Tribute to My Grandaddy:

My Grandaddy passed away yesterday at the age of 91.  He had lots of experiences in his life and we all learned a lot from him.  Here is a tribute I wrote for him:

Granny saying Goodbye - they were married almost 75 years

Tribute to Grandaddy:

I’m sorry that I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye, but I know that you will understand, as I am busy caring for your great-granddaughter, Mary-Claire, and she really needs me right now.

Many kids don’t get to spend much time with their grandparents, but we were lucky in that we spent lots of time with you, especially in the hot summer.  I remember the house before you got air conditioning, something in your later years you couldn’t imagine living without.  If the breeze was blowing from the right (or wrong) direction, the smell from the hog houses was stifling.  Thank goodness you finally gave in and put in central air!  It was worth the money, wasn’t it?

You taught me how to drive when I was probably 11 years old.  Many of my friends didn’t have that opportunity.  I saw calves and pigs being born, rode with you to “count cows”, went to horse shows at the Boone County Fair, an occasional ham breakfast, and we can’t forget the “fiddle contest” that you liked so much.

You took the grandkids to Disneyland and bought our first cars.  You always had “a little money” to give us before we left and told us to “watch our pocketbooks.”  You took us on our first train trip from Jefferson City to Kansas City just because we’d never ridden a train.  You made sure we “spoke to people”. 

As we grew older, you were interested in our careers, but I’m not sure you ever really understood what we did.  It was so different from hauling lime, or farming, but we carried everything you taught us about hard work and being willing to go the extra mile to our “newfangled” jobs and became successful. 

I hope to pass along all the good things your taught me to my daughter, and although you could be cantankerous and bossy, your heart was always in the right place.

As you enter the Lord’s Kingdom, say hello to all those we have lost.  And if it snows and ices up there, make sure to “watch the bridges.” 

Thanks, Grandaddy for everything!

Love,
Kristi