Holliday's Holliday

Friday, May 9, 2008

I have gotten so many flowers, cards, calls, emails and other well wishes that I am struggling to keep up with the volume. I have to say I am touched beyond belief by all the outpouring of love that went into John's funeral. I am just now coming up for air after having weeks with little sleep, the all the family and friends that came to be with us. Please know that I have not forgotten any of you. I appreciate every single sentiment that I have received.

I am leaving Sunday for a spa/therapy vacation and leaving the dogs at the house with very capable sitters. I have not even been able to say much about our new female Yorkie puppy, Daisy. By our, I mean that she belongs to Daffney and me. Daffney was looking lonely so I got her a friend. At first she wanted nothing to do with this tiny little whippersnapper. Now the two of them spend the day tussling and trying to beat each other up. Daisy has learned to climb the stairs in both directions. This is an improvement over standing at the top of the stairs and howling.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

John loved snapdragons, pansies and zinneas. He loved Yorkies, his grandchildren and water.



John Rogers Alford Jr.
John Rogers Alford, Jr. John Rogers Alford, Jr. died at home Sunday, March 13. He is preceded in death by his son, John Rogers Alford III; his sister, Ella Langdon Alford and his parents, Susan Landon Alford and John Rogers Alford, Sr. Mr. Alford was born in Dallas, Texas, August 1, 1928. He spent his entire childhood in Henderson, Texas, graduating from Henderson High School. He graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in business, where he was a member of ATO fraternity. He served in the US Army during the Korean War era. John's survivors include his wife Frances Holliday Alford; daughter Elizabeth Alford Young and son-in-law James Michael Young; his grandchildren James Alford Young and Clara Elliott Young; his brother Landon Alford and sister-in-law Phyllis Potthast Alford; his nephews Eugene Landon Alford, MD, Benson Warren Alford, David Alford and Allen McDonald and nieces Margaret McDonald Newton and Susan Lee McDonald James. He had two god children, Sarah Seawright and Elliott Francis Holliday Weeks. He was previously married to Barbara Shaw Alford and Margie Stewart Alford. Mr. Alford lived in Austin, Texas and engaged in business from the late 50's until the present. He was a partner in Alford Investments and Alford Land Company both of Henderson, and president of Alford Outdoor Advertising here in Austin. Mr. Alford supported a variety of philanthropic causes. He was on the board of the John R. and Susan Landon Alford Foundation in Henderson. He was most proud of his support of Southern Methodist University and their Life Sciences Learning Lab, the Boy Scouts of America and various alcoholism recovery organizations. In addition he and Frances supported the National Peace Corps Association, The Austin Symphony, The Austin Museum of Art and the Blanton Museum, St. Edwards University, Huston- Tillotson University, Hospice Austin, Easter Seals, Alzheimer's Research and a host of other organizations. John made it possible for a number of young people to complete their college education. He was an enthusiastic sailor, fisherman and naturalist throughout his life. He was an early member of the Austin Yacht Club, instrumental in building the docks and club house there and racing for many years. In 1975 he sailed from Houston to the Bahamas along the Intercoastal Canal and Gulf of Mexico over the course of several months. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at the Congregational Church, 408 W. 23rd St, in Austin. Committal services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 17th at Lakewood Memorial Cemetery in Henderson, Texas. Obituary and guestbook online at http://wcfish.com

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Monday, April 14, 2008

My husband, John Alford, died at 4:30 Sunday afternoon in our home. He has been ill for a long time and he was tired and ready to go.

John's daughter Elizabeth and her husband Michael and I were able to say goodbye to him as we watched him slip away. As sad as it was, it was such a blessing to do this together at home and at a time when he was ready.

I will miss my husband for ever.

At the time of his death, John had 32 years of sobriety and had helped many other people understand the great value of living one day at a time. I met him in 1980 and am happy to report that I am now celebrating 29 years of sobriety as well.

Minutes after John's last breath, his grandson James came into the house crying because one of our yard lizards had been hit by a car. He and his dad had given the lizard a hasty burial and funeral. He came to my lap and cried for his grandpa and for the lizard. I told him that the lizard had died at a very special time. James and I believe that the lizard escorted John to heaven. If there are Yorkies in heaven, Henry and Henrietta probably couldn't wait to see him.

Love, Frances

__________________________________

John Rogers Alford, Jr. was born in Henderson, Texas, August 1, 1928. He graduated from SMU and served in the US Army. He and his first wife Barbara (Bobbie) Shaw Alford were the parents of John R. Alford lll and Elizabeth Shaw Alford. John, Bobbie and Elizabeth lost John lll when he was age 14 and died in an accident.

John is also proceeded in death by his sister, Ella Alford, his parents Susan Landon Alford and John R. Alford, Sr.

John's survivors include his wife, Frances Holliday Alford, daughter Elizabeth Alford, Son in Law, Michael Young, Grand children, James and Clara Young, Brother Landon Alford, Sister in Law Phyllis Alford, nephews Eugene Alford, MD, Ben Alford, David Alford and Allen McDonald. Nieces, Margaret McDonald Newton and Susan McDonald. He had two god children, Sarah Seawright and Elliott Francis Holliday Weeks.

John lived in Austin, Texas and engaged in business from the early 60's until the present. He is best knownfor his philanthropy. John took the example given to him by his parents and became a large supporter of a variety of organizations. He was most proud of his support of SMU, The Boy Scouts of America and various Alcoholism Recovery organizations. In addition to these, along with Frances, he supported National Peace Corps Association, The Alliance of American Quilters, The Austin Symphony, The Austin Museum of Fine Arts, St. Edwards University, Huston Tillotson University, Hospice Austin, Easter Seals, Alzheimer's Research and a host of other organizations. John made it possible for a number of young people to complete college educations. His generosity was as enormous as his humility.

Funeral Arrangements will be handled by Weed-Corley in Austin. John and Frances have been members of the Congregational Church of Austin. A funeral will be held at the church followed by internment in Henderson, Texas.

http://journals.aol.com/coyotetrap/HollidaysHolliday/

pictures and arrangements will be posted.

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Friday, March 14, 2008

$1500 to ACS

I am happy to say that my Oranges, Grapes and Limes went to my good friend Kay Sorensen. I think she is likely to put it in her Florida home. I have not seen this house of hers, but she kept us entertained by telling us how she took furniture to the autobody shop and had pieces painted in Raspberry, Lime Green and Turquoise. What a dream of a house. She has great taste and knows what to do with color.

Collection of Kay Koeper Sorensen
$1500 donated to the ACS

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Sunday, March 2, 2008

Virginia Spiegel has raised more than $140,000 for the American Cancer Society since 2005. She has been able to do this with the creation of Fiberart For A Cause, a group which raises money by selling the donated art work of a large group of talented, dedicated fiber artists, quilters and fashion designers. Each year, she invites ten artists to donate their work. I am pleased to be one of the invited artists for the year 2008.

My gift to Fiberart For a Cause is a wall hanging art work which I have named "Oranges, Grapes, and Limes." I worked on this before and after my knee surgery, sewing each bead, button or found object on separately, using double strands of embroidery floss. When I do this kind of work, my objective is to find the colors that I want to use and display them with a wide range of objects in the chosen hue. There is a cloth sleeve on the back for hanging. It could also reside in a shadow box. Even though it falls within the quilt genre, I do not recommend that you try to sleep under it. It is too small to keep you warm, and so heavy that you might experience respiratory distress.

I hope that you will consider bidding on some of the fine art that Virginia has collected.

I am glad to see this kind of support for the American Cancer Society. I have lost both parents and one grandparent to cancer, along with a good number of other family members and friends. I am very happy to report that my sister is a survivor of breast cancer and my niece is a survivor of cancer as well. It is clear that continued research will help in the survival and prevention of a disease that touches all walks of life.

Below, you will find text from Virginia Speigle's website. I hope you will go to her sites and take a look at the great pieces that are on the auction block.

"Fiberart For A Cause
2008 Invitational Reverse Auction
of Fabulous Fiberart

Frances Holliday Alford
Oranges, Grapes and Limes
For details (size, etc.) and
larger photos, click here.
The Preview for the Invitational Reverse Auction is now open here.

Ten invited artists have donated fabulous fiberart and now you can see it all. Each artist has a page to tell you about the artwork and themselves AND the minimum donation for each day is listed on the main page.

This year’s artists include Frances Holliday Alford, Terry Grant, Peg Keeney, Jay Rich, Susan Sorrell, Del Thomas, Larkin Van Horn, Laura Wasilowski, Leni Wiener, and Maggie Winfield.

Make your plans carefully as the minimum donation goes down each day, but wait too long and your favorite artwork will be gone.

The Invitational Reverse Auction opens March 10 and closes March 13. All donations are made directly to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause. Donors receive an immediate electronic receipt directly from the ACS."

The objects are sewn individually onto a very firm backing. Timtex. This piece includes Austrian Crystals, Vintage and new buttons, Beads, Toys, Hair accessories, IndustrialWaste, and old jewelry.

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Saturday, March 1, 2008

John is not the only one who has had health problems. I had knee surgery on January 27 to repair a torn meniscus. It has been very hard to walk since then.

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John is in a skilled nursing facility after two hospital stays. He is losing strength and it is hard to realize that the December pictures show him doing activities which are too hard for him now.

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Sunday, February 3, 2008

DIFFA

Jacket Designers Fighting AIDS.

This years jacket is embellished with Shiva Paint Sticks, McGill Paints, Glitter paint, acrylic rhinestones. Jessica takes the first turn at modeling.

For the last three years, I have designed a blue jean jacket for Dallas DIFFA, The Design Industries For Fighting AIDS. http://www.diffa.org/about_mission.asp , http://www.diffadallas.org/

The jacket is sent to me and so far, they have sent me very small ones to work on. This means I have to track down small models to wear it while I take photos. The beautiful young woman below is Anne Bolz, my friend Lynyi Zhou's daughter.