A Eulogy to my Father…

Fighting for the Future

Note: The above picture is the flag presented to my mother for the recognition of my father’s service. I went downstairs to pack up and saw this… How appropriate! 🙂 The below is a copy of the Eulogy that I gave today at my father’s funeral.

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I actually think it’s kind of funny. To see all of you, to have had all of those visitors yesterday, and to know how much my dad HATED crowds. “Three’s a crowd,” he’d say. I guess that we got the last joke on him? 

But I do find it amazing to see so many family members, high school classmates, friends from church, neighbors, and co-workers here today. On behalf of the family, thank you. 

If you don’t mind, I would like to take the next few minutes to paint a picture. I don’t know why, but since my dad was diagnosed with cancer in March, I kind of had this feeling that this was going to end too soon. Since then, I find my mind wandering… wondering what Dad’s heaven would be like. So, I‘d like to share.

 Dad grew up playing cowboys and Indians, riding his bike with friends all over Copley… I imagine that he’s seeing some of the most famous cowboys and Indians now… probably giving THEM advice on how best to evade capture from each other, maybe even joining in. 

He went to high school, played baseball, so, I’m sure that he’s a catcher on the “Angel All Stars” just waiting for a game against “Moses’ Many”. His knees won’t give out any more and he’ll love that. He was also voted “Best Dancer” in his class. I think that at the local diner, he’ll be able to play some great 50’s music and show everyone how it’s done. 

At some point, after he has experienced the fun of it all, he’s gonna have to do some work. I mean, there are houses to build. Not only will he need to build a house for himself, but Mom has very particular tastes. So, I’m sure that he’s taking note, planning everything to get it ready for when she arrives – not for 30 years, but one can plan. Remember dad, she LOVES Victorian and photos.

I wish that there wasn’t this thing of “you can’t take it with you when you go.” The number of tools that Jesus is going to have to provide my dad… sometimes 2 or 3 of the same thing!  “There was a sale.” He’ll need those to build his houses and he could have taken his tools with him. Sawhorses, drills, saws… He has them all. We’ll be able to know the answer to the age long debate – Craftsman or Dewalt.

 But besides building his own place, I’m sure that he’ll be on “Peter’s Construction Crew.” He loved a good building project and I can’t imagine that heaven will be any different. He’s really good at dry wall, framing, general helping and tinkering. Just so Peter knows, he’s a fast learner… so teach him whatever you need. He’ll really get a kick out of that. And as my cousin so aptly reminded me, “He won’t even cuss when he hits his finger!”

As those of your from OBES know, he loved to manage and mentor. So, I can see that there are many of those opportunities as well… He might get promoted on Peter’s Crew. Manage a group of new folks who are helping build… teach them the ropes. He’ll probably tease them a bit – nicknames and dry sarcasm. You know that he gets a bigger kick out of that then we do. And as Dad always said, “If you are manager, surround yourself with the best.” I think that’s his only option now.

 We all know how much he LOVED music… all rock & roll, 50s and 60s… The Eagles, Credence Clearwater, Janis Joplin. Besides the fact that he’s going to get to meet some of the famous, he’s going to love the music selection. I imagine that heaven’s pretty advanced. No Bose earphones, no Dell music player… I personally think that you’ll have those playlists in your head… and you can listen to your music at all time. So when Dad isn’t working with Peter, he’ll be groovin’. Sitting down in his basement of his new house… just singing, tapping his foot while he waits. 

I’d ask that Jesus makes a little bend in his policy of turning water into wine. Do you think that he could turn some water in Michelob Ultra? I mean, dad can drink wine now, but I think that he’d want it mixed up a bit. 

He’s finally been reunited with family… His mother was a saint, you know. And Dad will be back over at their house, enjoying some home cooking. Playing in the garden with grandpa, watching Jeopardy with grandma. They’ll all be planning for when we join. 

I’m not sure exactly what Holidays are celebrated upstairs, but I can only imagine the “picnic” that is put on by the Sommer’s. Whew! Talk about a feast! And the story-telling will go on for days… 

Dad will finally get to put his genealogy work to the test… Meeting all of the folks that he has so diligently researched for years. He’s going to have a constant smile on his face. “Now you were the son of a Mockbee! Weren’t you! Born in 1847!?” 

He’ll get to see Uncle Danny and Uncle Mark… I’m sure that there is going to be some GREAT fishing in heaven. Probably a bit of a catch and release program, but still fun for them nonetheless. 

He’d be reunited with old friends… Those Copley classmates will be dancing with him at the diner. Dave Dials will be enjoying some Michelob with dad, reminiscing about Vietnam. Old friends from East Side …

My dad loved history too. And I don’t know why, but I personally have always dreamed (since I was kid) of being able to watch “The History Channel” in heaven… And I mean, THE HISTORY channel. Do you think that there is a video for things like Moses parting the sea? David and Goliath? Daniel and the Lion’s Den? Dad would watch that channel for years! 

Most importantly, I imagine that Dad will be watching us. Encouraging us to be the best, whispering words of advice when we need it the most, comforting us in our time of dismay… He’ll be glued to Maggie and Sam. “I think I hear Sam crying! Did Maggie fall?” They should also know that PeePaw will always be there. 

So, how else can I end, but with Dad’s (and the Eagles) own words:

“You know I always put a rock & roll spin on things, so I’ll leave you with some words from one of my favorite bands. There’s a couple of mushy parts, but the words are perfect: 

A perfect day, the sun is sinkin’ low
As evening falls, the gentle breezes blow
The time we shared went by so fast
Just like a dream, we knew it couldn’t last
But I’d do it all again
If I could, somehow
But I must be leavin’ soon
It’s your world now

It’s your world now
My race is run
I’m moving on
Like the setting sun
No sad goodbyes
No tears allowed
You’ll be alright
It’s your world now

Even when we are apart
You’ll always be in my heart
When dark clouds appear in the sky
Remember true love never dies

But first a kiss, one glass of wine
Just one more dance while there’s still time
My one last wish: someday, you’ll see
How hard I tried and how much you meant to me

It’s your world now
Use well the time
Be part of something good
Leave something good behind
The curtain falls
I take my bow
That’s how it’s meant to be
It’s your world now”

Photo taken with: iPhone 4