Encounter experience, Tribute of Love

Two Saturday's ago my family and I had a memorial service for my dad who past away Feb. 6th, 2008. He was 70 years old and died of cancer. There were so many mixed emotions that day from the three of us kids, grandkids, spouses, and mom we all dealt with, shortly after we all came home that Wednesday morning from the Bloomington Hospital. Making the arrangement, preparing for his remains and getting a hold of everyone was a frustrating terrible task none of us really wanted to do.

(After a long day at work, sometimes dad would play his guitar smiling taking the cares away.)

We are not the first to have a love one die, but you feel that way when it does hit you and you can’t think that anyone could possibly understand the pain you’re going through. However, the following Saturday showed family and friends came together at the Clear Creek Christian Church, filling the auditorium, with their prayers and support to our family. Dad was liked by a lot of people as we figured over 500 people arrived to this small church giving their respects to this amazing man.

(Mom and dad at an outing event in the 80's. Look at that floppy hat mom is wearing.)

My two sons, Kenny and Greg II (and are all grown up), was able to produce a 10 minute video that featured Johnny Cash and Anne Murray that captured my dad’s life, along with what my parents have created for the last 49 years together.
Kenny, the youngest of my two, was very sick with sinuous—loosing his voice, stuffy head and drove two hours to get to the funeral proceedings, not letting anyone down. I was never as proud as I was of my two sons that day for all the hard work they did in putting this together in the short time they had.
My brother Eric who has always been terrified to speech to large crowds, manage to hold his own and gave a eulogy everyone appreciated. My other brother Rob was also sick with the same symptoms Kenny had and tried to keep it together with medicine and constant water during the whole day greeting and smiling at everyone that came in.

(Dad on a camping trip, enjoying his self.)

But, who amazed me the most that day was my mother. My husband and I sat down beside her, as I anticipated her to fall apart. I even put a Kleenex box beside her just in case she did. But, instead it was me that kept crying off and on the whole time; Mom remained a rock during the service. She greeted and smiled at people she had not seen in years and wanted to feel this was a celebration of dad’s life. Not to mourn for the man who just passed away from her.

My Family............

Left to Right, Top Row, Eric Smith, (Brother) Don Spurgeon (uncle), Helen Spurgeon (aunt), Rodger Smith (Dad’s Brother), Gail Smith (aunt), Hannah Smith, (niece) Lacy Smith. Second Row, Rob Smith, (Brother) Mom, Dad and sitting on his lap, Charlie LaRay Smith (niece). Their Row: Kenny Seiler (my son), Me and my husband George, Greg II (my son) and Bonnie Smith.