Goodbye old friend

You know how there are people who come into your life who are special. This week, one of those people in my life, passed away. She was an educator, a friend, a mentor and an amazing woman. Her name was Aggie Roberts. I met her 10 years ago when I became a Nevada Master Gardener. Aggie was one of the educators who helped teach our classes. She was an expert horticulturist, her specialty was houseplants and just about every thing else that grows in Las Vegas. I went to her memorial service yesterday and wasn't surprised so many people loved and admired her. It was wonderful to meet her children and grandchildren, many of whom resembled her. There was a grade school named after her. That's where the memorial was held. Some of Aggie's grandchildren attend that school. She was a presence at her namesake school who always came to special functions. She read to the children during Reading Week, not just for an hour but for a whole day. She planned an Arbor Day celebration every year. Kids were her concern. I helped Aggie a number of times at various schools and libraries around town when she worked with school kids. She taught them how to grow plants and to take care of them. Aggie was tireless when it came to making herself available when someone needed help. I took this picture of Aggie last fall at The Day with the Experts. We have a Garden at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve and one of the highlights of the year is this particular day. Thousands of people in the community come to hear the lectures, visit garden booths, and have their questions answered. It's a big deal around here. People especially wanted to talk to Aggie, she wrote a gardening column and was very well known. Since I got my job with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, I've said I wanted to be the Aggie Roberts of the Water Authority. That has to be the highest compliment you can give a person is to emulate them. She never wanted to retire and worked until a short time before her passing. We never knew how old she was, she kept us guessing until this week. She was 87 years old and she left an indelible mark on Las Vegas. I will miss her and I know many others will too.