Chapter 82

     Shirley’s mother had passed away and we were on the way to Joplin to go to her funeral when I first heard that Marshall had had a stroke.  It had occurred months earlier, but no one had informed me of it.  

     I was so upset that I almost asked them to stop the car and let me out so I could hitchhike back to Springfield and get my vehicle to go see him.  It was all I could do to stay in the car as I felt so betrayed, but I went ahead to the funeral despite my angst…my prayer was still that he would know Jesus before he passed away. 

     Over the next couple of years, I went to see Marshall numerous times.  He would still threaten to kill me before he died, and I was a bit leery when he was in his chair with a blanket over his lap lest he would have had a pistol.  I made sure to never turn my back to him. 

     Then something changed.  On one of my visits, he actually asked me what I thought about something.  It was the only time I ever recall him asking me my opinion of anything and then to top that off, he asked me if my sister Jan was a real Christian or was it all a show.  I informed him that she was indeed a Spirit-filled Christian even though she had her struggles.  He seemed pleased.  When I left that day, it was the first time he did not threaten to kill me when visiting him.  He had truly changed. 

     Marshall passed away in July 1998 and Lori, I, and the kids went to his funeral.  Lots of Marshall’s flying buddies showed up along with his sister whom he had not spoken to in years.  The funeral was held there at the airstrip and his friend and airplane partner, Charley flew the Piper Cub, with me in the back seat, letting Marshall’s ashes go over the end of the strip on the edge of the lake. 

     His wife, Judy (Charley’s sister) asked to meet with Jan and I in the house.  She started off letting us know she married Marshall, not his children.  She then informed us all his assets had been put in her name.  There was nothing for us, and we were expected to leave. 

     She had to hush her son as he was so excited to start going through Marshall’s tools and load them up to take with him. 

     My only concern was “did Marshall make it to heaven?”  I felt the Holy Spirit on his ashes and remembered his questions.  So, I believed he had. 

     It was at one of the daily prayer meetings at the prayer room that I had the vision.  I looked up and saw a line of angels walking across in front of me.  Then came Jesus and right behind Him was Marshall.  There was a stone chair where Jesus sat, and Marshall stood beside Him to His right.  Other angels came in behind them and then I saw Danny.  He was all smiles, and it was clear he could see me, too.  He waved, then the vision closed. 

     A few weeks later I was thinking of the vision and the Holy Spirit asked me to look up the date of when I had the vision.  I got a calendar, and I was surprised to see, I had the vision on Marshall’s 69th birthday.