Aunt Carol

Carol June Shaw Stephenson
She was not born in June!

One year ago my Aunt Carol past away from Cancer. She had known for about a year that she had cancer and that life was going to be short. She gave me the privilege and responsibility of her photos. She had more photos than anyone, and they were very well organized. I have always thought that I got my love of photos from her. She always had a camera and was always taking photos. She was also not afraid to be in the photos. As a young child I had a few opportunities to spend weekends with my Aunt Carol. She taught me how to make cakes, decorate them, & how to build gingerbread houses from scratch. She made beautifully and equally delicious cakes for every occasion. She never went to any celebration without one. All of my siblings received an amazing wedding cake as our gift. She was always happy and had a very kinky sense of humor. (I think that runs in the family) Over the last year I have been scanning, organizing, dating, journaling her many pictures. I only scanned about 1/4 of them and still did over 6000. I focused on photos of my family, siblings, and heritage photos. There are many that I had to choose not to scan if I wanted to finish in my lifetime. I was given some of these photos about 2 weeks before my aunts funeral to scan for a slideshow. Those 2 weeks for extremely emotional for me. Many of the pictures were of my Nana & Papa who both passed away when I was in high School. I felt like I was morning the passing of my Aunt Carol, Uncle Bill, Nana & Papa all at the same time. It was much more difficult for me than I had anticipated. Amazingly she had photos all the back to the early 1900's that is like giving me gold. At my aunts funeral all of my sisters got up to sing Family's Can Be Together Forever. I couldn't make it through the song. I was crying uncontrollably. My family seemed very surprised by this as it was not my usual behavior especially in public. What I was not able to explain and still don't think I can do it justice is the emotions that had been tied up in these pictures, I had just spent the last 2 weeks scanning all the memory's of making cakes, Lifting up the mixer and splattering mix all over the ceiling, Spending time at the cabin, and generally knowing how much she cared for me. It was all so raw and fresh in a way that would not have been there without those pictures. My Aunt Carol was an amazing woman who was always happy. She loved babies.  I am so grateful that she shared her love of pictures with me. She will be missed by many.

Carol June Shaw 

Carol June Shaw 

Loren Elliott Shaw (Bud, Papa) Willene "Roberta" Hale Shaw (NaNa)
Joseph Allen Shaw, Carol June Shaw

Carol June Shaw 

Carol June Shaw

Loren Elliott Shaw (Bud, Papa) Willene "Roberta" Hale Shaw (NaNa)
Joseph Allen Shaw, Carol June Shaw Stephenson

Carol June Shaw Stephenson, Jeff or Scott?

Carol June Shaw Stephenson, Willene "Roberta" Hale Shaw(Nana)
Mina Mae Hale (Nana's Mother)

Carol June Shaw Stephenson

Carol June Shaw Stephenson

Carol June Shaw Stephenson
Joseph Allen Shaw

Carol June Shaw Stephenson
 Bill Stephenson

Carol June Shaw Stephenson
Joseph Allen Shaw

Aunt Carol with the Babies!