My oldest daughter lost her half-sister yesterday. She was only 23 years old. I met Shelley for the

[Ghost in the Machine]

first time in 2010, when she was 17. I had just recently gotten reunited with my ex and my daughter, whom I hadn't seen, or heard from, in 19 years. She was shy at first, but warmed up quickly after a couple of hours, then we just clicked. I took her under my wing, and treated her just like she was my own. I was in Georgia visiting them on her 18th birthday, and she wanted a chocolate chip "cookie cake", but every store in the area was out of them. I even drove almost 30 miles one way to Stateboro to check the WalMart there, but they didn't have one, either. I ended up buying a pie crust, some cookie dough, candles, etc., and baked her one myself.

Shelley had lived a very rough life, but was one of the sweetest person you'd ever want to meet. She always stayed in contact with me, and at one point told me that in the short time she had known me that I treated her better than her own father ever did. I won't go into much detail about that, but it is what it is... or was....

I have my hands full trying to hold my daughter together right now. The family has no money to bury her, or to get her mother here from Colorado. They moved here to Tennessee about 2 years ago, and don't live far from me.

I hate to ask, especially after how wonderful you all were to me during my time of need, but if anyone can, please help them out through a page set up by her younger sister, Chelsea, on GoFundMe.... https://www.gofundme.com/256k3h98 You can choose to stay anonymous if you can help, but I told my daughter that I would share the link here. I have given what I can in person. My daughter lives 2 doors up from me, and I was holding her tight at 11 pm last night as she broke down again... as were my parents and sister. We were all at my parents house at the time.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give, whether it's a donation, or just condolences to the family. I have to leave for now and check on arrangements and will probably be gone most of the day. Even the sky is crying right now.. pouring down rain..

My daughter's Facebook page is Kirsten N Jc Hodges , but I don't know what her privacy settings are. I don't know if anyone can see this or not, but here is one post... https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1353802247966949&set=a.340474315966419.97956.100000115599476&type=3&theater&notif_t=like&notif_id=1463750065901119

Peace,

Ghost, aka Douglas A Davis

[IdaBriggs]

1. Kick. Rec.

I am so sorry for your loss.

[Ghost in the Machine]

3. Thank you very much, IdaBriggs... it has hit me hard.. n/t

[REP]

2. This link may be helpful with the final arrangements

My mother had made her arrangements through the Missouri Society before her death; she wanted cremation only but these Societies offer burials as well at costs well below those of commercial funeral homes.

http://www.cremationsocietyoftn.com

[Ghost in the Machine]

4. Thank you for the info, REP.... I have been pushing the idea of donating her remains to one of the

many "Teaching Universities" in the area...

Peace,

Ghost