Dear Lissi,
Thank you for sharing these sad tidings. I donâEUR^(TM)t think
that I can add anything more beautiful than the words I have already
read from this list this morning. I admired Mayrie as a fellow
volunteer who always had help to share with me and I think I am safe
in saying with all of us; and I loved her as a friend. I will miss
her very much.
Marty
*From:* Estelnalissi <mailto:airadil@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* Saturday, December 01, 2012 10:57 PM
*To:* bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject:* [bksvol-discuss] Sorrowful tidings of Mayrie ReNae
Dear Booksharian Friends,
On the last morning of November Mayrie Renae peacefully died in her
sleep. She wasnâEUR^(TM)t finished living and loving and being a
dynamic force for good in Bookshare, but she was spared increasing
suffering as her illness worsened. I finally brought myself to write
to you because I think it is better for you to hear this from a friend.
I am passing this sad news along today so that we may react as caring
friends and volunteers this weekend expressing our grief and
comforting one another unencumbered by list rules and guidelines for
if there is ever a time when our community feelings are more important
than the business at hand, it is now.
In my case Mayrie was a cherished friend and usually, though not
always, a like-minded volunteer.
She was an impeccable proofreader and scanner. Initially she set out
to make many more books available to young readers. Eagerly she
incorporated tips she gathered from this list and was soon developing
new ones of her own. She recruited the help of volunteers who, like
herself, were committed to dependability and accuracy. Her prodigious
output proved to volunteers and to the Benetech staff that blind
Booksharians could produce accurate work at speed. In fact, she was
hired as a professional proofreader and expanded her skills to include
list advisor and technique developer while at the same time continuing
to scan books for long-time friends and newcomers.
Mayrie set a high example of work ethic for volunteers and staff
alike. In answering questions on and off list she was patient. Without
neglecting the wishes of her friends, she found time to train and
channel scans to beginning volunteers. She adjusted to change
gracefully. When many of our books were replaced by PQ books, she
celebrated the overall gain to readers though her entire Sammy Keyes
series was replaced along with many other of her submissions. Mayrie
respected confidences and never gossiped or fostered any kind of hard
feelings. If Mayrie had a fault it was believing that anyone, paid or
unpaid, could work with her tireless dedication.
Please know IâEUR^(TM)m writing as MayrieâEUR^(TM)s grieving friend
and not officially. Mayrie and I fed each otherâEUR^(TM)s passion for
books and Bookshare. By example she showed me how to keep the goal of
helping develop a huge accessible library before any frustration or
hurt feelings. Negativity must never obscure pursuit of the greater
good Bookshare accomplishes.
I want to wind down on a more personal note. I believe Mayrie
wouldnâEUR^(TM)t mind me sharing a few facets of her sparkling
personality.
Mayrie loved chocolate and peanut butter, especially peanut butter
pie. She was always in search of a recipe for putting more peanut
butter in cookies while maintaining good texture and improving flavor.
Mayrie loved books where the woman got her man as well as mysteries
and well written books for teens and middle-schoolers.
She loved coffee.
She was far more likely to cry tears of compassion than of self pity.
She loved teamwork in the kitchen with John.
She let the child in her enjoy childrenâEUR^(TM)s music and build with
Legos.
Keeping promises was important to Mayrie.
Nascar on the radio was fun.
Exercise wasnâEUR^(TM)t fun.
There was nothing more satisfying than contributing a complete series
of books to Bookshare.
The artist in her chose colorful skirts and played guitar.
MayrieâEUR^(TM)s winters could be dreary and her summers too hot.
She was gleeful when she found ways to work around any roadblocks
posed by her blindness.
Potatoes with the skins on roasted with butter and LiptonâEUR^(TM)s
dry onion soup on top were one of her favorite side dishes.
She was a fan of folk and country music.
No librarian could have kept the prodigious number of print books she
hoped yet to scan better organized.
Mayrie was such an intelligent, vibrant person. But think, she was but
one of many of BookshareâEUR^(TM)s fascinating, vibrant volunteers,
staff and members. With each person lost and gained
BookshareâEUR^(TM)s history and future grows richer.
Mayrie left us the link to a song to help us cope with her passing.
http://hkc.im/1ij <http://hkc.im/1ij>
Always with love,
Lissi