I never really knew my Grandpa except through stories from my dad and vague memories of him from when I stayed the weekend at their house as a youngster.
I know a few things:
He was relatively quiet and private
He was a farmer
He was unusually bright and inventive
He grew up seeing the power of God first hand through his mom, Great Grandma Moody
He walked in the calling of God as the one in his generation so called
He loved johnny carson on late night tv
My only memories in person are falling asleep while he watched johnny carsen sitting on the floor a foot from his tv. And once, after prostate surgery, he was laying on our couch in our home with a bag by his side. And one time a memory of sitting at his table one weekend when grandpa came running into the house with a bloody towel wrapped around his hand.. he had cut off a couple fingers in the lawnmower. That's pretty much it in person.
I wish I knew him better. I saw him on home videos building the farm, working the crops, working with people. He carried a very authoritative, but gentle air about him. He was creative on the farm, he worked year round on different crops and income sources while other farmers "took the winter off".
He was also a drunk for many years, diving into the bottle for whatever reason he had. Then one day.. he quit. Just like htat. never touched it again. A man of strong will.
He was the source of my dad's wisdom and admiration. Quite often after grandpa's death my dad would express how he so wished he could just sit down with grandpa one more time to ask his thoughts. Apparently that was the usual way of finding a way in life for dad while grandpa was alive.
I also know he killed himself with ice cream. Yes. When grandpa retired, he retired, fully, completely, never worked another day after. He spent days lounging in bed with the newspaper, watched johnny carson, and ate a full bowl of ice cream every night, It was ultimately the ice cream that got him. After a few years his heart valves were so tough that he needed open heart surgery but didnt make it through. The surgeon said the valves were so brittle with plaque that when he removed them the usually soft pliable valves cracked and broke in his fingers. He never woke up from surgery.
There are stories that grandpa could and would pray for animals, or do whatever he did, and they would magically become well. He was relied on (after his drinking days were over) for help in the poor farming community of bonnieview.
But yet, he never preached. Sure he followed God, believed the bible, but never walked openly in his calling. Perhaps he was scarred by his mom being chased around 2 countries for her vocal beliefs. I do not know his reasons. We all have a personal choice. I will not fault him for his.
So I respect a man I know mostly from stories and movies and pictures. My dad had the utmost respect, and so shall I. I only wish I knew him better.
