Kaye Russell

For seventeen years she fought

Through fourteen courses of 

Chemotherapy and four of radiation

Harsh medicines of hope 

Six times she lost her hair 

And still the dread disease 

Moved through her like 

Flood waters in spring

Relentlessly it took her physical strength 

But it could not take her will 

To live as fully as she could 

Her smile serene

Never left her 

Nor her love for John and her son Grady

And her grandson and granddaughters

What pain she endured 

We’ll never know 

For that she kept within her 

Wanting always to spare others all she could 

Her love for John

And his for her 

Were there for all to see

Together was their way 

Connected to the end 

Hands held or linked by cell phone 

Never separated in heart and mind

Even when she was too exhausted 

By the raging beast disease

To leave her chair 

And go with him 

To see ole Hoss

Do his thing

In the end

She and Hoss 

Shared John 

And class 

Kaye Russell of Bowling Green, Kentucky died Friday, June 16, 2006 after a long battle with cancer.  For many years she served efficiently and with grace as secretary of the West Kentucky Field Trial Club and the Quail Championship Invitational.  She is survived by her devoted husband, John Russell, retired head of the Engineering Department of Western Kentucky University, and a son, Grady Russell and three grandchildren.  She will be missed by all privileged to know her.   A memorial service for Kaye will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, June 23, 2006 at Rich Pond Baptist Church, Bowling Green, Kentucky.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the church’s building fund or the American Cancer Society. 

Tom Word