Born in West Virginia on  
Wednesday 
July 03,1963, at 10:39 am. 
He weighed in at 7lbs. and 1 oz.

This is one of the last photos of Joe, taken 1 week prior to his leaving.
Jessica and Justin  with their Daddy.
Taken November 11,2005
JOE'S MOM, CONNIE,
JOE'S DAD ,JIM

JOE'S SIBLINGS,
 SISTER, CATHY SUE, AND 
TWO BROTHERS,MARK AND MATT.
JOE'S NIECE  MANDY

JOE JOINED A LOCAL BAND,
 "THE HEAT", 
IN 1986. 
HE PLAYED BASE GUITAR AND SANG LEAD AND BACK UP VOCALS. HE HAD A GREAT VOICE.
HE COULD TEACH HIMSELF TO PLAY JUST ABOUT ANY INSTRUMENT. 
HE SPENT ABOUT 10 YEARS WITH THE BAND.
 HE TRULY LOVED PLAYING MUSIC.
I THINK MUSIC RAN THROUGH JOE'S VEINS. HE ABSOLUTELY LOVED PLAYING MUSIC OR LISTENING TO A GOOD SONG.HE LIKED ALL TYPES OF MUSIC FROM HARD ROCK TO COUNTRY TO BLUEGRASS.
I HAVE RECENTLY FOUND OVER 2000 SONGS THAT HE HAD ON OUR COMPUTER.HE ALWAYS KNEW WHO THE BAND WAS SINGING THE SONG AND MOST OF THE WORDS.
I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE ENJOYED ABOUT PLAYING IN "THE HEAT" WAS THAT THEY PLAYED ALL KINDS OF MUSIC. HE ALWAYS TRIED TO STAY UP WITH THE HOT SONGS AND ALWAYS GAVE IT HIS BEST TO DO IT AS CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL AS HE COULD.
FOR THE ONES WHO NEVER SAW HIM SING ON STAGE YOU WOULD NEVER BELIEVE THAT HE HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL VOICE. I ALWAYS TRIED TO GET HIM TO FOLLOW THAT THROUGH BUT IT WAS A DREAM THAT NEVER GOTTEN TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY.
HE STARTED SINGING IN CHURCH, AND LATER JOINED A CHRISTIAN GROUP, THE CHRISTIANEIRS, ( NOT SURE ON THAT SPELLING), I BELEIVE HE WAS IN THE GROUP WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 16 OR 17 YEARS OLD. WE HAVE A RECORDING OF HIM SINGING A VERY BEAUTIFUL SONG,  AND SOME OF THE BETTER RECORDINGS FROM THE BAND DAYS, AND AS SOON AS I CAN GET IT ONTO MY COMPUTER I WILL ADD IT TO THIS SIGHT SO THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY HIS BEAUTIFUL VOICE.

JOE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL FROM 
'DUPONT HIGH' IN BELLE IN 1982


I KNOW THERE WERE ALOT OF FRIENDS THAT JOE RAN AROUND WITH IN HIGH SCHOOL. KEVIN YEAGER, THE WESTFALL BOYS, JEFF FERRELL, BILLY HOLSTEIN,BRIAN THOMAS, J.D. MCCLURE, ROBERT KEENAN, AND ALOT MORE THAT I CAN'T THINK OF I HOPE ANYONE WHO READS THIS SITE CAN GET THE WORD TO FRIENDS THAT HE  LOST TOUCH WITH OVER THE YEARS.
 


JOE AND JUDY WERE MARRIED                                                               
DECEMBER 16, 1984.

THEIR DAUGHTER, JESSICA WAS BORN 
DECEMBER 11,1985.
THEIR SON, JUSTIN WAS BORN
 MARCH 16, 1987.




JOE HELD MANY JOBS OVER THE YEARS.
HIS FIRST JOB WAS A NEWSPAPER BOY.
HE LATER WORKED AT ' BURGER CHEF' IN MARMET.
HE THEN WENT TO WORK FOR 'TURNPIKE FORD' OF MARMET.

HE WAS WORKING FOR A SERVICE STATION " BILLOS' IN CHELYAN, WHEN HIM AND JUDY MET.

AFTER THEY WERE MARRIED 
HE WORKED FOR ' PENNZOIL 10 MINUTE OIL CHANGE' IN KANAWHA CITY.
HE THEN WENT TO WORK FOR 'FREEMANS CLEANERS' IN KANAWHA CITY.

ALL OF THE PREVIOUS JOBS WERE SHORT LIVED.

HE WAS HIRED AT "RUS" OF KANAWHA CITY WHICH WAS LATER BOUGHT OUT BY "CINTAS".


JOE SPENT ALMOST 17 YEARS WITH THE COMPANY BEFORE LEAVING.
AFTER LEAVING 'CINTAS' JOE TOOK A FEW MONTHS OFF TO REST AND TO TRY TO FIND A JOB HE TRULY ENJOYED AND COULD SOMEDAY SEE HIMSELF RETIRE FROM.
AGAIN HE WORKED A FEW JOBS HE JUST DIDN'T LIKE...UNTIL MAY 2005, HE GOT A CALL FROM "PSI", A ROAD CONSTRUCTION TYPE COMPANY.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THE LOOK OF EXCITMENT ON HIS FACE DURING THAT CALL.
JOE STARTED TO WORK FOR "PSI" MAY 11, 2005, AND WAS THRILLED. HE LOVED THE JOB AND THE PEOPLE HE WORKED WITH.
THE ONLY THING HE DIDN'T LIKE WAS THE NIGHTS AWAY FROM HOME. IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WE SPENT MORE NIGHTS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, THAN OVER ALL THE YEARS COMBINED.
JOE WASN'T LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING LAID OFF FOR THE WINTER, AND WE WERE HOPING FOR A MILD SHORT WINTER SEASON.

BUT AFTER THAT COLD HORRIBLE NOVEMBER MORNING, HE NO LONGER HAD ANY WORRYS.
This photo was taken by BJ on the turnpike November 10,2005. He had copied made and sent them to me within days of Joe's accident.




JOE WAS STRUCK AND KILLED ON THE JOB BY AN AUTOMOBILE FRIDAY ,NOVEMBER 18TH 2005 AT 10:10 AM.




MAY MY ONE TRUE LOVE REST IN PEACE FOREVER MORE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN.

Always in Your Heart

Hush now, please don't cry
There comes a time when we all die
Just take heed now that I'm at peace
And from my pain I have release. 

I will always be watching over you
Our love will always be held true
Don't you weep now, don't you mourn
For my heart will then be torn. 

Just remember the good times we shared
Knowing that we always cared
I've not gone away, we'll never part
As I will always be in your heart.

THIS WAS OUR FIRST YEAR WITHOUT OUR JOE.
REALITY HASN'T SET IN.
NO DINNER WAS COOKED NO CELEBRATIONS WERE CELEBRATED.
ONLY TEARS STILL STREAMING DOWN OUR FACES.

TODAY IS OUR 21ST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
NO I DIDN'T SAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, I AM STILL MARRIED TO MY SOULMATE AND WILL ALWAYS BE.

THE DAY WAS A VERY HARD DAY, JESSICA OUR DAUGHTER IS OUT ON HER OWN, AND JUSTIN OUR SON, IS IN THE MILITARY AND HE IS OUT OF STATE.
MY MOTHER IN LAW, JOE'S MOM AND HIS SISTER CATHY, CAME DOWN TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME WITH ME, THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT ME TO BE ALONE.
WHAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW IS THAT, ALL I WANTED WAS TO BE ALONE.
JOE ALWAYS SENT ME ROSES FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY, BUT THIS TIME HE GOT THE FLOWERS. I TOLD HIM LAST YEAR THAT I WANTED 1 ROSE FOR EVERY YEAR.
SO THIS YEAR I PUT 21 RED ROSES ON HIS GRAVE.


AND I WILL CONTINUE EVERY YEAR.

TODAYS OUR ANNIVERSARY
AND I FEEL SO ALONE.
YOU'RE CELEBRATING IN HEAVEN,
JESUS CALLED YOU  HOME.
I KNOW HE'S WITH ME TOO AND
YOU LIVE IN MY HEART,
BUT YOU CAN'T HOLD ME CLOSE
AND WIPE AWAY MY TEARS.
NOW THAT YOU'RE GONE
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LIVE.

I DREAMED OF YOU LAST NIGHT.
WAS IT REALLY JUST A DREAM?
IT FELT SO VERY REAL,
LIKE YOU WERE HERE WITH ME.
I'D BEEN RUNNING IN CIRCLES AND
COULDN'T FIND YOU ANYWHERE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN
AND MY HEART WAS FILLED WITH FEAR.
JUST WHEN I WAS GIVING UP,
YOU SUDDENLY APPEARED.
YOU HELD ME IN YOUR ARMS
AND YOU HELPED ME UNDERSTAND
EVERYTHING WILL BE OK AND 
I DON'T NEED TO BE AFRAID.

GOD JUST CALLED YOU FIRST AND
SOME DAY HE'LL CALL ME.
WE CAN BE TOGETHER THEN
THROUGHOUT ETERNITY

CHRISTMAS OF 2005 WAS OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT OUR JOE.
WE HAVE NEVER HAD CHRISTMAS AT OUR HOME, BUT THIS YEAR WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THE FAMILY DECIDED FOR EVERYONE TO COME TO OUR HOME FOR CHRISTMAS EVE.
THAT WAS REALLY HARD, BECAUSE JOE AND I HAD SPOKEN OF THAT, AND HOW NICE IT WOULD BE TO HAVE CHRISTMAS EVE AT OUR HOME. I HATE IT THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL HE WASN'T HERE TO SHARE IT WITH US.
WE HAD A GOOD TIME BETWEEN THE TEARS, THERE WERE A FEW LAUGHS.
I FOUND A VERY PRETTY GLASS PICTURE FRAME THAT, I FEEL IN LOVE WITH AND I DIDN'T STOP UNTIL I BOUGHT EVERYONE THAT EACH STORE HAD, A GOT ONE FOR EVERY FAMILY MEMBER AND PUT A PICTURE OF JOE IN IT.
I GOT EVERYONE TO OPEN THEM UP AT ONE TIME , IT WAS WORTH ALL THE TIME I SPENT TRYING TO FIND ENOUGH, AND THE TIMES I WOULD HIDE MINE IN A CABINET SO NO ONE ELSE WOULD SEE IT.
I  HAD A HARD TIME BUYING FOR MY 2 BROTHER-IN-LAWS, JOE ALWAYS BOUGHT FOR THEM. I HAD A HARD TIME NOT BUYING FOR MY JOE. I COULD ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING THAT I WOULD SEE THAT I THOUGHT HE WOULD LIKE OR NEEDED. I THINK THAT WAS THE HARDEST PART.

JUSTIN OUR SON, BOUGHT ME A REALLY NICE GLASS MIRROR THAT HE WRAPPED AND PUT TO ME FROM JOE.  IT SAID TO MY WIFE. 
I DON'T THINK HE KNOWS HOW MUCH THAT MEANT TO ME.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM HEAVEN

I STILL HEAR THE SONGS,
I STILL SEE THE LIGHTS
I STILL FEEL YOUR LOVE
ON COLD WINTERY NIGHTS.

I STILL SHARE YOUR HOPES
AND ALL OF YOUR CARES
I'LL EVEN REMIND YOU
TO PLEASE SAY YOUR PRAYERS.

I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU
YOU STILL MAKE ME PROUD
YOU STAND HEAD AND SHOULDERS
ABOVE ALL THE CROWD.

KEEP TRYING EACH MOMENT
TO STAY IN HIS GRACE
I CAME HERE BEFORE YOU
TO HELP SET UP YOUR PLACE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE
PERFECT ALL OF THE TIME.
HE FORGIVES YOU THE SLIP
IF YOU CONTINUE TO CLIMB.

TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS
PLEASE BE THANKFUL TODAY
I'M STILL CLOSE BESIDE YOU
IN A NEW SPECIAL WAY.

I LOVE YOU ALL DEARLY
NOW DON'T SHED A TEAR
CAUSE I'M SPENDING MY
CHRISTMAS WITH JESUS THIS YEAR.

A NEW YEAR BEGINS.
WE NEVER REALLY DID ANYTHING SPECIAL FOR NEW YEARS. MOST OF THE TIME I WOULD END UP FALLING ASLEEP AND JOE WOULD ALWAYS WAKE ME UP A FEW MINUTES BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
WE ALWAYS KISSED EACH OTHER AND USUALLY WENT STRAIGHT TO BED.
THIS YEAR I ACTUALLY STAYED AWAKE. BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO KISS, AND WISH  HAPPY NEW YEAR TO.

TODAY IS VALENTINES DAY, AND IT WILL BE THE FIRST WITHOUT MY JOE.
AGAIN HE USUALLY ALWAYS SENT ME RED ROSES, AND COULD ALWAYS MANAGE TO BUY A VERY BEAUTIFUL CARD AND A SILLY CARD.
THIS TIME THERE WERE NO ROSES AND NO CARD FUNNY OR OTHERWISE.
JUST HIS EMPTY CHAIR.
I TOOK HIM ROSES FOR VALENTINES DAY.


AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

EASTER WITHOUT OUR JOE.

WE MADE THREE CROSSES AND TOOK THEM TO THE ROADSIDE.
THE RIBBONS READ, HUSBAND, FATHER AND SON.
WE DIDN'T DO MUCH TODAY. I ALWAYS HAD GOTTEN THE KIDS A BASKET AND ALWAYS  HAD JOE A LITTLE SOMETHING TOO. HE WAS NEVER TOO BIG ON CANDY BUT I COULD ALWAYS FIND A LITTLE SOMETHING THAT HE WOULD LIKE.

I HAD NEVER ATTENDED A SERVICE ON MEMORIAL DAY UNTIL THIS YEAR.

IT WAS VERY HOT.
WE WENT TO A SERVICE AT THE CEMETARY WHERE JOE IS LAID TO REST.
JOE'S MOM, CONNIE AND HIS SISTER CATHY WENT WITH ME AND LATER MY MOM, RUTH JOINED US.
THERE WAS PREACHING, AND LOADS OF GOSPEL SINGERS, THEY HAD A DOVE RELEASE, AND A BALLOON RELEASE, THEY READ EACH NAME THAT HAD BEEN LAID TO REST OVER THE LAST YEAR.
IT WAS A VERY NICE SERVICE.
IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL DAY FOR ALL OF US.

THE FIRST FATHERS DAY WITHOUT THEIR DADDY.

JUSTIN COULDN'T BE HERE HE WAS AT HIS ANNUAL TRAINING WITH THE MILITARY. BUT HE DID CALL ME AND HE REALLY WISHED HE COULD HAVE BEEN HERE.
JESSICA CALLED AND CHECKED IN ON ME.


I TOOK FLOWERS TO JOE AND SPENT ALONG TIME TALKING TO HIM ABOUT HELPING ME WATCH OUT FOR OUR CHILDREN.

TODAY IS A VERY HARD DAY FOR ME.
I HAVE MADE PLANS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO MEET ME AT THE CEMETARY.
BACK IN NOVEMBER WHEN WE LOST JOE, I HAD REQUESTED A DOVE RELEASE AT THE FUNERAL. BUT DO TO THE WINTERY WEATHER IT WASN'T POSSIBLE.
SO I HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE IT DONE FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.

I ALSO TOOK 43 BALLOONS ONE FOR EACH YEAR AND WE RELEASED THOSE AS WELL.
SEE THE PICTURES AND VIDEOS SECTION FOR  MORE.

THE DAY WENT BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BUT AGAIN EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH.

OH HOW I MISS THE FIRE WORKS WE WOULD GO TO SEE.
THIS YEAR THERE WERE NONE TO SEE.
JOE WOULD TAKE ME TO EVERY FIREWORKS SHOW IN THE AREA EVERY TIME THEY WOULD HAVE THEM.
BE IT THE 4TH OF JULY FESTIVITIES OR REGATTA OR ANY BIG SHOW WE WERE THERE.

WE ONLY MISSED THEM ONE YEAR. AND HE TOLD ME FOR DAYS HOW SORRY HE WAS THAT WE HAD MISSED THEM.

WE USUALLY HAD 2 SHOWS FOR THE 4TH. ONE IN ST. ALBANS AND THE ONE IN CHARLESTON. 
ST ALBANS WAS USUALLY BETTER AND WE COULD SIT IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK OR CAR AND WATCH.

THIS YEAR I DIDN'T EVEN WATCH THE NIGHTLY NEWS BECAUSE I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
(THEY GOT RAINED OUT)
I THINK IT WAS HIM GIVING ME A CHANCE TO GET HOME PAST THE AREA WERE THEY WERE GOING TO BE PUT OFF. 
BECAUSE HE KNEW I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THEM, WITH OUT HIM WITH ME.

I MISS YOU BABE.
EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY
I LOVE YOU

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY.
THE BIG 40.
IT WAS A VERY HARD DAY. JOE AND I WEREN'T WORRIED ABOUT GETTING OLDER, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD BE HERE TO HELP THE OTHER ONE WHEN THINGS QUIT WORKING, HAHA.

I REALLY MISSED MY JOE TODAY AND EVERYONE TRIED TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR ME.
I TOLD EVERYONE I JUST WANTED TO FORGET ABOUT MY BIRTHDAY AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY AGE. I COULD CARE LESS.

I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE CELEBRATING.

A FEW MONTHS BACK, JOE'S DAD MADE A COMMENT ABOUT IF WE COULD SEE ABOUT PUTTING UP A SIGN OF SOME SORT, TO HONOR JOE'S MEMORY.
I HAD THOUGHT THAT WE COULD HAVE A SMALL SIGN MADE SOMEWHERE AND HAVE HIS NAME AND THE DAY HIS WAS KILLED PUT ON IT.
BUT JIM TOOK IT ONE STEP FURTHER.
THIS WAS ALL JIM'S DOING, HE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA AND FOLLOWED IT THROUGH, SO ALL THE GRADITUTE GOES TO HIM.

HE CONTACTED BONNIE BROWN ONE OF OUR LEGISLATURES, AND TOLD HER THE STORY OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO OUR JOE, AND TOLD HER WHAT WE WANTED AS FAR AS SOME TYPE OF SIGN .
SHE HAD HER ASSISTANT CALL JIM, AND FIND OUT ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT JOE AND ALL THE INFO THAT SHE MIGHT NEED.
BONNIE BROWN WAS TAKING IT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND WAS GOING TO SEE IF WE COULD GET A SIGN PUT OVER AT THE ROADSIDE WHERE JOE WAS KILLED.
WELL SEVERAL WEEKS WENT BY AND BONNIE, CONTACTED JIM, AND THE RESOLUTION HAD FAILED. SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T THINK THAT IT HAD GOTTEN INTRODUCED SOON ENOUGH. BUT THAT SHE WOULD TRY AGAIN DURING A SPECIAL SESSION COMING UP IN JUNE.
SO WE PATIENTLY WAITED.
AND IF ALL WERE TOLD I DON'T THINK ANY OF US THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD GO ANYWHERE.
BUT ABOUT MID JUNE, JIM GOT THE CALL FROM BONNIE BROWN, AND THE RESOLUTION HAD PASSED


THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, WAS OFFICIALLY RENAMING ROUTE 3 IN BOONE COUNTY BETWEEN MADISON AND RACINE,
"JOE KING MEMORIAL HIGHWAY"
WE ARE ALL JUST TICKLED PINK.
MANY MANY THANKS TO BONNIE BROWN AND HER STAFF FOR ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT THEY PUT INTO HELPING MAKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR OUR FAMILY



WE GOT THE PHONE CALL FROM THE DOH OFFICE AND AWAY WE WENT.
JUSTIN AND I FOLLWED THE DOH GUYS OVER TO BOONE COUNTY THIS MORNING, AUGUST 1, 2006 AND UP WENT THE SIGNS, IT WAS SO MOVING AND SUCH A GREAT HONOR FOR OUR JOE.
MANY TEARS WERE SHED, WATCHING THOSE SIGNS GO UP, AND THINKING ABOUT HOW SPECIAL OUR JOE IS TO ALL OF US.
I TOOK 4 ENTIRE ROLLS OF FILM. HAHA AND JUSTIN HAD HIS DIGITAL CAMERA AND WE ALSO VIDEO TAPED THE SIGNS BEING PUT UP.
I KNOW THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE CRAZY, BUT HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET A ROAD NAMED AFTER SOMEONE AS SPECIAL TO ALL OF US AS JOE WAS.

JOE IS JUST SHAKING HIS HEAD AND SMILING DOWN ON US. I CAN HEAR HIM SAYING, " THIS IS TOO MUCH, YOU ALL SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS."
BUT WE ALL HOPE THAT EVERYTIME ANYONE DRIVES ACROSS THAT ROAD, THEY REMEMBER THAT OUR JOE NEVER CAME BACK HOME TO US ON THAT COLD NOVEMBER DAY.


TS JUST SO AMAZING THAT THIS FINALLY CAME TO PASS.
WE ARE ALL OVERWHELMED ABOUT THE ENTIRE THING.
BUT WE WOULD ALL GLADLY RETURN THE SIGNS AND BURN ALL THE PICTURES IF WE COULD JUST HAVE OUR JOE BACK.
JOE, I HOPE THIS PUTS A ASMILE ON THAT GORGEOUS FACE, AND LETS YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE LOVED MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE.
WE LOVE YOU BABE.
EACH ONE OF US. 





THE EVENING NEWS DONE A SHORT STORY ABOUT THE SIGNS BEING PUT UP, AND FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON I JUST HAPPENED TO DECIDE TO SIT DOWN AND WATCH THE NEWS SOMETHING I HAVEN'T DONE FOR QUITE A WHILE.
I WAS TOTALLY SURPRISED TO HEAR IT ON THE NEWS. I HAD CALLED THEM ON THE MORNING WE FOUND OUT THE SIGNS WERE GOING TO BE PUT UP, BUT NO ONE EVER SHOWED UP.
I ONLY WISHED THEY HADN'T USED THE SAME NEWS FOOTAGE FROM BACK IN NOVEMBER. BUT I WILL TAKE WHATEVER I CAN GET.
WE ARE TRYING TO GET MORE SIGNS PUT UP ALONG THAT SECTION OF ROAD, 2 SIGNS FOR 15 MILES ISN'T VERY MUCH AND LETS HOPE WE CAN GET AT LEAST ONE MORE SIGN UP

TODAY IS AUGUST 1,2006
AND IT IS THE DAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS FOR WEST VIRGINIA, PUTS THE OFFICIAL SIGNS UP RENAMING THE ROAD, ON WHICH OUR JOE LOST HIS LIFE.

TO ALL OF US IT CAN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS, WE NEVER THOUGHT IS WOULD COME TO PASS.

BUT TO SOME I GUESS IT WAS JUST NO BIG DEAL. WHEN WE GOT THE NEWS THIS MORNING THAT THE SIGNS WERE GOING TO BE PUT UP. JUSTIN AND I DECIDED TO CALL THE LOCAL NEWS , ( THE SAME ONES WHO WERE AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT) AND LET THEM KNOW AND JUST MAYBE THEY WOULD SHOW UP AND GIVE HIM A FEW SECONDS OF GLORY ON THE EVENING NEWS.

WELL THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP, I GUESS IT WASN'T BIG ENOUGH NEWS FOR THEM TO COVER.

WE WOULD HAVE LOVED FOR IT TO BE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER.

SO I AM GOING TO MAKE A SUGGESTION TO THE FAMILY, THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE,,,""JOE KING MEMORIAL HIGHWAY DAY,,,"
EVERY AUGUST 1, FROM NOW ON.

IF NOTHING ELSE BUT TO TAKE A RIDE ALONG THAT ROAD.

WE LOVE YOU JOE, IF ONLY THERE WERE WORDS GREAT ENOUGH TO EXPRESS OUR LOVE TO YOU.

You don't get over it,

you just get through it.

You don't get by it,

because you can't get around it.

It doesn't 'get better';

it just gets different.

Every day... Grief puts on a

new face..

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE I SAW THAT BEAUTIFUL FACE AND HELD YOU IN MY ARMS.
THE DAYS AREN'T GETTING ANY EASIER AND THE NIGHTS, SEEM TO GO ON FOREVER.

THE LEAVES ARE STARTING TO TURN AND THE HUNTING SEASONS ARE JUST BEGINING. I KNOW WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING IF YOU WERE HERE. GETTING HUNTING CLOTHES OUT AND CLEANING YOUR GUNS, GETTING READY FOR A DAY IN THE WOODS.

I MISS SITTING BY YOUR SIDE WATCHING THE LOVELY COLORS ON THE LEAVES.

I LOVE YOU FOREVER
YOU WILL ALWAYS HOLD MY HEART
FORVER LOVING AND MISSING YOU, JOE

Happy Halloween
Hey babe,
This was our first Halloween apart. Nothing really exciting happened, we had a total of 9 trick or treaters.
No little munchins, the ones we enjoyed so much.
I am really glad for that, because it would have been hard seeing the little ones without you here.
I have all this candy left over and you aren't here to eat it up and for my to put it in your lunch everyday til its gone. haha
I know you hated that, I know you probably gave alot of it away to the other guys.
There is still last years candy from halloween in your lunch box.
It's really getting colder now and its getting dark really early, its that time of the year when we could go to bed early enough to get enough rest without the sunshine shining in our eyes.
Oh Babe I miss you so much nothing feels right, nothing I do , nowhere I go, nothing I miss my husband, my friend, my soulmate my partner.
Please hold my heart in your hands and help to mend it someday.
I love You forever and ever.

I remember last year, you sitting in  your recliner shining Justin's boots.
He was so excited to go to the ballgame in his uniform, and was quite surprised that you not only volunteered to shine his boots, but that you put one hell of a shine on them.""only for him to have to push a car out of the mud, and cover his boots in mud.'''

I can still see you shining those boots and the pride that showed on your face.

We were so glad to have him home for the weekend.
Do you remember how we tricked all his friends and surprised Camie.
That was so much fun.
Remember when she came in and went down the hall and we thought she was going to see Justin standing in our bedroom.
We both jumped up and followed her.
She thought that was really strange, but even after all that we still got to surprise her with Justin.

I think the best part was we got him all to ourselves for several hours that day because no one knew he was coming hime but us.

I still have the signs you made and took to the airport "welcoming him home"

Remember when Jeremy showed up and we got him too, and he called Courtney, and she didn't believe him that Justin was home and she had to drive back over here just to see for herself even though Justin talked to her on the phone.

That weekend playing cards with all the kids, was one of the best card nights we had ever had.
The entire gang was here.
Justin got to play with us, not just hear us over the phone like before.
He was the only one that figured you out when you were bluffing.

Loads of laughs were shared that night.


I sure miss those simple times we shared around that table.
The laughs were amazing.

It is so hard to believe that only one week later you would be gone.

If I had only known that the end was that close I would have never let you out of my reach.
The card game would have never ended. The goodnights would have never been spoken.

No sleep would have ever came and I am sure no one would have went to a game, If only we had known, our lives would be torn apart in only a matter of days.

I still can't accept the fact that you are gone from me.
My heart will never mend it has been broken into too many pieces.
You took so many of those broken pieces with you, that only when I am by your side again will my heart be repaired.

I miss you Joe, more that I could ever write or explain.
I know you see the hurt in my heart and pain in my eyes, just hold me in your arms tight and never let me go.

I am sorry that you are seeing me upset like this but just know that I will never stop loving you or missing you as long as GOD allows me to continue on in this empty life you will be in my heart and on my mind forever more.
I LOVE YOU FOR ALL ETERNITY
WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL.

I can't beleive its been a year since  the love of my life, my husband, best friend, lover soulmate for life was taken away all at one time.
I really can't figure out how I have survived this last year, with a heart that is broken into so many pieces.

I put together a memorial service at the graveside to 
CELEBRATE JOE.
We had a very large turnout with lots of friends and family.
I had ordered some balloons with a picture of Joe on them and had came across lights that went inside the balloons.
We inflated as many of the balloons as we could, with helium and tied them to a candle, we waited til dark to have the memorial for the sole purpose of the lights in the balloons glowing and the candles.

We all got into a huge circle around Joe's grave and I thanked everyone for coming and asked if anyone had anything they wanted to say, I asked a friend of ours to say a little prayer for us, Julius, I think I caught him off guard, so the prayer was very short and sweet, but heartfelt.
Then we all released the balloons up to heaven for Joe and every other angel to see.
IT WAS AMAZING!!!!



I had played with the balloons here at home but was not prepared for the most beautiful sight I have seen in quite a while.
But honestly when we all released the balloons, and up into the heavens they went ( most of them)
It was a sight to see.
It made the hair on my neck stand up.
I hope that everyone that was there friends and family got the same thing out of it as I did.
I know Joe was there with us smiling and patting us all on the back for showing up and remembering him in such a great way.
He pulled a few good ones on a few of us. 
There were balloons that didn't hold the helium so they didn't float away, and I know when  Mike released his balloon and it went up but came back to him behind his back, I told him that Joe wanted him to know he was standing behind him.
Mike also told me that he couldn't keep his candle lit.
I think Joe was having a little fun with Mike, because Mike was having a really hard time being there. Not that the rest of us wasn't having a hard time.
Lots of friends and family stayed with us through what seemed to be a very long delay, waiting on someone to go back and get a video camera that a certain someone ( Justin) forgot.
But thats ok, Joe was taking advantage of the delay to walk amongst us all and give us each an angel hug.

After the balloon release, the family and some friends went to the community building and have pizza and what I had planned was a story time celebration, with all of us telling funny stories about Joe and remembering him with laughter.
But that isn't how things worked out.
I had been working for several months on a slideshow presentation with lots of pictures of Joe and little poems for Joe.
What time the slide show is going  and the music is playing,, you could literally hear a pin drop.
The slideshow was amazing, or at least I thought so, and I had seen it a few times.
But some pictures most people had not saw because I didn't share and I tried to have loads of pictures of Joe over all the stages of his lifetime.
The saying that "pictures are worth a thousand words"
isn't quite right, 
" pictures are worth a million memories"
THEY ARE PRICELESS

The storytime just didn't work out, but it was still an amzing evening and Joe was the center of attention and our love for him filled the room.
Maybe sometime down the road we will still have an opportunity to have a story time  but for now I guess Joe wasn't ready for all of us to hear the  wild and crazy things that he has done or said over the short years that he was with us.

Thanks to all who continue to share their love of Joe and help everyday to keep his memory alive.
I love each one of you......



I wish more of Joe's friends would have made it to the memorial to help celebrate Joe,
and I am forever grateful for the ones who came to show support and love.


I wish to thank each one fo them from the bottom of my heart.

and a special thank you goes out to Lisa and Jake Kerr for all of their assistance and understanding during all the prep work.

Thanks so much for helping Justin get his very first buck.
Thanks so much babe for keeping him safe, I was so excited for him when he called and told me the news. I was also sadden to think that you wanted to be with him so bad to see him get his first buck.
You may not have been here physically but I know that you were right there at that tree when that deer came straight at him.

You probably had the best seat in the woods.

Keep him safe on each one of his ventures into the woods this season and all the ones to follow.

He is having it mounted, which is exactly what you would have had done too. It will probably become a new place to hang his shirt for you and one of your hats.


I love you babe.

Hold us close to you and help us through all the hard days we will face alone.

Another Thanksgiving without my Joe.
This day used to mean something to mean, but I can honestly say its just another Thursday for me now.
Last year was my first Thanksgiving without Joe and I just wanted the day to end and be over with. But this year was even worse, with all the other problems going on right now, having to go through another holiday without Joe, I can't even describe it. I really tried very hard today, I cooked a very small dinner for me and the kids, but I think I ruined everything. Added to much of this or not enough of that, it was just a disaster from the start.

I don't see any other holidays being any better. I just don't want to go through them again. The holidays are a atime for family and the biggest part of mine is gone on to a better place. I just can't adjust.

Today was a beautiful day, weather wise. And I know that if Joe were here with me we would have been getting ready for the holiday season, hanging lights and putting out christmas decorations.
If it had not have been for going to the graveside I would have not left the house. I took too many naps to even mention.
This has been a very long day. 
Joe I am sorry that I didn't cook a big dinner like in the past but I miss you so and Justin and Jessica and myself could no way eat that much food, and it was just didn't make any sense to waste all that food.
I miss all your help in the kitchen, I miss letting you sample everything to make sure it was right. I miss feeding you my eggs, which we always laughed about. haha

I hope Justin's comment put a smile on your face the way it did mine. I think he saw I was needing a little pick me up, He knew I was sinking fast and he knew just what to say to make me smile.  Not only did it make me smile because it was something you had said, but also to know that he was thinking about you too.

He is really worried about me babe, just please reassure him that I am ok. 
They forget that the way we used to spend our time was here at home doing nothing, but it was what we WANTED  to do. 
Oh how I miss doing NOTHING with you.
I hope you were smiling down on us at least for a short time today. I know you see our pain and hope that you are helping us as much as you can.
Keep sending us all your love and comfort to help us each day until we are again together.
I love you and miss you beyond measure.

Another day has come and went, and I am left alone again.
I go through the motions of living everyday, but my heart isn't in it, like before.
This entire month has been so hard, I can't even look at your pictures without crying. I was to a point where I could look at each one and remember the fun times we had and the beautiful memories we made. But my broken heart has taken over and I can't see past the pain. 
I long to be in your arms again and to feel you holding me tight. The  loneliness is unbearable. I feel like I am in a bubble and I am watching the world through a window. Its very hard explain. 
I know if there was any way that you could take away just part of the pain I feel I know you would. I could always count on you to make things better, and to hold me when things got hard. I have never had to deal with everything by my self. and I am not doing to well at it. 
I don't know what was going on yesterday, but I couldn't even make it down the hill at the cemetary, I got so sick I had to just leave. I am so sorry I didn' make it down there, but I know, you aren't there, but I still want to come to the graveside, like I have said before its the last place that I left you. I think I feel guilty for leaving you. oh how I wish I could have you home, and things would all be right again.
I read on another site, that another wife had wrote that she was not ""on speaking terms with GOD,""" because she was still mad about losing her husband.
I can honestly see wheres shes coming from, I know I shouldn't be mad at GOD but I am only human and I have to admit I am very upset and confused but I also know that I am not the only one to be upset or mad or confused so I am sure he understands.


I just can't help myself, we were doing so good, and were making so many plans for the future. I feel so cheated!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I see other couples that have had the opportunity to grow old together and all their plans seems to be going fine, I just don't get it. I have to admit I am jealous of all the couples that I see, and it hurts so much to see them kissing and holding hands the way we used to do. 

Joe, babe, I miss you more than any words can describe. I hurt more than any pain I could have ever imagined. 
I hope you are helping me along this lonely road, that I have to travel alone, without my one true love by my side. I am going to need all of your help to make it.

Goodnight my love
Stay by my side and always hold me tight.

I LOVE YOU TIL THE END OF ETERNITY.......

December 16,2006.
We celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary today.
Ok well I did.
To day was a really hard day again. I missed so much getting my roses from Joe today.
Something he always did for me along with a very beautiful card, as always.
We never really done alot on our anniversary, as long as we were together we were fine. 
Sometimes we would go out for dinner, but we both enjoyed staying home and kicking back in front of the tv and spending time together.
I went to the cemetary and took 22 red balloons for you Joe and 2 others too.
I took the 22 roses to the roadside.
It was another beautiful day and I got to spend alot of time there at the gravesite, talking with you.
Do you remember our promises we made many years ago? This would have been the year.
"I know you and you know me."

The days are so long and empty, that sometimes I feel like I am the only person alive.

Today is our day always has been and always will be.
This is the day that we gave our hearts to each other in the face of GOD and one day we will be together again.

Do you remember that day? We were both so nervous,'' WHY '
I don't know.
We had waited a long time and had been thru some tough times but we knew we were meant to be.

You are the one soulmate that GOD made for me and me for you.
I just wish he would have let us have a little more time together.

I guess our reward will come when we will get to spend all of eternity side by side.

Joe, I hope with all that I have, that you know how much I loved you when we were side by side, and continue each and everyday.
I know you hear me all day when I have to stop and look at you, and say ""I LOVE YOU""
the same way I always did. I can still see that little smile that would come across your face, when I would say it at the most unexpected times.

I don't think if you truly love someone that you can tell them too much, how much you love them.
Yes we had our good days and bad days, but we always had our love, that never failed.

I have found alot of great good new friends since our parting and have lost a few "so called" friends along the way too.

But as always we didn't have alot of friends, because we were each others best friend.

Maybe that why I like spending time alone, because I think that is when you are closest to me.
When its again just the 2 of us.

Joe, I gave you my heart and soul many years ago, and it will always be yours and only yours until the day I die.
Some people can't understand the kind of love we share.
It is very special.
I just hope and pray that someday both, Jessica and Justin can find this kind of love and happiness with someone.

They have seen us, and how we love each other so hopefully something we taught and showed them will follow them throughout their lives.

Joe, I hope my tears don't upset you too much. I know if you could make them stop you would. 
Just know that someday I will be ok.
When I take my place by your side, the tears will cease.


I love you with all that I am.
Forever your wife
Judy

I had a beautiful grave blanket made for Joe's gravesite.

I found on one of my many internet searches. Christmas lights that are solar powered.
I put 2 sets of the lights on the grave blanket and a very beautiful acrylic angel I found.

I also found solar powered snow flakes that I put in each vase arrangement.

With all the solar christmas lights, and snowflakes, along with the solar angels, and crosses. 
It was amazing. you could see it long before you got close to the gravesite.

I even found the letters to spell out JOE so I put that together, I tried the solar lights on it but it just didn't work out the way I wanted.


On the tree that I got the cemetary to plant I started putting small acrylic angels on the branches.



I think I have about 8 or 9 on it now.
I call it the ANGEL TREE

I would go out every night after dark just to see it all lit up, and to make sure everything was ok.



The first time I took Lisa, my friend out she was speechless.
It was, if I have to say myself, a truely amazing site.

I hope to improve it every year.

I am not much for putting a christmas tree at the cemetary, but I sure went crazy with everything else. I think Joe would approve.

Now since the holidays are over I have removed the grave blanket and replaced it with a cross, that we have wrapped solar lights on and it is also very pretty at night all glowing.

Another holiday season without my Joe by my side. 
I have always been wild about Christmas, the gift giving , the decorations, all the lights, last  year was my first Christmas without Joe but its just a blur. I just went through the days in a cloud.
The day long events of putting up christmas lights on every possible surface and spending endless hours make sure all the lights worked and were straight, they are a part of history now.

I didn't enjoy the holidays last year the wounds were too fresh and deep. I really thought this year would be better. But they so far have been worse. 
My head is not buried in a cloud as much and the wounds are more painful this year. I guess maybe because reality has set in and I have got to realize that I will never have another christmas morning with my Joe on this earth. 
I will never get to surprise him with gifts that were well thought out or full of love. We will never get to sit for hours wrapping gifts with each other. He isn't here to make me a new christmas music cd like in all the years past. 
I wish there was a place that we could all go during the month of December, where we didn't have to see any christmas decorations or feel the pressures of the times.
We have all gotten so far away from the true meaning of Christmas.
It has by far became too commercial and Jesus is just in the way.

I hope someday I don't know when but someday I hope to spend Christmas day with Jesus and Joe in Heaven.
Until that day comes I will continue to try to imagine what it is like in heaven with Joe and Jesus and all the other angels.

I pray that GOD will continue to allow me to keep Joe's memory alive and for all the comfort that he knows I will need to get through each day.

GOD bless

Christmas Eve 2006
It has come to that time of the year again. I couldn't stop time from moving.

Myself and Justin, and Jessica, and mom, went out to the cemetary tonight.
We filled about 50 white balloons with helium and lights and took them to the cemetary to release up to the heavens for you Joe.

All the lights were white and none of them were blikers.
Well I should say none were supposed to be blinkers.

We had bundled the balloons together in bunches af about 10 lighted ones and about 5  helpers.
So each one of us had a bundle to release.
We all said a silent little something to Joe and released the balloons.
It was a beautiful night the stars were all shining bright, and a winter nip in the air.

Justin released his balloon bundle and we all noticed that one of his balloons lights had started to blink.

It was the brightest light and the only blinker.
Oh what a sight to see the balloons go up, but that one blinker was amazing.
We all stood there and watched the balloons first go one way and then change directions.
The balloons stayed in sight for a very very long time, we eventually lost sight of the bundles, except Justin's one blinker we could see it for a long time after we lost sight of all the others.

I think it was daddy's way of saying that he was with us there in the cold night air, and that he was going to be with us this Christmas eve night.

After we all lost sight of the "Blinker" we all came back here to get warm and exchange a few gifts.
The holiday spirit and Joe had wrapped us all in a warm glow.
We had a few good laughs and a few good tears.
We recalled some good laughs that Joe got at our expense.

We could all see Joe sitting in his chair, shoes still on, arms folded behind his head, hat on upside down, WVU shirt on, and the most amazing smile.

We didn't have to say it but we all knew he was here with us.
Just where he belonged HOME.

Joe I love you and miss you so.
The holidays or any days will never be the same.
My life will never be the same.
But the good times we shared will always be the same, our love will always be the same.
Nothing can change that, no time , no distance, no death.

Our love was a gift from GOD.
A gift from GOD is true and is forever.

I LOVE YOU FOREVER

This is the 2nd year without Joe.
I have to admit this year was worse than last, and the reason I say that is,
I was still so numb last year that I really don't remember alot about the holidays.
This year I put up 2 small trees, one up stairs and 1 down. 
Christmas morning was just Justin and me. Jessica didn't stay the night because of reasons I would rather not discuss.
So the Christmas mornings from the past are no more. 
There will be no more getting up before daylight, no more making everyone wait til Daddy got the camera or video going.
We didn't get up early, we didn't rush to open gifts, we didn't worry about a video camera, we just went through the motions.  (we did take pictures)
Justin got me a "digital picture frame"" wow I was impressed!!
After we opened our few gifts I started cooking dinner. It had to be around noon or after before Jessica came over, after she opened her gifts I finished up dinner. 
Well I have to admit I have never been accused of being a great cook, but we didn't starve over the years. 
But I have to admit this was the worse meal I have ever prepared.
My mom, came over and had dinner with us. We all ate and had a few laughs and several tears, but we made it through the day.

I don't understand how Christmas night can feel like the lonliest night but this year it did for some reason.
I am glad the holidays are over because I just don't enjoy them anymore. 
I miss my Joe so very very much.
I missed him making fun of how the tree looked or how many different wrapping papers were used, or the fact that all the bows that I  painstakingly put on were all falling off. 
I miss it all. I can't think of any part that we didn't enjoy, ok there was one, taking it all down and putting it away.

But we did it together, I had to do it all by my self, no one to help put it up and no one to help take it down.

I guess one day sometime in the future maybe I will enjoy the holidays again.
Until then I can always look back on all the holiday memories that I was fortunate enough to share with Joe.
Good night my love.
I love you,
Merry Christmas Babe.

Here we go again.
Another holiday without you by my side.
New Years Eve 2007
Like all the ones before it was no big celebrations, we just didn't do much for New Years. 
But at least this year I didn't fall asleep. I was actually wide awake.
I was working on this site adding things and just reading and visiting other angels.
Justin was here with me with a girlfriend.

I always heard that what ever you do on New Years day is what you will do the entire year.
Well I guess I will have to buy stock in the tissue business.
CRY CRY CRY and then cry some more.

I just wish there was a way that God would allow us one more time.
I am not asking for another year or another month  not that I wouldn't take it, but if I could only have 15 minutes.
or just 1 minute, I know that will never happen, but I can still hope for it everyday, and someday by the grace of God I will get to stand by your side, all the sorrows of today will be gone and I won't remember the pain of not having you for ever how long we are to be apart
and with all my love for God and Jesus and you I will never shed another tear.
i will be completely surrounded by more love than I could ever think of in this world.
Happy New Year babe, I love you dearly, and I miss you so very very much.
But I know that someday I will take my place by your side.
This is the 2nd New Years that I have faced alone, and I don't know how many more maybe 1 maybe none maybe 50 but I will always be waiting for the day when we will no longer ever be apart.

I WOULD GIVE ALL I HAVE


I would give all I have to have you with me,
To see tomorrow with you,
To touch and hold the one thing dear to me,
I would climb the highest mountains,
I would swim the widest oceans,
Closed my eyes and be blinded by your love,
Trusting in you to lead my way,
I would give all I had for you,
To love you and be loved in return,
To adore you, and be adored in return,
I would give my all to be with you,
To make the memories of yesterday forever,
To see me and you in the future.

Come whatever,
I would give all I have for you,
Lay down my life for you,
To sacrifice my soul for your pardon,
I would give all I have for you,
Be it to travel to the ends of the earth,
To catch the falling stars out of the skies above,
I would give all,
To hear you say the words I so needed to hear,
The word that would heal my broken heart,
The words that means all the world to me,
To hear you say "I love You",
And look into your eyes knowing you meant it,
For I would give all I have in life for you,
For you gave me all I have in life,
And without you, I have nothing.

February 14th
Lovers day

This makes the 2nd Valentines Day without my Valentine.
There were no roses, no candy, no cards that made my heart skip a beat.
Only another lonely day.
Today was very cold and other than going to the cemetary to visit you, I wasn't out of the house.
I took you balloons and watched them swirl in the cold breeze.
Your flowers look great and the flag too.
You know how much I love red roses.
Anytime of the year.

I bought the kids both a box of candy from both of us.
It is still so hard not to buy things like this for you. 
Joe I miss you so much I hurt all the way to my bones.
Most days I survive ok but days like today I just want to crawl in a hole and die.

I wish there was an island somewhere  I could go so that I wouldn't have to see or hear about couples. I know that sounds selfish, but I get really jealous to see their happieness, knowing we can't be together.
I am sorry to feel this way but I have to be honest with you.

You would be proud of what all I have learned on this computer. I amaze myself.
and to think before all I could do was check email. hehe

I sure miss your help with things and I know you see what I need the most help with and hope you will do everything that you can to help me with it.
I made that beautiful video but I can't get it on the site, sure wish you would help me on that one.
Babe keep your arms around me daily, that is the greatest feeling to awake to, is the feeling that you are holding me against your chest.

I love you more than life itself. 
But I know that with each day that I survive its just one day closer to meeting you at the gates of Heaven.
And I will continue to love you more each day until that time arrives.
Forever loving you 
Judy

The cold winter days are almost over ,again.
All days without you by my side are cold.

I guess our baby will be 20 years old this month. 
Babe he sure misses you too. We have became very close, we get along better than we did before.
He is trying so hard to step up and be my little man around here. He is usually right here to help me with almost anything. I have however taught him a few things, heheh things that you have taught me over the years.
I think he feels intimidated that I can actually teach him something.again hehehe.

For the most part everything has settled down a little in all areas. I owe that all to you and God for helping me through some really hard times, not that they are over by a long way. For the most part the hardest days are still ahead of me. 
I miss you so much that some days are unbearable, and I thank God and You for the new friends I have acquired. They are truly the reason I haven't ended up in a straight jacket.
Don't laugh you of all people know how I am and how easily I get upset, I have, believe it or not learned a little self control.
Some of my new friends can't imagine the days of past when I would shoot off at the mouth without thinking about anything. 
I know you are amazed with that one. 
Maybe I am falling back on the way you always handled things, at certain times when I can't speak my mind, I can always count on a few of those new friends that I have and of course some very amazing lawyers, that I have come to love very deeply. 
Joe you would absolutely love Brian.
You and Brian would probably be the best of friends. You would  be in the woods hunting with Brian and hanging out in the  woods with him.

Sonny has been great right from the start and we would all probably be the best of friends had we had the chance. 
Both Sonny and Brian are completely amazed with you and me. 
Sonny loves the website and he loves all your photos all around the house.
I know its funny to think that we could have been friends with lawyers, but as you and everyone else who knew you, you could fit in anywhere, you got along with everybody, never met a stranger and would have made friends very easily.

You, already know that you have a new neighbor at the cemetary.
Her name is Reva, she was from Cross Lanes and her husbands name is Charles they were married 46 years, I would have loved it if we could have had that many years together.
Charles is very nice I have met him at the gravesite.

Joe, just keep your arms around me and continue to help me through the days that I have to face alone until the day when I am called home to take my place at your side.
You know what and when I need you most.
Help me with all the computer things that I am trying to learn, i know you would have already learned it all but I am not as patient with this stuff as you are.
Just put your hand on me and lead me the right way, and make sure I always make the right decisions.
My heart continues to ache for you and I still catch myself waiting for the phone to ring to hear you tell me that you are leaving the shop. 
I have had some really bad days that hit me out of the blue and I can always count on you to help make the pain stop and to comfort my breaking heart and to help dry my non stop tears.

Joe not a second, or minute of any day goes by that I am not thinking of you, and missing you beyond any words can describe.

I Love you Forever and Always.
Forever your wife
Judy

Hey Babe,
Sorry I haven't been on here for a while. But you know how things have been around here. Like a freaking madhouse most days.

The nightmare continues each and evryday. My mind just can't comprehend that you are gone. I know its been almost 21 months  thats 624 days since you left me, but it isn't getting any better.
I am not any closer to getting all this mess cleared up, and a part of me is glad that this mess continues, it gives my mind something to do.
I am just really scared that when and if this is all over, that ,that is when I am going to break. I have had to keep my head on straight to keep up with all the meetings and questions and none stop calls and emails with Brian.
I have not had the opportunity to grieve for you because I have been in a wind tunnel, since it all happened.
With the lawsuit, the kids and everyone else.
I just want to let go....
Let go and let myself go, I feel that when I let myself go that the wind may blow me away because I will just turn to dust, I will have nothing holding me together anymore.

The time that has passed hasn't made the ache any less, if anything most days are worse, Babe I think the lonliness is getting to me. I don't go anywhere anymore except to visit you and I only go to meetings with Brian when they are scheduled.

I miss you so damn much it hurts more than I can explain. I miss going for our bike rides, when its that time of the evening I start feeling really low. I have thought about getting the bike out and riding it myself but it terrifies me that someone would stop me and ask me where you are.
Right now I just don't want to face that, I don't want to tell people hoping that it is all just a bad dream.

I wake up scared to open my eyes because I know you aren't here beside me. 
I don't know this person ( me) anymore. There is not one part of me that hasn't changed or died. I feel so cold to people and everything around me. I just don't give a damn about anything anymore.

I look at the photos of you and I can remember exactly where we were or what we were doing in everyone.
Sometimes that can be a bad thing, I want to go back so very badly, just one more time just one more day.
My life, I feel is a complete waste, I have nothing to cling to anymore.

Justin talks to me more now than ever, I think he sees me slowly fading away.
I try hard when hes here not to be a complete basket case, but it so hard I can't just turn off my emotions.


I just don't think that I am going to last very long, because I feel myself spinning out of control.
I can't give up now I have to fight for justice for what they did to you. I plan on making those bastards pay for what they have taken away from me.
And what they have cheated you out of.
We had dreams that we can't make come true because of an imcopetent , lousy company that only worries about the all mighty dollar.

We can't spend our evenings sitting on the porch watching the baby birds learn to fly, or the traffic going by,
or watch how fast or slow the grass is growing.
We can't hold each other in our arms til we fall asleep, there are so many things that they have robbed from us that nothing will ever replace.
I will never know happiness again without you by my side.


I will never accept the fact that you are gone.
I will never get past it nor will I get over it. I just feel that once you have had your heart broken into so many pieces and only half are left here on earth and the other half is in heaven
that it is impossible to recover.

I pray that you can't see my pain, but if you can,please send down a little extra comfort for me.
I am so incomplete since you left me.
Joe I love you so very much and miss you more and more with each passing day. I tried to tell myself that with each passing day I was one day closer to you and that is true but  the truth is that it is also one day longer since I felt your touch and saw your face.

God, I miss you babe tonight and every night.
Forever broken
Judy

Hey Babe,
I wish I could find the words to express the pain that is in my heart today and everyday since you left. Tonight is especially hard, Not sure what makes tonight different than the others.
I have felt really sick all day today and I just can't kick it.
I think the depression is getting worse with each passing day.
Tomorrow will be 21 months since my world came crashing down, and I have been spinning out of control ever since.
The days are getting harder not easier. I thought it was supposed to get easier, I feel that with each day that passes the fog clears alittle more and the full picture that I have to spend the rest of my life without you becomes the clear crule reality.
I have tried so hard to be strong and keep myself going forward, but this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do and to have to do it all alone, makes it that much worse.
I have managed to get my days and nights all screwed up. I don't sleep well at night so I stay awake most of the night and sleep during the day.
I can't figure that one out but, I am at the point of whatever works for me, right or wrong.

Hell nothing is right anymore.
When we started our lives together I never would have thought for a moment that we would be seperated so  soon. 
We worked so hard through thick and thin to make our marriage and family everything we had always wanted.
It just seems so unfair that we worked so hard and got it all ripped right away from us, when there are others who can't keep their marriage or families together and they seem to never suffer heartache.
I know I am being selfish, but that is where I am right now. I want you back with me let God take someone else. I am sorry I shouldn't feel that way because I know that you are where you have always wanted to be. I understand that and I have no choice but to accept it but I don't have to like it.
Or agree with it.



Maybe some day I will get past all the anger I have for the way things have turned out with us.
Babe, I just feel so cheated. I felt the day we met that we were meant to be together. We had so many plans for our future together. We never wanted much we just wanted to have enough money to stay ahead of the bills and have the health that we could travel to some places in the beautiful country of ours and make some memories to last a lifetime.
 We weren't greedy. We just wanted each other.
I will never travel this country, I can't imagine seeing the places we always talked about, with you to enjoy it with me.

I still watch OUR shows everyday on the tv. Oh my I can still see you there with me and hear you laughing with me. 
Some of the shows are reruns and I have a hard time with them because I can remember the first time watching them with you. 
I saw you today out front on the porch when Lisa and Jake were over.
They have become great friends and I wish we could have been better friends before. You and Jake would get along great.

Lisa takes care of me always bringing me lunch and making sure I eat and always inviting me out to eat, and she goes to the store with me when I go most of the time, she understand how hard it is for me to go by myself.
Justin has even went a few times. He hates it so bad.
Worse than you did. haha
Babe I am so ready to just give up I want to be with you so bad, that most days thats all I think about is how much longer do I have to wait.
I just don't want to go  on without you. I know you are watching over me and I hope you can somehow someway help me through this because right now I don't have much faith in myself to pick myself up and dust me off, that was always your job.
You always took care of me. Even when I was so low down, you would always pick me up and dust me off. 
I don't have anybody to help me and you know I can't do it all alone.

I miss you so damn much I can't breath.
My heart hurts so much that I feel like I have the weight of the world on me.

If I could only have you hold me tight like you always did and make me feel safe again.
It would be priceless.
My love for you will last for all of eternity. There is no end to the love I have for you.
Months and months may pass and the time since we were as one here will continue to grow longer, but I will never stop loving you or missing you. 
Joe you are such a big part of me that I can't imagine how I survive each day.
Forever missing and loving you

Hey Babe
Its me again. I have been so very down these last few days.
I really think if it weren't for Brian, I would have thrown the towel in by now. As bad as I hate to admit it, he has reallt truly been a rock through all of this.
I think outside of you, he has got to be the most understanding person I have ever been around.

I hope after all this mess is finally over that I can still call him a friend.

I am planning og going to North Carolina in the spring, to meet some of the other families on this website. 
They have made lots of plans and it looks like there is going to be alot of families there.
I will probably go by myself, but thats ok. I am slowly learning how to do things alone.
This is just a part of reality that I have to face.
The loneliness, it consumes so much of me. You know me I always hated doing things alone. 
Even simple things we always done together. 
I am so very glad that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are with me throughout every day, You walk beside me every step I take.
I remember what you told me just days after you were saved,  when we were in that store, and you told me that you could feel Jesus walking with you. 
I have the same feeling, knowing that you are walking with me.
I know you will help guide me and you will continue to help me make the right decisions, with everything that I now have to face alone.
I know I have made some mistakes and I am trying so very hard to make the right decisions, I can only ask for your help when I can't seem to make the decisions on my own.


I am having more and more depression and anxiety than I was before. 
I think some might be Justin has been gone for so long now, that I am really starting to miss him, running in and out. haha
He will be home in a few days.

Joe, My heart is really heavy tonight missing you and hoping that I am making the right decisions and choices. 
I never want to do anything that would hurt you or offend you or let you down.

It is just so hard having to make decisions without you. I could always turn to you when I wasn't sure. If you could help me out a little and give me some kind of sign that I am doing ok, I would be forever greatful.

Forever thinking of you and missing you.
I Love you 
Forever yours only
Judy

JOE'S SERVICES WERE HELD AT GATEN HARDINGS FUNERAL HOME, IN POCA WEST VIRGINIA, ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2005 FROM 7PM TIL 9PM.

WE LAID JOE TO REST AT TYLER MOUNTAIN MEMORIAL GARDENS, IN CROSS LANES WEST VIRGINIA, ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23,2005 AT 2 PM.


JOE WILL FOREVER LIVE ON IN OUR HEARTS AND THRU HIS FAMILY.

ALONE, BUT NEVER QUITE ALONE,

I FACE AN EMPTY CHAIR, BUT SOMETIMES IN THE SILENCE,

I IMAGINE HE IS THERE.

MY HUSBAND FOR SO MANY YEARS, NO LONGER HERE WITH ME,

AND YET, IN SOME MYSTERIOUS WAY,

HE KEEPS ME COMPANY....

ALL MY LOVE AND ALL MY HEART TO YOU MY JOE.....

Loving you everyday;
is all I seem to do,
I don't want you to forget,
that I'm waiting to be with you.
I'm not really sure how it works up there,
are you waiting for me too?
I hope you don't forget me,
because I'm already sad and blue.

I'm trying to be strong,
as you would want me to be.
I'm doing my very best,
as you can probably see.
I learned all this from You,
I know this is what I need to do.

I'll wake up every morning,
and try to carry on.
Trying NOT to remember,
My True Love is GONE.
I'll try to do all the things,
that need to be done.
I'll do them while thinking
of My JOE

So with my time I have,
I will try to make it great,
When all I want to do,
is stand in line and wait.
For that day I meet YOU
at the GOLDEN GATE.

Love and Miss and Thinking
of You Always.
Baby I Love You.

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2005, JOE WENT TO WORK BUT NEVER RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY. HE WAS TRAGICALLY STRUCK AND  KILLED WHILE ON THE JOB. JOE WAS 42 YEARS OLD.

EVERYDAY WE TRY TO CARRY ON, BUT SO MANY THINGS ARE SO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR SOULMATE, HUSBAND, FRIEND, FATHER, SON ,  BROTHER,  BESIDE YOU THROUGH THE DAYS.
WE HAVE TRIED OUR BEST TO GET UP EVERY MORNING AND GO THROUGH THIS LIFE. I WILL ADMIT ITS NOT EASY AND I HATE IT. BUT I KNOW WHAT JOE WANTS US TO DO AND I  TRY TO START AND FINISH EVERYDAY WITH HIS BLESSING.
I HAVE HAD ALOT OF FRIENDS ASK ME, "HOW DO YOU DO IT"?
I DON'T KNOW, I WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND GO THROUGH THE DAY, I AM NOT LIVING, I AM EXISTING.
I STOPPED LIVING NOVEMBER 18, 2005.
LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME IT WILL NEVER EVEN COME CLOSE .
EVERYTHING I DO EVERYDAY, I ALWAYS TRY TO ASK MYSELF , WHAT WOULD JOE DO.
I TALK TO HIM EVERYDAY, MORNING , NOON AND NIGHT. I AM ALWAYS ASKING HIM TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND AND TO HELP ME MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
I TRY TO CONTINUE DOING THE SAME THINGS THAT WE DID BEFORE, LIKE THE YARD WORK AND THINGS LIKE THAT. JUSTIN HELPS ME OUT ALOT BUT, HES NOT JOE. I CAN'T TALK TO HIM THE WAY I COULD TALK TO JOE. 
I GUESS UNLESS YOU HAVE YOUR SOULMATE BY YOUR SIDE, AND LOVE THEM ENDLESSLY, YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE HURT TO LOOSE THEM.

I HAVE TO KEEP REMINDING MYSELF THAT OUR CHILDREN JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH.

BUT SOMEDAY WHEN THEY FALL DEEPLY INLOVE AND ARE SHARING THEIR LIVES WITH THEIR SOULMATE THAT THEY WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING .