In Loving Memory of Sandra "Nona" Starkey (1948-2019)

For weeks I've been dreading that call. I spoke with Nona just last week and she was not filled with sadness or regret. She knew she was at the end of her time but said it was a good end to her story. We spoke of the memories we shared, the goblin soup, the crazy chicken hunts, exploring the shrouded isle together. She made me promise 1 thing, and it was the hardest thing for me to promise. She asked that I not mourn for her. She said If I mourn, she'll come back and kick my butt. That's Nona folks. She was the strongest woman I've ever met and I can only hope to be as confident in life at the end as she was. She was not scared, not regretful, she was happy. She grateful and thankful for the life she had. 

Back when we explored Camelot together she ventured into a game called Star Wars Galaxies and shared many fun tales of her adventures there. In addition, she ended up getting dragged in to play World of Warcraft on the Horde side.  She loved PVP and often times gave the other factions in the games she played some hard times with her mischievous ways. She had the quickest wit and was a pleasure to be around.

Every year at our Gaiscioch Celebration at PAX West she'd take the ferry across to come see us all. Never missing a party. This year, unfortunately, our party came just months after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. A few weeks ago on her 71st birthday, she was rushed off to the hospital with a cardiac problem only to discover cancer had spread to the point it was a matter of days not weeks or months.

Nona was our community 5th member. She always supported us and my crazy ideas. She supported this community in every way she knew how even referring players to us that were from distant worlds we never ventured into. When WoW classic was announced I decided I'd give it a try based on the accolades Nona had given it over the years. Nona was one of the first to jump on board and just a few weeks ago she joined me for a run through the deadmines. Many of our WoW players know of Nona and had time to spend with her.  

Over the next few weeks, I will plan a Celebration of Life for Nona in the form of a Walk from Stormwind to Thoradin's Wall in Arathi Highlands.

As Nona laid in a hospital bed on her birthday she asked Kaytlin to give me a message:

"Nona needs support at the border walls. She will send reports on possible Horde Invasions soon."

Referring to Thoradin's Wall in Arathi Highlands. Even in her darkest moment, she was still thinking of us. Well, We're coming Nona, we're coming!

Ben thank you. Ellusive and I spent the day before she reported to the wall with her speaking of all the good times she had with the guild.  From the early days in Camelot as “mule” to recent times when the guild went to Wow in Ernest.  She was not always a great PvP player but Ellusive and Nona developed a strong bond and became such a force that alliance players would not attack one as the knew the other would be right there to protect her.  Nona came to be our big sister. I cannot express how much You and the guild meant to her.  Everyone was part of her family, so I say thank you to you all for your thoughts and prayers. Celebrate the life of Captain Sandra Starkey US Army Nurse Corps! 
Caitlin 

Repost from my personal Facebook.

Losing a friend is never easy. Sandi Starkey (Nona) crossed my path 18 years ago. Over the years our virtual friendship became a real one and every year I'd meet up with her and here all the stories she saved up through the year. She was an animal lover and a medic by profession with the Army.

Last week I spoke to her on the phone and we both knew this was it, this was the end. She told me not to mourn her, and told me if I did she would come back from the afterlife to kick my butt. Today I don't mourn you Sandy, I marvel in the life you lead, the love you brought to everyone and the courage it took to face death head up and say "I got this". You are an inspiration to us all and I will never she'd that Nona part of my heart.

Thank you for 18 years of support, encouragement and shenanigans. Earth won't be the same without ya... Heaven will never be the same with ya! Get ready God she's a spry one. But no soul has ever loved as much as that woman has. Heaven just got a lot nicer with her around.

I'll miss ya Sandi. Your life deserves to be celebrated not mourned. :)

I just remember our funny chats in discord. Even through her struggles, she always had a positive attitude and was always encouraging others. I will miss those chats when she would come in, "Just to check in" to see how we were doing. 

She also gave me a message for Fog the last time we talked: She wanted me to tell him how wonderful it is to have Fog in WoW and it just made her day that he got to play with her. Nona knew at the time that she didn't have a lot of time left and she just wanted to enjoy every moment with her friends and family. She told me to not worry about her, she would be Ok.