Your View: Remembering G.H.

Dear Mike

I'm holding in my hand a little block of wood 6 inches long and l inch wide. On it are written the words in his handwriting: " Aug. 4, l985, A beginning of the lst million'" G. H. to Lila J.

As I am writing to you, G. H. Starnes' final services are being held at l p.m. at First Baptist Church. Since Henry and I moved from Sikeston in 2001, the first order of the day is to go back home by reading your Standard Democrat Web page on our computer. We were so saddened when we read of his passing.

I had known G.H.'s mother, Alta Starnes Wilkinson and his wife, Bernadine, when she cashiered at First National Bank on S. Kingshighway and was fond of both of them but I had never know G.H..

In the early 80's, real estate was lack-luster putting in mildly and my former partner, Shirley Dyer, had left to pursue a different career. Formerly, we had l0 full-time agents working with us, many of them leaving to open their own agencies finally leaving me alone at the "fort" when one morning G.H. Starnes walked in and wanted to put his real estate license with me. At first, I thought this man seemed almost grim, too serious, so formidable but how wrong those first moments of impression proved to be. G. H. had a heart of gold and would do anything for anybody he cared for. He became my right hand in real estate ( we even opened a used car business at my office on S. Kingshighway) next to the American Legion. We never made that first million but his dedication to his family, the knowledge, respect and integrity I learned from G. H. far exceeds it.

In those years and in his spare time, he was writing a book which I have a copy written in his own hand. Its title is "Fur Immer und Immer" (Forever and Ever). It is the most beautiful, poignant and tender story of love that would touch many people. It is a story that should be published.

My husband and I built a personal, close relationship with G. H. and he will be remembered in all his goodness by us "Fur Immer und Immer".

Lila Jeanne Bussey