Dear Suits Cousins:

In October Dad moved from Kirkwood to Houston to live with me and my
husband. We learned early on that Dad has congestive heart failure
and PAD and all sorts of blockages everywhere because he smoked a pipe
all his life. Dad has been in a hospital for almost all of the last
two months and he has not been getting better. Most recently he
contracted two aggressive lung infections. Even if the antibiotics
take care of these infections, the cardiologist assures us the
infections will return. For this reason, and after many conversations
with Dad and all of his doctors about all of this, he has decided to
stop receiving all medicines. Darcie is in town and is at the hospital
with Dad right now. A hospice representative is to talk to us today
about the next step.

I have notified Dad's good friends in St. Louis. I would appreciate
your notifying your fathers and your siblings for me. We will let you
know when this is all over. God willing it will be soon because Dad
has been suffering something awful for too long.

Thank you. Hugs to you all.

Your cousin, Ellen   -  April 26, 2010

Please let your fathers and your siblings know that Dad died this
morning at 11:30 at Houston Hospice. He had been struggling with all
sorts of things going wrong and we are relieved that is over. The
only one of the brothers I've talked to personally is Mac. I don't
think I can talk to any others at this time and would appreciate your
doing this for me. Sorry to lay it on you but........

Several of you wrote with memories and encouragement. We thank you
for those. They meant more than you can know. Thank you.

Ellen - May 4, 2010