BearWaller & WhiteHorse
What I remember about Arty...
Tell us what you remember about Arty
From Arty's Aunt Essie
Arty - beloved nephew by all his "aunties" as he so fondly called the "Budge sisters." I remember the day he was born, the day he moved to California from Texas. I remember how he smelled of baby powder and how his smiles made you hug him just a few more times. I especially remember how much Grandmother & Grandpa Budge loved to babysit Arty and his sister, Cheryl. When B, Art and children moved to California, they started a caravan that moved the whole family west except for me. I was to follow a couple of years later.
Arty always seemed to generate a whirlwind of activity around him - anything negative was never his fault from his auntie's point of view. We really helped out our sister, B, in the discipline department!
After marrying my own Texas cowboy and moving back to Texas, I was always amazed at how Arty maintained so much of that "Texas cowboy" look while growing up in California. All Arty's growning up years were punctuated by many trips to Texas and we managed many trips to California. They were the highlight of so many years.
I can't remember a time when loving Arty wasn't the easiest thing to do. I remember how amazed I was to see him ride around campus on his bike with his chicken named "Henrietta" on the handlebars. He had such a tender heart for all of God's creatures in distress - a bird with a broken wing to my handicapped son, Mike. When Mike couldn't keep up with the gang, Arty would just casually throw him on his shoulder and off they went. Arty was such a wonderful influence on my two younger sons.
I loved listening to the band with Arty playing bass when he wasn't making Andy laugh in the middle of a song. I loved the family sing-fests with Arty, Tammy, Cheryl, David, Art, Verlie and various others gathered around the piano for some "home-grown" songs and southern gospel. I was a great audience on my visits - I would listen to any and everything, from performances to practice sessions.
So many wonderful memories are engraved in my mind and heart. I feel so lucky and honored to be Arty's Aunt Essie. I only had one opportunity to see Arty at a Royal Rangers function. That was last year at a family camp at Camp Pinecrest. Arty's sister, Cheryl and her husband David, were helping with the music. At last, I had my chance to see what I had been hearing about "long-distance" for so long. I was bursting with joy at how Arty had matured in his life with the Lord and how he loved his family and his Royal Ranger family. He projected humor, warmth, and love of God in a way that affected everyone. I remember when the function was over, someone turned out the lights before we could get out of our seats on what seemed to me to be the side of a very large mountain. It was so dark and I was really frightened because I had an ear condition that robbed me of my balance in the dark and visions of tumbling off the mountain were dancing in my head. Then I heard Arty's sweet voice calling out, "Aunt Essie, I just sent Richard for a large flashlight. Stay where you are - I am on my way to get you." That was the essence of the Arty I know. Caring, loving, giving, and always serving others.
Arty, I will always miss your presence here on earth though I know you have achieved one of the things you wanted so much - and that was to see Jesus. And knowing you and how you lived your life for God that he said, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." I hope my home in heaven will be close to yours, Bubba.
Aunt Essie (Sylvia)
Tell us what you remember about Arty