One of my earliest memories is of being carried to bed by my daddy.  I would fall asleep, or pretend to, while we watched television, and he would put on his shoulder and take me upstairs, down the hall, and tuck me in bed.  Being in his arms was the safest, most wonderful feeling.  The thought of never being in those arms again is horrible, but somewhat bearable when I think of the memories he left us. 

His laugh was great.  We loved to get him going just to hear it.  You couldn't help but laugh when he did.  He had a great sense of humor.

He was also quick to tears.  He was so tender hearted and compassionate.  Several years ago, he told us we couldn't give him cards that were tear jerkers.  The problem was, he would cry over any card, even the goofy ones, so we had pretty much stopped giving him cards lately.

He had a sense of adventure and loved to travel.  Many of our vacations were more like field trips, but we loved it.  When we were young, he decided he wanted us to ride a train before they were no more, so ride we did- all the way to Miami.  He didn't do anything in a small way.  He and Momma visited so many wonderful places.  They rode camels in front of the pyramids, stood on the Great Wall, walked where Jesus walked, and even chipped away part of the Berlin Wall.  He never made it to his African safari, but I know he's on a grand adventure now.

He was a very determined person.  He knew when he was fairly young he wanted to be a doctor.  He started to college then stopped, got married, worked for DuPont awhile, and joined the army, but he didn't give up his dream.  After the army, he went to college on the GI Bill.  He and Momma both worked hard to get him through.  Before he had even started to practice, the four of us had been born, but he kept going to fulfill that childhood dream.

He was a very loyal person.  Loyal to his family, UT, Old Hickory, DuPont High School, friends, patients, and colleagues.  That loyalty was appreciated. Just this past week, we've heard so many touching stories from patients and people he worked with.

He was a great story teller and had an incredible memory.  He would remind us of stories about something we had done that we didn't even remember, but we knew that if he said it happened, it had.

He was very intelligent.  A few years ago, John's son Cobey, had to write something about Daddy for Grandparents' Day.  He wrote "Papaw knows a lot".  And he did.  We only asked him for help with our homework as a last resort, because he wouldn't just give you the answer.  You had to know the history, or background, or theory, before he would tell the answer.  But we liked that sometimes, too.  He was great help with science fair projectsl

I think the best lesson he taught us was about love.  We know he loved us, but the way he loved our mother was such a wonderful example.  A fifty eight year marriage is rare, but a fifty eight year love affair is unheard of, and that's what they had.  It began when she was ten, and he was twelve.  Momma was under the house cutting out paper dolls, and Daddy went under the house with Uncle Bill to bleach their hair.  Now that's a cute story of a first meeting, but there's more.  Daddy said she had the best looking legs of any ten year old he had ever seen.  I guess from then, he was hooked.  Their love story is incredible.  They were newlyweds, and best friends from the beginning to the end. 

So many of his characteristics are right here.  This past week I saw his strength  and compassion in my brothers, his intelligence and level-headedness in Sloan, and he's evident in his grandchildren, too.  Elizabeth got his determination.  Kendal and I got his sunny disposition, Claire, like him, is a great a parent, and Grace has that quick wit.  Cobey, I think, has some of his mischeviousness, and Keaton his intelligence, and Hunter, his love of fun.  The older boys have some of his physical characteristics:  Brennan looks so much like Daddy did as a teenager and young adult.  Eric, like Daddy, is a big teddy bear and can give those good PawPaw hugs, and anytime I want to hold my Daddy's hand, I can reach for Samuel's because their hands look just alike.  Sam also has his tender heart.

It's unimaginable to think of him not being here, but he gave us so much when was, and he left us these little pieces of himself in his family.  I know he will live through us and in our hearts forever.  I thank God for him.