NATCHEZ &8212; The Flower Station lost more than an owner, manager and designer when Ted Dillon died one year ago, said Sharman Hart, now owner of the business.

Dillon died suddenly of a massive heart attack while attending a professional conference in Arkansas on Aug. 20, 2005.

&8220;The service was in Gloster, and the notice was only in the paper once,&8221; Hart said. &8220;We had people coming into the store asking for him. There was no closure for him in Natchez.&8221;

Responding to that, Hart and the other longtime employees at The Flower Station decided to hold a short memorial service at the shop at 3 p.m. Sunday, the anniversary of Dillon&8217;s death.

&8220;We wanted to do something in his memory. It was our way of letting the city have some closure,&8221; she said.

As a memorial, Hart and the other 6 workers will plant an elm tree on the west side of The Flower Station on Seargent S. Prentiss Drive.

The Rev. James Johnson of First United Pentecostal Church will say a few words, and there will be music.

His friends remember Dillon&8217;s amazing compassion, Hart said. &8220;He had true compassion for bereaved families.&8221;

He treated everyone equally and always had time to stop, even on a busy day, to talk with someone who stopped by to see him, she said.

&8220;It&8217;s left a void at the shop for him not to be there,&8221; she said. &8220;His compassion for people was inspiring.&8221;