Today in about an hour there is going to be a celebration of a beautiful life that was cut way to short. My cousin Ashley Rae Abernethy lost her battle with with cancer earlier this week. As my mom's friend Kathy said she may have lost her battle with cancer but she won her battle of life. Today would have been her 23rd birthday. We are not able to make it to her funeral and the celebration of her life. I know it's where we should be and wish we could. Our hearts, prayers and tears go out to her family and friends. Please read Ali's blog because her son Jackson has what I think are the most comforting thoughts and words for this sad time. The faith of a child will always amaze me.
From Ali's Blog:
Sad News
I have to report some sad news. My cousin (second cousin actually) Ashley Abernethy passed away today after battling sinus cancer since May. She was only 22. I ask you to please pray for her mother, Barb, her sister, Kelsey, and the rest of her family. Just last night, Jackson prayed for her during his bedtime prayer. And then Andrew prayed for the family before dinner and Jackson asked, "What happened to Ashley's family?" I said they were sad because Ashley had to go to heaven. I didn't want to just flat out say she died, but he knew it. He said, "So she died?" And I replied yes. He said, "Oh man. That's bad when cousins die." Then tonight I asked him to pray for Ashley's family during his bedtime prayer and he asked if Ashley was in heaven with God and Jesus and asked if she could see them. I told him yes and he said, "Wow that is so cool to be able to see God and Jesus." The faith of a child.
I have to report some sad news. My cousin (second cousin actually) Ashley Abernethy passed away today after battling sinus cancer since May. She was only 22. I ask you to please pray for her mother, Barb, her sister, Kelsey, and the rest of her family. Just last night, Jackson prayed for her during his bedtime prayer. And then Andrew prayed for the family before dinner and Jackson asked, "What happened to Ashley's family?" I said they were sad because Ashley had to go to heaven. I didn't want to just flat out say she died, but he knew it. He said, "So she died?" And I replied yes. He said, "Oh man. That's bad when cousins die." Then tonight I asked him to pray for Ashley's family during his bedtime prayer and he asked if Ashley was in heaven with God and Jesus and asked if she could see them. I told him yes and he said, "Wow that is so cool to be able to see God and Jesus." The faith of a child.
Below is her obituary.
Ashley Rae Abernethy
12.02.09 Ashley Rae Abernethy
Ashley Rae Abernethy, 22, Lee’s Summit, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 1, 2009, ending her courageous seven-month battle against SinoNasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma.
“Ash Dog the Booty Hog” was born on December 4, 1986 in Shawnee Mission, Ks. to John Kendall and Barbara Jean (Conoyer) Abernethy. She graduated from Lee’s Summit High School and attended Northwest Missouri State University. Ashley was everyone’s buddy and the consummate peacemaker among her many and varied friends. She loved serving others and caring for babies and children, and this beautiful girl was dearly loved by her family and friends.
Ashley was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather and namesake, Ray Conoyer. She is survived by her mother, Barb Abernethy, and sister, Kelsey Abernethy, of the home, and her father, Ken Abernethy, Independence. She also is survived by her maternal grandparents, Dorothy and Bill Killday, Edina; paternal grandparents, Don and Helen Abernethy, Caruthersville, and Jackie and Doug Kollar, Kirksville; aunts and uncles, Donna and Ray Hudson, Alexandria, Va., Linda and Tim Wurm, Wentzville, Steve and Joanne Conoyer, Palmyra, Nancy and Scott Goodwin, Knox City, and Paul Abernethy, Independence; cousins, Lauren and Beth Hudson, Brian and Danny Wurm, Jay and Trevor Conoyer, Montana Goodwin and Chase Abernethy; Ken’s companion, Lucinda Hoffman, Independence; Barb’s companion, Mark Bredemeier, Lee’s Summit; and Ashley’s faithful dog, Bud.
Ashley also leaves behind loving friends and classmates that grew into the hundreds and an army of her fellow prayer warriors that in recent months multiplied into the thousands all across the country.
The family would like to thank Dr. Kelley Young, and the staffs at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, St. Luke’s East Hospital, Lee’s Summit, and Kansas City Hospice House for all their loving care of Ashley during her final weeks here with us. Although she has left us too soon, we can only imagine Ashley’s joy as she is surrounded by His glory and hears the sweetest sound, the voices of the angels. She is finally home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a Rosary Service following at 8 p.m., at Langsford Funeral Home, Lee’s Summit. Mass of the Christian Burial will be Friday, December 4 at 11 a.m. at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, Lee’s Summit, with graveside services to follow at Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery.
12.02.09 Ashley Rae Abernethy
Ashley Rae Abernethy, 22, Lee’s Summit, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 1, 2009, ending her courageous seven-month battle against SinoNasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma.
“Ash Dog the Booty Hog” was born on December 4, 1986 in Shawnee Mission, Ks. to John Kendall and Barbara Jean (Conoyer) Abernethy. She graduated from Lee’s Summit High School and attended Northwest Missouri State University. Ashley was everyone’s buddy and the consummate peacemaker among her many and varied friends. She loved serving others and caring for babies and children, and this beautiful girl was dearly loved by her family and friends.
Ashley was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather and namesake, Ray Conoyer. She is survived by her mother, Barb Abernethy, and sister, Kelsey Abernethy, of the home, and her father, Ken Abernethy, Independence. She also is survived by her maternal grandparents, Dorothy and Bill Killday, Edina; paternal grandparents, Don and Helen Abernethy, Caruthersville, and Jackie and Doug Kollar, Kirksville; aunts and uncles, Donna and Ray Hudson, Alexandria, Va., Linda and Tim Wurm, Wentzville, Steve and Joanne Conoyer, Palmyra, Nancy and Scott Goodwin, Knox City, and Paul Abernethy, Independence; cousins, Lauren and Beth Hudson, Brian and Danny Wurm, Jay and Trevor Conoyer, Montana Goodwin and Chase Abernethy; Ken’s companion, Lucinda Hoffman, Independence; Barb’s companion, Mark Bredemeier, Lee’s Summit; and Ashley’s faithful dog, Bud.
Ashley also leaves behind loving friends and classmates that grew into the hundreds and an army of her fellow prayer warriors that in recent months multiplied into the thousands all across the country.
The family would like to thank Dr. Kelley Young, and the staffs at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, St. Luke’s East Hospital, Lee’s Summit, and Kansas City Hospice House for all their loving care of Ashley during her final weeks here with us. Although she has left us too soon, we can only imagine Ashley’s joy as she is surrounded by His glory and hears the sweetest sound, the voices of the angels. She is finally home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a Rosary Service following at 8 p.m., at Langsford Funeral Home, Lee’s Summit. Mass of the Christian Burial will be Friday, December 4 at 11 a.m. at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, Lee’s Summit, with graveside services to follow at Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery.
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