Our first trip to Disneyland — with From Left: Lynn and Theresa Merenkov

I grew up with Lori and Lynn Blackmer  a very long time ago in Northern IL, I lived just down the street. I had 2 little brothers (eventually 4), and no sisters when we met. Lori said I showed up at their door one day and asked her Mom if she had any kids that would play. She pushed Lori toward the door. They were very close in age and I was in the middle. We went everywhere together and we spent lots of time playing school at their freestanding blackboard in the basement. Lynn always wanted to be the teacher and as the oldest in my family it was me who wanted to hold the chalk and talk! Lynn was kinda bossy, but then so was I! Lori just went with the flow. Eventually I was the oldest of 7 kids! Over the years no matter what happened We stuck together. Lyle loved to play chess and so did my Dad. Mom and Carol got along great. I loved Carols cooking and I loved time away from my two younger brothers. Often I refused to go home. I remember hiding once and My Mom sent my Dad up to their house with his belt in hand. He never really spanked be, but my brothers got the belt more than once (believe me it wasn’t abuse, he was never frustrated, but he wanted them to behave, it was so hard because they were ornery). Anyway when he came to Lori’s with that belt, I quickly came out of hiding and never tried that trick again. I often cried when I had to go home. Lyle and Carol took me to my first circus in Rockford when I was maybe 8 or 9. My parents couldn’t afford to take 5 kids so I was really happy when Lyle asked me if I would like to go as Lynn and Lori’s guest! Then eventually they decided to rent their house and move to California. I was devastated. They were my best friends and I was going into 2nd grade. I couldn’t read well and Lori was in the same grade as me even though I was born 6 months after her and Lynn was born 10 months before me. I struggled in school. When I was in 4th grade they moved back to IL. Lori and I had the same teacher and I got to sit next to Lori!!! Thank goodness because without her I would never have learned to write in cursive or move up to the top reading group with Lori! We were so happy! We both got our first dog at the same time. We were together all the time. I had a Ken doll (my brothers didn’t like it) and lori won a Skipper doll on a morning TV cartoon show we loved to watch with a guy called Captain Kangaroo. We also loved watching a clown guy named Red Skelton we laughed a lot! Then Lori’s Dad got a great job in California because he was a tool and dye maker). This time they sold the house and moved but they still had family in Rockford so I was able to see Lynn and Lori once in a while. One summer my maternal Grandma took me to Long Beach to visit her uncles (my great uncles). Lori and Lynn were living in Redondo beach at the time. I got to stay with them for a week. This is a picture of the three of us at Disneyland. We packed our lunches and didn’t go to the snack bars but we didn’t care. Little did we know that our parents weren’t wealthy. We loved the Swiss family Robinson (I was a climber) and we loved Disneyland! Then there are lots of stories and I way just write a little book. But the point is these girls were my sisters through marriages, having babies, raising kids with health issues, through divorce, through the death of my Dad, and their Mother all the way well into our 60’s. I went to visit Lynn and Rory on the way to Palm Springs after she graduated from Sonographer school. They had a beautiful home in Parris. When Lori and I both got sick in 2013, her with Cancer and me with a bad flu I picked up in India we brought each other back from near-death. Marco drove Lori up to see me in Nor Cal (yes I had moved to CA with my own little family) to visit me. Both of us got better. I still went everywhere with the Blackmers, San Diego, A Wine tasting trip, then Vegas for Lyles 80th birthday. Lori and Marco went to Kauai with us one year. I have left out so much detail from age 3 to our 60’s and we never lost touch. I saw Lynn and Rory every time I came to see Lori, we would all meet in Menefee for lunch on a weekend. Then Lori was sick again. I thought I would die from the pain of losing her only to lose Lyle a few months later and now Lynn is gone just two years later and somehow I need to carry on. I see their faces in the faces of their children and grandchildren. I know that we will meet again one day. Until then I have five decades of amazing memories. Places we like to go and fun things we got to do. Life is so short and I know they would want me to be happy but of course I always wanted more time together with my big sister and my bestie. I love you forever Lynney and I won’t forget all of your great words of wisdom. Love you forever my sister. May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord give you peace. 🏰

Visiting Dirk & Tammy in the Black Hills — with Dirk, Rory, Melanie, Lynn, Tammy, Sammy and Benson

Family gathering at Lynn & Rory’s — with Lynn, Lori, Lyle (dad), Dirk and Lisa

Enjoying each other‘s company

Lynn had such a fun,  loving, beautiful, kind spirit… the same spirit that is reflected in each of her children. 🥹I had the pleasure to meet Lynn (aka Mel’s mom 😊) my freshman year of college when Mel & I first met.  I was immediately welcomed into her home and enjoyed our small chats about faith, her gentle wisdom and her laugh!  Thank you for the fun memories at your home. I am grateful to have met you in that season of life.  May God grant you eternal rest and peace.  Let those who are mourning you find comfort in Christ our Lord and hope of the eternal Kingdom.  Love, The Borrayos

Lynn, was the best and most caring  person I ever had. She did everything for us who worked with her. She mentored me so much . Life at NARA  was  so nice with Lynn  and she will be in my heart forever.