Cancer Doesn’t Care

The last several days I’ve lost two friends who both made a huge difference in the world around them to one of our society’s most dreaded diseases, cancer. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that cancer doesn’t care who you are, how much money you make, your social status, or anything else. Cancer comes to people from all walks of life; it does not discriminate and is absolutely ruthless. One of my friends was a local business man and racing quarter horse breeder Terry Bell. Terry was a stand up guy! Several years ago when I approached Terry, who lived near Cache on his horse ranch, to ask if he would be my campaign chairman, he didn’t bat an eye. He said “absolutely, you’ve stood with us in the horse industry and I’ll stand with you.” Terry Bell was well respected locally as well as the State and National horse racing scene. He was a second generation businessman and entrepreneur. His father Cyrus ran Bell Transfer and Storage for many years after growing up in the moving and storage business Terry later established Affiliated Van Lines in 1973. He was a very good business man, knew how to make money and had the deepest respect of everyone he dealt with. I remember a story that was told to me by a mutual friend and I hesitate to tell it but for the fact that it tells a story about who Terry really was. I vaguely remember Cy Bell, he was very flamboyant and the best remaining example of that is his old parade saddle that for many years Terry displayed in his office. I’m not sure if I’ll get this totally right or not but apparently, in his later years, he had run up some local debt. It could’ve been his declining health, I’m not really sure how that went down but according to the local legend his dad owed some people around town and after his passing Terry went around to the different businesses and squared every account. That may not seem like much but it is just one of the little things that made Terry Bell who he was and the fact that he made everyone whole spoke volumes about his impeccable character. The best way to describe Terry was that he was solid. If he shook your hand, you could take it to the bank.

Terry Bell was also a very accomplished horse breeder. We shot numerous Billingsly Ford TV spots at his ranch over the years and he was known throughout the country as a premier breeder of racing quarter horses. He knew how to breed a good one and how to make sure that animal had a chance at greatness. He was a good friend and he will be missed. Terry was 77 when he lost his battle with cancer.

Ironically enough the next friend I’ll speak of was a lady that I served with in the House of Representatives for ten years, Representative Sue Tibbs, also 77, from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sue was a true Statesman. They don’t make people with a moral character any higher than that of Sue Tibbs. Sue was a devout Christian and took it upon herself for many of the years that she served at the State Capitol to hold a weekly devotional luncheon at the Capitol, always brining in a new and different preacher and making sure that the Capitol flock was spiritually fed. Her dedication to her district and the State of Oklahoma was second to none. Sue had a wonderful heart and as deeply as she loved people, she’d fight to the death on an issue she believed in. I’ve seen Sue take many shots from those who disagreed with her, always standing her ground and never wavering, for as big as her heart she had even more toughness than just about anybody I’ve ever met. Right was right to Sue, there was no gray. I’m not sure that she couldn’t have whipped a tornado when she got her dander up but the one battle Sue couldn’t win was her battle with cancer. Cancer claimed Sue last Friday night. There will be an empty spot in the Capitol Chamber for the rest of the session and for many years to come and Sue will be missed

So it’s true, cancer doesn’t care and that what makes this dreaded disease such a terrible plague on the world. It doesn’t just thin out the weak, but also the strong. As our family heads into my mother’s own battle I know that it’s uphill and we continue to pray for a good outcome. As my girls and I traveled home from our Easter visit with my mother over the weekend, my daughter Kelsey was jokingly talking about one of her daredevil friends and she said “yolo” which means you only live once. We don’t know how long we have on this earth so we all need to get right with God and by all means live. Don’t put off the things on your bucket list. Spend that time with your family even when it may seem inconvenient because none of us know. Rest in peace Terry and Sue and thank you for all you did to make all of our lives better. We are all better people for having known you.

If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov

And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road: Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same. ~ Flavia Weedn