Marie Louise Mynatt

Louise MynattHer life as recounted by her niece, Diane Mynatt BolingerMarie Louise Mynatt was her name. We all called her “Louise”. What a beautiful name! We said, “why did Mamaw not call you Marie? She wasn't sure.There's more to that name than beautiful words. Louise was a strong woman of faith. She became a Christian at the age of 11 at Salem Baptist Church at a revival meeting. She also attended Cedar Grove Baptist Church as a young woman. Then later she helpedstart the church she attended since 1975, Unity Baptist Church in Powell. She is one of the last charter members. What many people don't know about Louise is that she had such a giving heart, and strong belief that this church needed to be built. She and her beloved sister, Barbara Mynatt, along with several other families, put their house up as collateral for the loan to build the church. Think of this though. They were two single women working jobs that paid them far less than they were worth because this was 1975. If they lost their house, not only would they be homeless, but their parents would too. Plus, their brother, Herman, who also lived with them while working in Knoxville would have been homeless.They prayed and trusted God that it would all work out. My father, Ernest, her brother and my mother, Luella, were part of these families. I will never forget the night they got their notes for their homes back. They joyfully burned them in the parking lot. The church was built, but sadly their older brother, Ernest, died of a heart attack before the church opened. This broke their hearts. I am speaking about Louise but saying “them”. Louise and her sister, Barbara, were the closest of friends. They finished each others sentences. When you talked to one, you referred to the other. They loved to give to the children of this small church. They would fix goodie bags to share every Sunday for years. These children quickly learned to expect their regular treatfrom Barbara and Louise. They were not biological mothers to any children, but mothersto many.When their brother Ernest died, they stepped up to his family, especially Doris, Diane and Larry. They would come at any event or cause we were involved in. They also helped pay for our college educations. They treated us like we hung the moon! Not onlydid they show great love to us, they held their parents Fred and Azella Mynatt with the highest regard.Even until the day she died, Louise held the belief that if Mamaw made a request that it should be respected, such as, Sunday is the Lord's Day. No work other than essential work like cooking should be done. We learned from them long ago that you don't do yard work on Sunday unless it is of very important need. She was not beyond telling her neighbors they should not mow on Sunday. She did this with a determined smile on her face. They also were taught that women should dress like ladies. They wore dresses everyday. When she had chemo treatment, we talked her into wearing warm pants to her treatments. She quickly said “Mamaw would not approve” but listened anyway. We told her Jesus wouldn't mind because he wanted her to be warm.They not only made us feel we hung the moon, they doted on my children, Winston and Natalie. They were not opposed to spoiling them by letting them get away with whateverthey wanted. Louise helped me pick up Winston from daycare until my work was over atthe UT Child Development Center. She took him to McDonalds almost daily to get a hamburger or chicken McNuggets. They let him touch every button in that car! That car was never the same after my 5-year-old son finished messing with her car. It was all good! Then Natalie came along after our Mamaw died. They were delighted to help us in anyway possible. Sleepovers were especially important. If my then 4-year-old Natalie woke up in the middle of the night needing a piece of bacon, was she told to go back to bed? Of course not! Louise got up at 3:00 in the morning to fry that much needed piece of bacon.Louise was a strong woman, but also a little stubborn. If she was determined to do something, like take care of her loved ones, she would even do it if it meant staying up all night at the hospital or standing at the stove cooking the Thanksgiving meal while having a broken leg.She enjoyed the holidays! Right before she died, she reminded me that she needed to go to the store to get a turkey breast and an apple cake for Thanksgiving. She was so independent all through her life. It was very difficult for her to give up her car keys. Just a few weeks ago, she mentioned that she wished that she could drive again. I hope God has a car in heaven for her to take a spin in. She also loved Christmastime. Louise and Barbara worked hard all their lives, but made a meager wage because they were women born in a previous time when men always were paid more. That did not stop them from budgeting to save for gifts for their loved ones. Just a few weeks ago, Louise reminded me to just make the minimum payments onher bills because she needed so save for Christmas.Louise had a proud, gentle, sweet spirit to her. She never complained about anything while we cared for her at the end of her life, other than getting bothered that she had to be signed up for hospice. She thought that being in hospice meant she didn't have the mental ability to make decisions. We didn't want to tell her because we didn't want her tolose hope. She dearly loved everyone she met through UT Hospice. They are angles on earth. We quickly let her know that not only Doris and I signed her up after her doctor recommended it, that Larry also was on the phone from Boston helping make that decision too. He had to be under the bus too!Louise also loved all the staff and doctors at the Thompson Cancer Center. They were beyond caring, especially her doctor, Felicia Wheeler and her nurse navigator, Shila Mynatt Newman. I cannot omit her primary care doctor, Udit Chaudhuri. She said he was her boyfriend. We appreciate their care and love more than we can say. She also hadsome exceptional hospice nurses. Ashley Dunn and Caleb Bruce were her nurse for the majority of her time on hospice. Ashley went out of her way to ask a fellow hospice nurse to bring their baby goat to visit Louise. This precious person came by on her day off to share her goat. I wish I could remember her name. After Ashley moved to a different location, Caleb became Louise's nurse. She called him “doodlebug” because hewas so sweet and young, but very smart. Louise had another passion: UT football! She was no doubt a fan for life!Louise loved to tease people. She did this up until her last days. It broke our hearts the last week of her life to see her confused because she had a steel trap for a memory. Her body became weaker and weaker from barely eating. Finally her body gave into the highdemands it took to live. On Monday, November 22 at 12:10 a.m. Louise ended her life on earth, but joyfully started her life with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We will see her again one day, but she will greatly be missed by all who loved her!