Pictures in this pages was removed  because  of demand of Precious moments INC

Joe Brown, 76, spent the last decades of his life with his wife, Tina Brown. For 15 of those years they sold Precious Moments dolls and collectible figurines in Fort Myers.

They shut the doors of Tina’s Precious Moments at Royal Palm Square in 2006. Shortly afterward, Tina developed a malignant tumor. By the fall of 2008, she moved into hospice care.

“In Hospice House she was praying for people who were sick,” Joe said. “She was selfless.”

One of their former customers turned friend, Joan Marini, wanted to do something special for Tina. She wrote an e-mail to the human resources department for Precious Moments, which is based in Carthage, Mo.

Marini asked them to make a doll to honor Tina since she’d been passionate about Precious Moments and was gravely ill.

“I pray that someone can make this happen,” she wrote.

Craig Schoenhals, general manager of the doll division, answered her prayers the next day.

He remembered meeting Tina at her Fort Myers store and agreed immediately. He recalled her extraordinary store displays and warm personality.

“We rarely do this,” he said. “But she was passionate about this business and we thought it would be nice for her.”

He e-mailed Marini and asked for Tina’s eye and hair color.

On Nov. 11, Megan Kuzick read Schoenhals’ e-mail aloud to her grandmother describing the one-of-a-kind doll being made in her honor.

Tina, 71, died the next day in her husband’s arms.

One week later, the doorbell rang and a UPS delivery man handed Joe a package.

He unwrapped it and found an angel: A beautiful doll with curly blond hair and hazel eyes and feathered wings.

He wept at the sight of it.

“It looked just like her,” he said.

He called Marini and she and her husband Richard Marini rushed over to see the doll. It had been designed by Naples doll designer Linda Rick.

Joan Marini was overwhelmed.

“Little ol’ me in North Fort Myers writes an e-mail and damned if it didn’t materialize,” she said. “I like to think she knows the doll is here.”

Tina, the angel doll, sits in Joe’s foyer to greet everyone who enters his home.

“It blows my mind that a company of this magnitude would do that out of the goodness of their heart,” Joe said.

“It’s a blessing – truly,” he said. “I will cherish this doll forever.”

Resource: wikipedia

The original artwork was created by Sam Butcher in the seventies. His artwork depict young children with distinctive teardrop-shaped eyeballs, and were often accompanied by inspirational messages which are also found on the products. Christian themes appeared throughout his work, as Butcher was a born-again Christian.
While many collectors are familiar with the traditional Precious Moments® figurines, the popular line has also expanded to create beautiful collectible dolls.

The dolls are made with vinyl heads and hands that are stuffed so that children can play with them safely. Although they build wonderful toys for children, many serious collectors also purchase and display the dolls as part of a collection. They convey messages of gentleness, hope, and love for all who possess them.

The history of the Precious Moments® dolls started in 1974 when Sam Butcher along with partner Bill Biel formed the Jonathan and David inspirational greeting card business .The cards featured the drawings of Sam that were meant to share the message of love, caring, and sharing. In 1981, Sam and Bill followed God’s calling and traveled to the Philippines, where the first two Precious Moments® dolls were produced; the Jesus Loves me boy and girl. In return, Sam and Bill offered financial assistance to young Bible School students in the country.

By 1986, the dolls were distributed in the United States by the Samson Company which was operated by Sam’s sons, Jon and Phillip. During this time, Sam started to direct his attention along his imaginativeness of designing and building which has now become known as the Precious Moments® Chapel complex in Carthage, Missouri. In 1987, this dream became a reality as construction was begun on the chapel. In order to focus on this new endeavor, the Samson Company closed their doors. The Jonathan and David Company had also produced nine Precious Moments® dolls over a span of three years, but in 1988, they would cease production.

In 1989, a newly formed company called Precious Moments® Country Incorporated began to distribute some of the original dolls. These included the Jesus Loves Me boy and girl dolls, Taffy and Toto Clown dolls, Sailor Sam and Private Jojo. They also continued the production of Blue Missy for one year, Patti with Goose for two years, and produced Pink Missy until 1995.

In 1992, Precious Moments® Country, Inc. was interchanged to the Precious here and now*® Company, Inc. The Precious Moments® doll line kept going to grow and has included many popular series over the years. These include Children of the World, the Nursery Rhyme Collection, Monthly Moments, and the Fairytale Collection.

Doll Artist and Designer Linda Rick has brought her creative abilities to the Precious Moments® Company and the accumulation continues to grow in popularity. Newly excogitations are introduced each year and are highly anticipated by collectors old and young.

Resource: Wikipedia