Ms. Thone Ritch

I’ve literally known Devon since before she was born. Some of my best earliest memories of her are of her beautiful platinum hair flying and her sparkling white teeth as she laughed and raced around playing with her cousins, either in my home or her aunts’ homes. These memories are followed by memories of her talks of her soccer games, travels, teaching experiences, and the love of her life, Nourdin. She was so proud of him, how wonderfully well he could cook, how lovingly he cared for her grandmother, Betty Noke, how much he loved her, etc. Devon and Nourdin were one of the handsomest of couples, their love of life radiating to all around them.

Diana Pendley, Devon’s mother, and others tried desperately to locate possible clinical trials and to seek out sources where money could be borrowed in an effort to save Devon’s life and send Devon and Nourdin to live in whatever states those rescues could be achieved. But Devon’s poor body could not keep up with her sprit; the trial studies were not to be.

If we turn from what we wanted for Devon, a long life, and look at what she did achieve, there is a bitter sweetness there. She accomplished so much in so short a span of time. She lived so fully that most cannot begin to live as completely as she did.

Devon will certainly live on through Nourdin, her students, and all her friends and family, as hopefully they will live by her example of getting everything possible out of life, however short or long.

Ms. Thone Ritch