I will forever remember my Dad for so many things. He was a great father and he taught me to be a better person. He always told me to be happy and if you're not happy where you are then move on. I remember him teaching me to drive and telling me to just relax and not worry about the people that are driving like jerks. That lesson doesn't always hold, but I do try, Dad.

He was always good to anyone that I ever brought into this house. Over the years there were a lot of friends and boyfriends that came and went and he talked and laughed with all of them, even when he just wanted the house to himself.  Which was often. He loved to walk his yard. I would say he was surveying his property. We would all hang out in the beautiful porch that he build for my Mom and he would be out walking the yard. Every so often he would come by and report any findings; deer tracks, animals in the garden, activity in the woods. Then he would stroll back off again.

 I had bought him a hammock for his birthday one year and he told me had had been laying in it watching a hawk. The bird was high in the sky and it would catch a draft and glide down in a circle and then fly back up and do it again. He had been so fascinated with this hawk and had watch it for a long time. I like to think that Dad's now gliding along side of him. He has a bird's eye view while watching over all of us that he loved so dearly.

I will love and miss his forever.

Debie

I hope everyone will feel free to share a story about my Dad. We would really enjoy reading your fond memories and funny stories. He always had a story to tell (usually to make us laugh) and we would like to hear yours.

I truly believe Tom loved being a grandpa. I never saw him smile or laugh so much as when he was with the kids.

He was so good to my children! He learned to love Spongebob (and that silly theme song that he knew by heart) and watched old episodes of Tom & Jerry.

He liked to cuddle with the kids and listen to them tell all about their school day. He made great peanut butter and jelly sandwiches--with extra jelly! He didn't care if they ran around his house, "played" the piano loudly or sang songs in his living room. He let all of them "help" him fix things around the house or work on his tractor. He let them sleep over in his bed with their knees in his back and never complained. He held real conversations with all of them.

He took us to Disney World...twice, and he hated to fly just as much I do. He said he didn't know who was having more fun; the kids or him watching the kids have a blast.

He was loving and kind and my children know how lucky they are to have had him. I know he will watch over them and keep them safe. He now has the best seat in the house.