend everything is going to be ok. Just let go dear sweet friend. I said Sonny will be ok we will take care of him and the rest of your loved ones also. I said to her people are waiting for you with open arms in heaven, Bill, Mac and Pat, and all the rest that has gone before you. What a glorious time this is going to be for you and them. I prayed, Jesus please take this wonderful giving lady, its time. The last thing I said to her and this is my legacy to Linda is; this was our thing we did, I would keep buying Bon Ami cleaning scrub because she would always ask me to buy it for her so she could keep the sinks clean at the S. H. This was very important to her to keep S.H. clean. I said I will do it with grace and love my dear friend. After awhile she calmed and was peaceful the last hour. THE BLESSED HOUR.

Condolence From eddie schaefer

Sat, 12 Jul 2014 17:51:01 EDT

well wow... WHAT AN AMAZING LADY ... Linda was always so happy to see me every time she saw me and always greeted me with a huge caring smile and "great to see you"... always made me feel cared about each time i saw her .. THANKYOU LINDA AND GOD BLESS YOU AND SONNY :) much love !

Condolence From Sandy Hetherington

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 19:39:50 EDT

Worked with Linda at Evans & Associates, I was based in Ponca City. Very nice and smart lady, she will be missed. So very sorry for your great loss.

Story shared: My Grandmother

Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:13:20 EDT

I was at her bedside when she passed. The look in her eyes wasn't really a look. She was all but hanging on, and we knew there was nothing to do but wait until she finally slept into that peaceful sleep. I was lucky in a way, that I decided to show up on that fateful Monday, because little did I know I would have received another tearful phone call from my father, this time telling me my grandmother had passed.

I didn't cry when she stopped breathing. In an odd way, I was relieved. You absolutely hate seeing the one woman who was there for you through it all suffer and gasp for air, hardly able to speak. Yet the two memories of her I will cherish most were two very different animals...

One: upon arriving back home from her brain radiation in Houston, we sat and talked for 3 hours. We talked about everything you could imagine. We shared everything from small anecdotes about family to tears over the inevitability that came all too soon. I don't think it sank in for me enough until that night. I missed work intentionally, not calling in because I cared too much about my grandmother to miss her last moments as somebody I could talk to. And in hindsight, I'll always thank everything I have for it because that was the last conversation I had with her. And it was the best conversation of our lives. She told me, "These are the memories I cherish." As arrogant as it probably sounds, I think I cherish that particular memory more than she did because I have the "benefit" of seeing how the events from then on transpired. I'm just thankful I got to have that moment because without it, I wouldn't be able to coherently write this and tell you of such a wonderful woman.

Two: the day before she passed, the hardest day I've ever had to endure. Upon waking up, my father calls me tearfully and tells me that Grandma is slipping fast. He told me not to rush to get over there, but that was advice I'd be a fool to heed. What I saw upon entering her room horrified me. She was in and out of consciousness, and when she was in, she could hardly talk. In fact, she only said a few words to anybody...except me. She'd crack a smile here and there to show everybody the woman we loved was still kicking inside, but outside told us a different story. Yet she still mustered up the energy--at every turn--to tell me she loved me. She wouldn't talk to anybody else. She'd acknowledge them but not do much else. Yet every time I would hold her hand and tell her I love her, she would reply that she loved me back. I never knew before that that something could make me feel so important yet so conflicted at the same time. It proved how much she cared for me, when most people living wouldn't dare try to love somebody that much. That care for me has taught me so many lessons over the years and I'm finally starting to see the magnitude of it.

She wasn't scared to go. She knew where she was going and who she was going to see upon arriving. My late grandfather. Her parents. People I don't remember but people who she held so near and dear to her heart. I had this woman for eighteen years and I guess God decided it was time we share her.

I remember her voice. Her smile is still alive in pictures and in some of those photographs, her laugh rings. Two months ago, I could hug her and tell her I loved her and not have to worry that that might be the last time. A year ago, she was working and doing Antique Mall stuff with Margaret again. I would trade all the good that's happened to me personally over the past year just to have her back. I'm not sure what it will be like to live without her and honestly, I'm not even sure I'm ready to find out. This isn't a lesson anybody wants to learn.

But my grandma is happy. She's hanging out with Papa in the sky, doing God-knows-what and hopefully being proud of the impact she's made on so many people's lives. That impact on my end is larger than I think I could ever fathom, and only time will tell how much more I appreciate this beautiful woman. She was one of a kind and nobody in this world could even be tapped to replace her. There was never one before her, and never one after. And I thank God every day for the eighteen years I got to know her. And when I'm gone, I hope she'll be the first one waiting at the gates to greet me with a hug and a kiss, because that's the way she was in real life.

I love you Grandma, and I miss you more and more every day. Please know we all love you and it warms my heart to know how many people you influenced with your positive attitude and morals. I aspire to be like you in so many ways, and I hope that my children one day can have those qualities too.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you were. I'll never forget you.

Condolence From Tom Oosting

Thu, 10 Jul 2014 10:17:28 EDT

It was such a joy to share birthday month with this class act of a lady. She was a wonderful example of grace under difficult conditions and shared the good times and bad times with people she knew. She helped so many people and will be greatly missed.

Condolence From Patty Pappan

Thu, 10 Jul 2014 07:54:00 EDT

Sonny, larry & Jacob - thank you for sharing your beautiful wife, mom and grandmother with me. Linda was my sponsor for 17 years and helped me learn how to live life on life's terms! I will miss her more than words can express. But am thankful for eachemory we made!

Condolence From Phyllis Taylor

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 14:22:12 EDT

Because this dear lady was willing to share her time with me, my life was saved. I will never forget.

Condolence From Anita Slocum

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 12:49:44 EDT

Sonny & family - My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time of loss. May God surround all of you with His comfort. Linda helped so many and will be missed by so many!

Story shared: The Lady In Me

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 11:49:21 EDT

Linda possessed so much "Lady" that she was willing to give away as much "Lady" as any woman would accept. I was fortunate to watch her and listen to her long enough to know that I had reached the point in my life that I was ready to possess the kind of "Lady" that Linda possessed within her. It was over ten years ago that I met this beautiful soul in a meeting room we both attended. She had attended for many years longer than I had and it was apparent from our intrduction that she GOT IT! She took the message delivered in our meetings and applied them to her life. She smiled with gratitude as she would speak lovingly about the women around us. I listened, perhaps for the first time in my life, to what she had to say about the "joy" in her life, about how much "joy" it gave her to see other women healing; she talked lovingly about each moment in time as if it were a fragile and delicate petal of a flower. LInda herself was that delicate flower.

I was fortunate enought for her to agree to sponosr me and my life direction. She trudged alongside me through pitfalls, death and failure. She lifted me high at triumphs, life and success! She knew I could make it even when I completely disagreed. But because she believed, I believed too. She taugt me what it took to be a "Lady". Any resemblance of lady within me, came from the gift of her sharing who she was and how she walked through life with grace and style.

"Let's talk about God." she said to me in the earliest of our conversations. "Ok. He's cool!" I replied. Linda laughed and there began our conversations about how loving and caring our God was and I talked about how understanding my God was and we both shared in our love of our God. She assured me without doubt that she would be walking alongside God and those who have gone before her. And the greatest part was her telling me that she was strangely excited to meet Jesus. I could feel it! I could feel her "JOY" at this thought. I could see it in her face until her final hours. She knew she was going to meet Jesus and her pain in life, the sins of the world and her cancer would all be gone. Because of her, I know it to be true. I also know that Jesus has a Lady walking at His side today. I pray that I can be the "Lady" she taught me to be and carry what portions of her kindred spirit she gave to me, on to others.

Here's to the "Lady" who gave me the Lady in me. God hold this Lady in serenity into eternity. Until we meet again my precious friend, I'll continue to trudge the Road of Happy Destiny One Day at A Time knowing it's NOT all about me!

My Prayers, Love and Sympathy to LInda's family and friends.

Terri C

Condolence From Mark and Danette Hague

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 09:31:39 EDT

Sonny and family, Linda was one of God's angels. She was such a wonderful caring lady. Gentle Memories of the special times that you always shared will live forever in your heart as a reminder that you cared. And since time is a great healer eventually you will find, a beautiful peace and lasting comfort in the gentle memories left behind. May remembering help to ease the sorrow that you feel and bring peace and comfort to your heart. With sincere Sympathy.

Condolence From Lucille Duncan

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 09:16:27 EDT

To Linda's family: you have my heartfelt sorrow at her passing from this life. She always shared her honest approach to facing life in such a way that one could believe that everything is possible through God. She and I shared many happy memories of talking about our personal spiritual journeys through the almost thirty years we knew each other. What a lady! she will be missed

Condolence From D'Ray Rice

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 08:03:05 EDT

Aunt Linda was an amazing woman who will be missed by so many. But the love she radiated and lessons she taught through her quiet example will allow her to live on in our hearts. My hope is that Sonny, Larry and family find comfort and peace in their memories of her and in knowing she is no longer in pain.

Condolence From Linda Lusnia

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 18:05:44 EDT

I met Linda 30 years ago and loved her from the start. She was a treasure to me and such a blessing. She did not just talk the talk, she walked the walk. Linda was such an example of faith and courage. I am richer and a better person for having known her. My prayers are with Sonny and the family.

Photo shared: 6bdd13e5-2330-44cb-b9e8-392b89a4e71a.jpg

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 EST