Our family lost our dear grandpa/great grandpa on November 30, 2011. He died in Ashton with many of his loved ones on this side of the veil and I am sure many from the other side were there to welcome him home.
His funeral was on Saturday, December 3rd. It was a lovely funeral, and many friends and family were able to attend. It was so nice to have our whole family together even though it was for a sad event. We all wore red as that was grandpas favorite color. In fact it was about the ONLY color he would wear. Especially toward the end of his life.
Grandpa loved life. He was a hard worker but also found time to play and have a good time as well. He loved anything outdoors, golf, fishing, riding horses, hunting, just about anything outdoors!
Some of my memories of grandpa are of working in the potato cellar and pulling boards with my sister brother and cousins. Somehow we sure made it a fun time! I also remember many family dinners at grandma and grandpas house where all of the cousins and aunts and uncles were gathered for a huge meal whether it was super bowl Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas or just a normal day. Grandma always had tons of food and we all had so much fun. I will always remember grandpas loud boisterous voice and he loved to tease and sound gruff, but we knew he loved us. He had a nickname for everyone he knew well. My name was MaggyMagoo and he called me that everywhere we went even until he passed away. I have never heard him call me Megan ever. When the doctors would ask who brought him to his appointment, he would say Maggy Magoo! Grandpa loved Christmas. He was probably up before any of us kids just waiting for the call that they could come down and watch us open our gifts. Then when David and I had our own kids, Grandpa and Grandma would come and watch them open their presents. That is something I will always treasure. Grandpa always spoiled us too, we always had lots of gifts from him and Grandma. In fact I think he enjoyed the Christmas shopping more than Grandma did! I have many more memories, but those are my favorite.
I was very blessed to have been able to help take care of Grandpa his last summer here. I will always be so grateful that I was here to help him plant beautiful flowers in his yard one last time and watch baseball and bake his favorite, apple pie, for him. We went berry picking, and spent a little time at the farmers market. I come from great stock, and can't wait for the day when we will all be together again. I am so grateful to know that we WILL be together again someday!
