Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlight silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew-
And, while with silent lifting wind I've trod
The high untrespassed sancity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God
Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee (Jnr)
This was my father's favorite poem... I had the honor of reading it at his memorial service when he passed away.. a military man through and through, with a heart of gold and a love for his God, Country and Family as big as the state of Texas he hailed from. I love you Dad.. and on this day, Father's Day, that love is immeasurable. May you always soar in that sky you cherished so much.
Hi everyone, I'm here to let you know I also had a loss- My father. He was a hero to our town and me. His job was a police officer. Never knew him as anything else. He would give the shirt off his back, as the old expression goes. He passed on August 8, 1999 of colon/liver cancer. He fought it with all his soul and not once, (and he was in pain), did he say he wasn't going to make it, for he was going to get up and go fishing! Well, he couldn't walk from weakness and he couldn't eat and drink, but he wanted to go fishing.
Well, I guess you know he's fishing in Heaven. When he passed, my mother put on his headstone a picture of a man fishing, and it says it all. As I said, my father was a gentleman to all he met and a hero to all he saved in the line of duty. I'm here now to let you know I miss him so much that I can still smell his aftershave and hear him saying "Have a cup of coffee for me?" So you see, the memories, (just a few here), will always be in my heart and soul and I will never forget what he has given me in life- the courage to live and be the best I can. He instilled in us all, the love for your fellow person and we are all equal. So I know I'm a better person with the love of my father who is in Heaven, looking over me. Thank you.
- Marilyn Davis -
Mom's Diary of Memories
Well I remember when Tony was 1½ years old and he was sitting in his high chair, eating breakfast. He had a bowl of Fruit Loops and found ½ of a green one and ½ of an orange one and said to me, "Mommy, fix it!".
Another time, about the same age, we had been taking a walk around the block and he saw a Siamese cat. Years later, he'd still tell me about that kitty.
I remember when he was 7, we went to his school, I wanted him to hold my hand. I told him I knew he was too old to hug or kiss me in front of people at school, but not too old to hold my hand? He looked at me and told me "Mom, I'll never be too old to not hold your hand."
The story about what he said in kindergarten to his entire class. His teacher, Mrs. Schmitz asked her students to tell her a word that rhymes with GLASS and my dear Tony spurts out A - - ! And, try not to laugh.
I remember, earlier on December 19th, Cornel had told Tony to sit up on the corral fence with him, to stay out of the way of the snow plowing that was being done. Tony did as Cornel wanted him too and when Tony sat long enough and went to hop on down, his brand new pair of snow pants got caught up on a nail, a big, long nail, and ripped the whole rear end out of those brand new pair of snow pants. All we could do was laugh and all Tony could say was "Well, now my hinder is gonna get cold!".
Tony and I used to walk a lot when we lived in St. Anna. We would walk to the park and up to Nathan's gravesite. Tony would always pick up trash and want ME to carry it for him. He loved the park. We would take our dogs swimming there and he would play there on the playground.
I drove Tony to school daily and also picked him up Tuesdays and Thursdays. I miss that. I miss Tony's smile, his laughter, his kindness, generosity and hugs. I miss his kisses, his goodnights and his warm love. His temper tantrums, his bucky attitude and his reading to me. I miss his voice, his drawings and his pictures. I miss doing things together, just Tony and mommy. I miss his abundance of tiny freckles on his cheeks.
I miss him when we go snowmobiling, out to the barn, shopping, to the library and to the post office. I miss his presents, usually his less favorite, but still important stuffed animals, all wrapped up for me to unwrap and be happy. I miss his jokes. I miss his intelligence. I miss teaching him the things I know. I miss him teaching me the things I don't know. I miss his weather reports. I miss his paper airplanes. I miss his dirty socks, stuffed in the couch cushions. I miss making him his favorite foods, like brown-buttered noodles, Alfredo and Mac 'n cheese. I miss finding the teeth he lost, put under his pillow for The Tooth Fairy, or him coming home, with his missing teeth in an envelope.
I miss the dandelion bouquets. The "I Love You's," the "I miss you's."
I miss his singing and his dancing. I miss his golf stories and hearing his latest golf score, always lower than the previous one. I miss his love for cats and dogs, peacocks and his bunnies. I miss everything, even the illnesses that kept him home with me, so I can take care of him. I miss being able to 'kiss' his owies away. I miss snowmen and sandcastles. His boating skills, tubing and swimming skills. His love of nature and everything around him.
I remember when he was 6, he was the only boy at Katherine's roller skating birthday party and he was proud of it. He loved all, girls, boys, men, women, old, young, fat, skinny, black, white, everybody. And, everybody loved him. To know him is to love him.
He recently was told that there is no such thing as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, etc. He looked at me and said, "You mean the stuff from St. Nick was actually from you, mom?" I told him it was. He looked at me again and exclaimed, "Thank you, Mom! I love you!" I cried. He is just the best any mom could ask for.
- Mary Weber Buechel -
Tony's mom wrote these diary entries a month after his accidental death.
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I Will Always Miss Him
I lived in the country when I was younger and there was always our "neighborhood Gang." I had my friend Malissa whom I had known since I was 2, then Michael I met at 4 and Roger I met when I was about 5. Roger lived right behind me at his grandma's house. He was a year older than me. From the time we were 5, to when I was about 11 we were inseparable. We went in the woods, rode bikes, and went swimming. I remember that we were always happy with each other.
When I was about 8 Roger and his mom moved into the house next to us. I was so happy and it just made us even closer. When I was 11 years old Roger moved away. I was sad and we didn't keep in touch that much. He'd visit and we'd pick up where we left off but it wasn't the same as having him there. Christmas of '95 he came to visit his grandma. We spent the week together and one night, when he was heading home I said, "I'll come over tomorrow" and he said ok. I don't know why I didn't go over there the next day. I might have forgotten or I might have had to go somewhere with my mom but I didn't go see him. A week later I went to his Grandma's and she said that he had already left for home. I went home very sad and decided I should call him the next day. I woke up that morning and reminded myself to call him. I saw my mom and said, "I need to talk to Roger, remind me to call him." She sat me down and said he had been shot. I just sat there and said, "Ok well let's go see him then," (in the hospital or so I thought), but she just shook her head no. I just thought there was no way HE could die... I KNEW him. I had my grandma die before but I was way younger then. What happened was, Roger was over at a neighbor's who was much older than him, (19) and his neighbor had found a gun and accidentally shot him.
It's been 5 and a half years now and I still think about him so much. He was my buddy and I will always miss him. I just wish I had gotten a chance to really say goodbye and a last chance to just see him. He was only 12. He went too soon.
In memory of my beloved sister-in-law, Barbara Ann Davis, who passed away too soon. She passed August 18, 2001 at the age of 60. She had been a cancer survivor. We laid her to rest yesterday, August 22.
Barbara was a registered nurse for more than 30 years at our local hospital. She was one of the first RN's there. She always had a smile on her face and was right there to pitch in and help anyone. She struggled so, in her fight with cancer, but still had such compassion toward everyone, especially older people.
We will all miss her thoughtfulness. Everyone depended on her professionalism. We'll miss the way she always greeted us with laughter. Most of all, we will miss her kindness to her stepchildren and her love for my brother- her husband.
Barbara was a Native American- a beautiful person inside and out. She loved the outdoors. She enjoyed country music, so at her service my brother had them play "Keeper of the Stars" and "Last Dance" by Garth Brooks. She was loved by so many. I'm sure she's wearing her nurse's cap in heaven.
Mom succumbed to Parkinson's disease... She was such a wonderful mother. I'll miss you so.
She was a wonderful wife. She took care of the one and only man in her life. Mom was a devoted mother. She held us in her arms when we needed her hugs, she kissed us when we needed sugar and she talked to us when we needed friendship. She was a devoted grandmother... Never forgot a birthday and always had the cookie jar full. She had many friends because she knew the meaning of the word.
Mom, now you're gone, but the memories you left us will never go from our hearts, for you see you taught all of us the meaning of love and kindness. I'm who I am because of you. God will have your name written in gold for sure.
Love you, always.
- Marilyn Castaneda - Daughter of Aleene and Jack,
