This past Sunday evening I got that call I knew would be coming. My father passed from this life in to eternity.
At 7 pm that evening he pulled the cord in his apartment to signify that he needed help from the staff. When they entered his studio apartment they found him unconscious laying on the floor, the medics took him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The previous three days my father had an unusual amount of visitors coming by to see him. I believe between 15-25 people came to see him. I think it was one of those God things.
Over the past few months I knew his health was gong down hill. Each time it was taking him longer to recover. My father was a simple man who just loved living. A man who served his country when called upon in World War II, who married his childhood sweetheart, who ventured out from Oklahoma to live in Oregon never to return to live in Oklahoma again. Who always made everyone feel welcomed. Even during the last few years of his life, living alone, street people would knock on his door and he would offer to make them a sandwich to eat. I think he remembered the kindness of people when he was traveling to find work in Arizona and some strangers welcomed him into their home and fed him.
He is in heaven now, not because he did anything to stand out. He worked in a lumber mill, provided for his family, took his family to church every Sunday morning and evening, took us on vacations to the coast to camp, worked two jobs when my brother and I were teenagers to provide a car for each of us. He always had kind words for his wife, my mother, about every meal she made. He really enjoyed each car he owned and took great care of it. Just a simple man who provide my brother and I a home where we were loved and cared for. On second thought, not just a simple man but a great man who knew what really counted.
He is in heaven now with all those who went a head of him, his wife, our first granddaughter, his parents and brother and themany friends he made on this earth. He now has no more battles to win, no more pain to deal with and no more thoughts of when is Mike going to get those project done for me.
It is with sadness and joy that I say, " I will miss you, but I am glad you are where you are. I really tried to do the best I could to take care of you during the last days of your life here on earth. I will always be indebted to you for all your sacrifices you made for our family and country. Enjoy heaven dad. You were a very good man and I am honored to be called your son."
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