Nila Jean and I were friends. Although the miles separated us, she never left my thoughts. When we were in our teens we sang together in the Clark Memorial Methodist Church in Greens Bayou, Texas. We visited at each other's homes and always ended up at the piano. She and I sang duets just for the shear joy of it. Nila Jean sang alto and I sang soprano. One of our favorite songs was "Mockingbird Hill" and I am not surprised that she recorded it. Another favorite of ours of "Silver Bells" and we must have worn the keys out on that one. There was an elderly gentlemen at our church who requested she and I sing "The Ninety & Nine" at his funeral and of course we did. There are a lot of verses in that song and she never faltered. Nila Jean had the voice of an angel and I loved singing with her. She and her family moved away before we finished high school. I saw her after she and James married and after she had Pamela. She was so happy! Years passed because they moved to Buda, TX, but we saw each other again in 1975. She was still beautiful and that smile was still on her face. Nila Jean had a giggle that cannot be forgotten. It was hers only. I never saw her after that but we talked a few times on the phone after she moved to Missouri. We exchanged a few emails. She told me she was ill but she never complained. I have always remembered her in my prayers and Nila Jean will always live in my heart. She had the voice of an angel and I know she has joined them in their heavenly choir.