THE PUBLIC MIND: EULOGY FOR `A HOUSEWIFE' AND A FRIEND

To the Editor:

When the Southeast Missourian's obituary called her a "housewife" my heart rose in protest. Not that I blame the newspaper. This cryptic, dry description of the deceased is the accepted tradition.

But in the case of Bonnie Young, whose sudden demise we learned of the other Saturday night, the description seems especially inadequate.

Bonnie worked anonymously. Only the women she helped throughout the years know those qualities of heart and soul that made her so very special. And there were hundreds of us.

It wasn't only the wisdom and knowledge she freely shared, or her great strength in supporting us in our times of need that made us love her. The quality she possessed in greater measure that anyone I ever knew was her humility. Though her knowledge was great and her courage immense, she was always quiet and unassuming. With Bonnie, you always felt that you came first. And her constancy she was always there for you and for all the others.

So I write this in gratitude for the privilege of having known her, and in regret for failing to let her know of my appreciation and love.

I also write this for all the other anonymous people about whom brief obituary notices cannot even hint at all the ways, large and small, in which they have helped others on life's journey.

There are many such people, but few can be as special as Bonnie.

Joann M. Taylor

Cape Girardeau