“DAD”

I have written this through tears rolling down my face and a lump in my throat. I am still not sure if I will be the one to read this out loud yet.

“DAD” was always “DAD” to me. You were always someone I admired. Someone I took for granted would be around a lot longer. Never taking into consideration that life is a cycle just as a person is born someone also dies. I still have not gotten used to you being gone and words can not adequately express the way I feel. So bear with me.

“DAD” when I think about you the first thing that comes to mind is what a great Father & even a greater Grandfather/Great Grandfather you were.

Growing up I never had to worry or even think about anything other then being a kid and having fun. Looking back, I know I was not the easiest child to raise, we often butted heads, and I inherited your stubbornness .But in the end I Always new that you loved me.

Over the year’s you shared your knowledge and wisdom. You loved history, reading and later politics, (which you loved to debate about for hours). You rarely missed a day without watching Fox News. I wish you could have seen the song on you~tube “The Girls on Fox News” by Austin Cunningham, you would have laughed until you cried! .You were not perfect but you were to me. You were the most reliable, honest and dependable man I know. You were a man of strong principles, traditional, conventional and yet very private. Your family meant everything to you. You were very particular about how things were to be done right down to drinking your scotch out of a glass tumbler. Your cars were always immaculate as was the garage you parked them. If I had used a tool and I put it back exactly the way you left them some how you always knew I had been in them. You worked hard so hard and provided well for all of us this I am so grateful.

 ”DAD” you are and always will be my Hero & I love and miss you so very much.

                              Kathi          8/15

Gary and I spent a considerable amount of time  together early in my childhood and a little later in our lives. You see I am his brother about eight years younger. He worked for me 15 years after he had worked 37 years for another company. We shared a lot moments of frustration and laughter at work, but some of our greatest times were at play, some camping, boating, and fishing. I will never forget one time we were fishing at a favorite spot on a river, Gary was fly fishing and he catches a fish on the back swing and the fish was about 5in long we had a good laugh about it. I will miss my brother Gary and my brother Lynn that Gary and I lost several years ago. Well Gary no more suffering and pain in this life I Love you and as I have already said I will miss you your brother Bob.

This is a Poem that Dad really liked, he left it for us in his will.
I would like to share it with all of you.

                                             
                                              To Those I love and Those Who Love Me

                                              When I am gone, release me and let me go

                                              I have so many things to see and do,

                                              You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears,

                                              Be thankful for our beautiful years.

                                              I gave to you my love, you can only guess

                                              How much you gave to me in happiness.

                                              I thank you for the love you each have shown

                                              But now, it’s time I traveled alone.

                                              So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must

                                              Then let your grief be comforted by trust.

                                              It’s only for a time that we must part

                                              So bless the memories within your heart.

                                              I won’t be far away, for love goes on

                                             So if you need me, call and I will come.

                                             Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near

                                             And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear

                                             All my love around you soft and clear.

                                            And then when you must come this way alone,

                                            I’ll greet you with a smile and say, 

                                            “Welcome Home!”

                                                                                                                                                     
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