Article from Linda Anderson, mother of DeDe Houghton, who died in a plane crash with her family on July 7, 2011.
Above – Linda Anderson and her daughter DeDe in 2006.
When you have a daughter who lights up your world from the day she is born, Love is Easy!
My DeDe was such a joy to me from the start, she was a little Miss Priss and did not like to get dirty… I remember her 1st Birthday cake, she would touch ever so easy so as not to get sticky. Yet she could be a bit of a Tom Boy when playing with her brother…one time he talked her into trying to ice skate on a water trough…the ice broke and she got soaked, cold and he got in trouble. That hurt her because she loved him and felt it really wasn’t his fault. When she started school she was shy and would pull her coat up to her ears hoping no one would see her! By highschool she was a little more outgoing and was the mascot for the school football games, the uniform was a blue Mustang…she would be melting inside and the hairdo was a mess by the time she got out but she rallied the crowds with such spirit.
Above – DeDe in Africa in October of 2008.
She wanted to be a nurse and work helping children, she always had a love of the young. When she started college she decided to be a teacher because she didn’t think she could stand being around little ones she could not help, so out with the idea of nursing and in with childhood education. She taught school for several years until she met and fell in love with her life and soul mate David. Through her shared times in life she always gave of herself, she inspired and shared all things with him and supported him in all he did. DeDe always encouraged me to be everything I wanted to be and always reminded me of how lucky she felt she was to have me for a mother. When her boys came into her life, she did everything that she thought was right to give them every opportunity to achieve their dreams and all the while loving with this incredible proud heart.
Left – DeDe with Ryan in June 2001.
DeDe was my best friend, my daughter and a woman that I always was in awe of. Her ability to be the best friend, to open her heart and to share the good times and the not so good with all that shared her life was incredible to observe.
I have been so blessed in sharing every one of the 44 years with my special DeDe. I will always remember her words “I’m sorry Mom” when she didn’t know how to help me resolve a situation. Her telling me that she was a good Mother, because she had a good example made me so proud. I am not surprised at the exciting and joyful life she lived, she knew almost instinctively how to appreciate and use her gifts. (Her smile, her gentle words of encouragement, her love of all, her knowledge and wisdom, her zest for adventure, how to support and honor others, the list goes on and on). So with a daughter like my wonderful DeDe “A Mother’s Love came Easy.”
Above – DeDe at her friend Kirsten and Leland’s wedding in 2006.
Now that I am tested with this tragic time in my life I know that it is not always easy! With my memories of her and the love in my heart, the help of friends and God I will make it. I know that she is watching down on me and continues to love me and share my life from a far. Thank you DeDe for making “A Mother’s Love Easy” for me! I love you and will forever.
Your comments are welcome below. Please read in the sidebar to the right to find out how to leave comments.
Linda, this is such a special glimpse into the life that was DeDe’s. Thank you for sharing your thoughts dear sis. Love you, Sherry
Linda,
I have been checking in with this site every day and have appreciated all of the essays. But I was also feeling like I wanted to hear more about Dede. So thanks for filling in that gap. Her story is with David, Luke and Ryan but she also started with you. The photos are all beautiful. She was so photogenic. I guess is was that smile…
Linda,
thank you so much for sharing, for helping round-out the memories on this blog. we all know how lovely dede’s spirit was and still is, and i want to acknowledge you for cherishing the being you were entrusted with, for recognizing her specialness, and for your part in enjoying and supporting her unfolding into such a remarkable woman. you are a part of the magnificence she embodied.
Well said “Mom”…
Your daughter is a great soul! Only knew her a few years through the dive shop, but she and David left their mark.
I hope you can recover and be well.
Hi Linda,
You’re a wonderful mother and Grand mother to Dede, David, Luke and Ryan. So gentle and yet so strong.. With a warm understanding and infinite patience,
And wonderful gentleness, too. I am thinking about you and take good care of yourself and thank you so much for sharing of this site.
With Love,
Estrella
For DeDe’s Birthday on 4/4/2011 Ryan gave her this plaque that looks like an open book. He and I found it while out garage sailing. I am sharing it here, because we all got such a laugh even DeDe. Some of the things shared in the message never came to pass for DeDe and her sons, but so many are absolutely her….THE MEANEST AND MOST LOVING MOTHER IN THE WORLD.
THE MEANEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD
I had the meanest mother in the world. While other kids had candy for breakfast, I had to eat cereal, eggs and toast.
While other kids had Cokes and candy for lunch, I had a sandwich. As you can guess, my dinner was different from the other kids’ dinners, too.
My mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You’d thinK we were on a chain gang or something. She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing.
I am ashamed to admit it, but she actually had the nverve to break the child labor law. She made us work. We had to wash dishes, make the beds and learn how to cook. (Don’t think they’d got to that much yet, she still was working on them cleaning up after themselves)
That woman must have stayed awake nights thinking up things for us kids to do. And she always insisted that we tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
By the time we were teen-agers, our life became even more unbearable. None of this tooting the car horn for us to come running; she embarrassed us to no end by insisting that the friend come to the door to get us. (Just a few days and a teenage son she would have)
I forgot to mention that most of our friends were allowed to date at the mature ages of 12 and 13, but our old-fashioned mother refused to let us date until we were 16. She really raised a bunch of squares. None of us was ever arrensted for shoplifting or busted for dope. And who do we have to thank for this? You’re right, our mean mother.
I am trying to raise my children to stand a little straighter and taller, and I am secretly tickled to peices when my children call me mean. I thnk
God for giving me the meanest mother in the world. Our country doesn’t need a good 5 cent cigar. It needs more mean mothers like mine.
I THINK LUKE AND RYAN WOULD STAND UP AND SAY, THEY HAD THE MOST LOVING, CARING AND FUN MOM IN THE WHOLE WORLD AND BEYOND!
The thoughts and messages just keep coming to me. This is the verse on the Birthday card I gave to DeDe this year, both Luke and Ryan added their messages and signed it too.
A DAUGHTER SHARES IN SO MANY WAYS
A sweet, thoughtful way that’s a source of great pride, A smile that reflects the true beauty inside, A warm, caring spirit, a heart of pure gold, A daughter shares all of the joys life can hold.
You’re a daughter to be proud of, for no matter what you do, The loving person that you are is what comes shinning through… And among the joys of living the nicest one by far…I having a daughter grow to be as special as you are. (I wrote! Love you so much and am also proud that you too meet the qualifications of the “Meanest Mother in the World!: Mom)
I was so blessed to have shared this life with this wonderful woman, my daughter that brought such joy, love and happiness into my life. I will miss you my darling but will always remember just how you are! Mom
~ ? ~ ? ~ ? ~ ?~ ~ ? ~ ?~ Linda, what a beautiful insight to De De Sweet! That you for sharing this special tribute with everyone! Love, your very proud sister Dona