Written and read by Franci Files Jarrard

I will always remember Colleen.   I met her parents in 1968 when I first came to hang out in the Houston music scene.   Bill and Lucille made beautiful music together.  They were also among my best of friends.   At my first wedding, they and other friends made the food and put on a reception for my husband and I at the local music club where we all gathered at that time.   Eventually we all ended up here at  Anderson Fair where Bill and Lucille played nights and lunches.  When Colleen was born, the first place they came when they left  the hospital was here, Anderson Fair.  Colleen was a part of the extended Anderson Fair family her entire life.

For the first couple of years Bill and Colleen would visit Anderson Fair nearly everyday.  Anderson Fair was open five days a week then for lunches and six nights a week for live music.  It was a hub bub of activity.  I cooked and served spaghetti lunches five days a week.  When Bill played music during the lunch, I got to help take care of Colleen as well.

Bill is a very special, long time friend in my life as well as many others. He has played music at Anderson Fair for thirty years now.   Iíve been in his audience a great deal of that time.  Through Bill,  folks at Anderson Fair and myself were able to keep up with Colleen as she grew from a child to a teenager and into a vivacious young woman. 

A few years ago Colleen decided to get serious about singing with her dad.  She had grown up listening to his music even before she was born.  When I first heard Bill and Colleen sing here on stage at Anderson Fair I got so excited.  With Colleenís youth and talent and Billís experience and stability, they had such an exciting future.  I began coming to Houston to hear them every chance I could.  Under Billís tutelage I watched Colleen grow into a very fine singer and performer.  She worked very hard to develop her skills.  She had very strong vocals, both harmony and lead.  She had developed a wonderfully relaxed stage presence.  Colleen had an inherited musical ability which was only beginning to come to fruition.

I will always treasure my memories of getting to sing  on stage with Bill and Colleen.  I only sang on one song but it was so special for me.  Singing with them was such a wonderful experience and I love them both so.  I will truly miss the nights of music.

Like her mom, Colleen enjoyed fashion and always worked very hard to look goodÖÖ and did.  I always enjoyed seeing what new outfit she would have for each performance.  In December she showed up with a new hairdo and she looked great.  And she felt great.  She was so happy, so alive, she had so much going for her.

One of my favorite Colleen memories will always be the day Colleen and Russell waltzed into my annual party, first to arrive, singing the wedding march.  They had been wanting to get married but just couldnít make it through planning an event.   I was so honored that they chose our music event and, campout by the way, to have their honeymoon.  Colleen went home with chigger bites and mesquite wounds, but never complained.  I  and other friends had a great time wrapping the nuptial tent with toilet paper.  She and Russell both were great sports.

Russell was her best fan, her best friend and her loving husband.   He was in the front row at every gig listening to every song.  He loved Colleen with all his heart.    I have really enjoyed getting to know and love Russell.  Not only is he handsome and gainfully employed, heís a great cook, an outstanding fisherman ,a gardener and brewer of delicious beer.  Iím sure he has other talents I have yet to recognize.  Russell is quiet and you have to be content to get to know him slowly, but he is a wonderful man.  I wish Russell the very best as he learns week by week and month by month how to fill the void left by this unfortunate accident.  I wish the same for Bill, LucilleÖÖ. And all of us here today who are so saddened by this unfortunate accident. My thoughts are also with all the many friends who could not be here today but who are with us in spirit.  May our our hearts begin to heal. 

Colleen had so much going for her.  She was married to a wonderful man.  She and Russell had just bought and moved into a new house.  She and Bill  had finally released the CD theyíve been working on for two years and were excited about starting the next.  She had grown into a confident and beautiful young woman with a very bright future.  We will all miss her vivacious spirit and warm friendship. 

Before you leave this afternoon, be sure to buy a copy of the CD.  Buy one for a friend as well.  Take them home and enjoy them.  Thatís what Colleen would want.

I will remember Colleen always.  She was a great friend.

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She was there to laugh at me when I got my first REALLY bad haircut and there to compliment me on a good one.  I can't start to name all the good times because there are just too many.  I won't talk about the bad times because they don't matter.  A true friend and the closest thing to a sister I will ever have.  We have laughed so hard we couldn't breathe and cried so hard we couldn't see. 

Some of my best memories were in the past 2 1/2 years, after my daughter was born.  Colleen used to call me and say "Russell wants to clean house, but I need my Bridgette and Mackenzie fix, I'm coming over".  Then she would show up in about 2 hours and we would spend the day laughing and playing with Mackenzie.  She loved that baby with all her heart.  I  wish Bug (Mackenzie) could have her Auntie Boo while she is growing up, but she knows that Auntie Boo is with Jesus and we will see her later.  I  will need Boo for the rest of my life.  May she sleep with the angels and teach them to sing as beautifully as she did.  

I love you Boo...........................................

Bridgette
(Briggy)