Erma Jean Taylor Hogg was quite an amazing woman. She was born on March 7, 1933, to Lloyd and Lyndal Taylor in their home on the farm just outside Burnt Prairie, Illinois. She was the oldest of four children, followed by Roberta Taylor, Byron Taylor, and Burl Taylor. She graduated from Carmi Township High School in May 1950. She met her husband when her cousin Carl Rister introduced her to his friend Bob and they ended up going to the local drive-in. Jean's dad got her a job as a secretary for the local newspaper in Carmi and she later married Bob in her home on June 1, 1951. Bob and Jean began hopping around from state to state, wherever Bob's oil job would take him and along the way Jean became a mother to four children - Carol Hogg Mazilly, Ray Hogg, Donna Hogg Garcia, and Carla Hogg Lindberg. She loved music and became a talented piano teacher, beginning with her own children.

Bob and Jean spent their lives in Illinois, East Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, West Texas, and finally landed in Farmington, New Mexico in 1976 where Jean began teaching piano to a studio of over 25 students until they moved to Wylie, Texas in 2004. She and Bob enjoyed family, travel, and church events during their years in retirement. The extended family never missed gathering for Christmas and oftentimes, summers as well. This was a great source of joy to Jean and to all of her family. Her last Christmas was no exception. She entered heaven on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at 6:17pm. She was surrounded by her family including her children, many grandchildren, and her husband of 66 years, singing her favorite hymns in beautiful harmonies.

Her first grandchild, Chad, recalls:

I have memories of those old-fashioned, colored, thick, outdoor Christmas bulbs associated with a warm and cozy living room where she would lead hymns and songs on the piano while we all sang. She loved to tell us stories about her life growing up, and often times became a little frustrated when the small, very specific details couldn't make the journey from her mind to her tongue, which was very endearing. My Papa would chime in, "No that was in Houma, Jean", and she would continue on, "that's right", with an "I already knew that" nod. She baked and cooked up a storm. Delicious comfort food and pies and brownie tins that would completely cover her kitchens. Her laugh flowed through the house and when you heard it from another room you just felt safe and loved. In all of the times that we had together I can only remember one in which she gave me anything but an unconditionally-loving, joyful smile. I think I was seven or eight but I do know that I deserved it.

We'll be celebrating her life this coming weekend in Texas, but I wanted to post this because of the overwhelming feeling that has been with me since I heard the news yesterday, "Victory in death". My grandmother was an admirable Christian woman who loved the Lord and truly lived by faith. Though she had been battling a decline in health over the last few years with new medication regiments and had unfortunately caught that awful bug we've all seemed to share this winter, she did get to spend a little time with the family on Christmas night. Before she made the short trip back to her house with my grandfather that night, she asked that we all gather so that she could tell us something.

Looking back on what happened next, I now feel incredibly blessed to be in the presence of what felt like such a divine moment. She made sure that each of us were there, her eyes darting from one face to another with such happiness. What an incredible feeling it must have been to look out on a room full of family as the matriarch, every face eagerly awaiting. Sons, daughters, grandkids, great grandkids, a husband. She told us all that it had been the best year of her life, that she loved us all, and that most importantly, she loved the Lord. With completely undoubting demeanor she assured us that if anything is ever going wrong, well, you just tell the Lord, but you need to listen. Of course, she had a song to sing and picked "In the garden (He walks with me)". We all sang along with her with smiles and tears, a powerful, victorious moment.

I venture to say that some of us knew it was likely the last time we'd ever hear her speak, at least I did. After some time in the hospital she peacefully passed away on a Sunday, yesterday, surrounded by her family singing her favorite hymns that she had no doubt taught to others in earlier years. I wasn't there but I know it was another moment of victory. I can't imagine a more perfect way for a person to leave this world.

Of course, we've all had our own special interactions with her. We've heard remembered versions of the same funny stories. We've all been taught lessons. We've felt her love. And we've all received different gifts from her. Just this moment as I'm typing this I looked down at the floor and see a Highlights magazine insert. On it reads my daughter's name with the line "A gift from Erma Jean Hogg". Her gifts will always be with us, even after the subscriptions run out. To me, her best lesson was proving that there is "victory in death."