Daddy's eulogy

For all of you who have gathered here today to remember our father and to celebrate his life, we would like to share with you a few thoughts from our hearts about this very special man we called "Daddy."

For Daddy, every day was a celebration. He was an uncommon man, deeply satisfied with common pleasures. Unlike so many men today, Daddy discovered that it is not important to have what you want - but to want what you have. He always appeared to be completely content with every aspect of his life.

When we were growing up, our father provided the strong, loving leadership all families truly need. We knew exactly what was expected of us and we always tried to live up to those expectations. He always tempered discipline with a generous amount of love and compassion.

Mother and Daddy always made certain that we were in Sunday School and church come Sunday morning - they always took us with them and never sent us by ourselves. Due to the example set by Daddy, we were able at a very young age to grasp the concept of a loving, protective and forgiving Heavenly Father. Daddy never "preached" to us, but simply lived an honorable, upright and faithful life as our example. His life was his witness.

From that example we learned of such virtues as honesty, integrity and accountability. He was never loud or boastful, but rather quiet, humble and kind. We were the recipients of a generosity that knew no limits. He would have sacrificed everything for his family and we all knew it.

Daddy was such a wise and talented man in so many ways. Most of you know of his great skill as a carpenter and craftsman. He took great pains with each and every project undertaken. He would settle for nothing less than perfection. He approached every area of his life with that same dedication to excellence.

Daddy's greatest joys in life were those things that money just can't buy. Foremost was his love for our mother, whom he loved intensely and sacrificially. Her happiness and security were always his first concern. In the book of Genesis and also in Ephesians the Bible states that "A man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife; and the two will become one flesh." Mother and Daddy were truly "one flesh" in every sense of the word.

We always knew the place we held in his heart, and he has left us with a rich legacy of love and laughter. His grandchildren were a constant source of joy for him. He took pride in their every accomplishment and he felt the pain of their every disappointment. He thoroughly enjoyed them and their love for him in return knew no bounds.

Daddy enjoyed God's creations perhaps more than anyone we have ever known. He loved to walk through the woods hunting mushrooms in the springtime and walnuts and hickory nuts in the fall. More than anything, he loved the lakes, especially those filled with bass. A perfect day for Daddy was spent in his bass boat on the middle of Long Lake, his fly rod in his hand, an old fishing cap cocked to one side of his head, a smile of total contentment on his dear sweet face. "A little bit of heaven here on earth" was the way he put it.

Daddy's name will never go down in history with that of famous men, but we felt the need to tell you what a truly great man our father was. He touched so many lives with his kindness and his gentle humor. For those of us who experienced first-hand his love and his care, he will be forever with us. So, for a short while, Daddy, we entrust you to Jesus' care until that day when we are all together again.

Your loving daughters,
Jody and Linda


*Eulogy courtesy of Linda Shell Ray