Beautiful Bright Red Hair, Blue Eyes, and a Golden Heart

Amber Ellis Keasling had just asked me to be her maid of honor on Thanksgiving Day. Though they hadn’t yet set a wedding date, I was ecstatic about their engagement. Beautiful bright red hair, blue eyes, and a golden heart, is how I can best think to describe this girl who became the love of my older brother’s life, and a lifelong friend of mine. Little did we know that it would be the last major holiday she would be gracing us with her presence.

How We Met

We first met Amber through our aunt as teenagers, in the small town of Sorento, Illinois. Amber was from Worden, Illinois. Moreover, we were all close in age. At that time, Aunt Barb had lived in a small house on a dead end street with the love of her life, her three pet goats, and a garden that took up more than half her yard.

Aunt Barb had insisted we would be good company for each other at the time, as we had all stayed and helped her with her garden. She was right, because we became fast friends and happily joked with each other while plucking corn and picking green beans.

Always Outdoors

Amber was a brave soul, and got me to do things I would have never done on my own. For instance, I ran with her through a cow pasture, at risk of being gored by a bull. Fortunately nothing bad happened. However, the rush of adrenaline and my heart racing a mile a minute during and after running beside her through that field is still unforgettable.

Stand By Me Trestle Bridge

Amber loved to be outdoors, and I would walk with her on railroad tracks for long distances. I even crossed a trestle bridge, regardless of my fear of heights. It was much like the one in the scene from the movie Stand By Me, though not as long. She was the kind of friend that helped others face and overcome their fears. I recall a train coming only one time while we played in the creek underneath the trestle.

Dealing with Sudden & Unexpected Loss

We suddenly and unexpectedly lost Amber from a brain bleed on December 11th 2022 at 11:05pm. Amber had her own issues to deal with, as we all do. However, the good outweighed the bad when it came to this special person, and my siblings and I all knew it. Furthermore, people grieve in their own ways and Amber was our extended family.

Sharing Fondest Memories

I made a big dinner for Thanksgiving of 2022, as our youngest brother was given a poor prognosis regarding his health last Christmas. In other words, I wanted to make the holidays special for him this year. As it turns out, it was she who made Thanksgiving of 2022 so special for all of us. She was special to many!

Finally, Amber worked in the medical field and was an organ donor. Therefore, we have comfort in knowing that even though she left us so suddenly and unexpectedly, she saved another life with her own by donating her kidneys.

We Will Miss You Amber!

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I Guess Heaven Was Needing A Hero by Jo Dee Messina

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