My Grandpa...

My Grandpa was such a wonderful man! He has lived an amazing life of 83 years. Born to the name of Marvin James Halsey on May 10, 1925. A son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather and a friend. The list, I'm sure could go on...

He served in the US Air Corp, now known as the United States Air Force, as a gunmen in World War II. He kept a record of each mission, medals that he received, and moneys from different countries. Grandpa came back from the war and married his sweetheart, Carolyn. Together in happiness, they had four children: Ronald James, Donald Marvin, Bryon Earl and Deborah Lynn.

As the family began to sprout, so did the love of being a grandfather. I remember going into the garden and Grandpa grabbing a carrot for me to snack on, Gramma and I taking him lunch on a country road during the summer mowing season, taking riding in the wagon of the mower. Mandy had said while she would be shooting the basketball, the sound of his John Deere was popping then the lawn mower, and then again the John Deere. I think all of us have great stories to remember about him.

During a recent visit to Gramma and Grandpa's house, Grandpa had mentioned to Evan, "To be good, and if you're not going to be good, to be twice as bad as me!" To this day, that's a saying/motto that our family enjoys! It brings a smile to our faces everytime! That was Grandpa, always trying to bring out the rotteness that was in you.

Grandpa's health was good, he had overcome prostate cancer and regulated his sugar diabetes. He was on his way to Florida and fell in the parking lot of a gas station hurting his shoulder. It just wouldn't heal right, and come to find out it was cancer. Cancer that was attached to a nerve under the hurt shoulder. Radiation and chemotheraphy to follow was soon administered. A stroke...then the thought of losing Grandpa was closer than we wanted to think about. Grandpa, the fighter that he was, didn't give up...he was able to get well enough to come home to Ohio.

We had an 'unforgettable' Thanksgiving dinner. Lots of family, lots of food and lots of photos were taken. We decorated a Christmas tree with each family member having an ornament to hang. Grandpa chewing on a turkey leg, saying that 'the mashed potatoes were delicious', and Bo showing pictures of his first deer of the season to him. What a great day we all had!

I wanted to make a slideshow of Grandpa. So, we went through all the old pictures of when the kids(which are my uncles and my mom) were young, Grandpa was skinny, and at every family gathering. I have a nice collection of the times through the years spent with Grandpa. Music was an option, and I had found the perfect songs. I was able to have the photos and songs on a disc to share before he past away. We watched and listened to the disc with teary eyes and Grandpa's dancing feet. Sorry to inform you, but Grandpa past away later that morning just before noon peacefully on Valentine's Day.

I will miss him always and always wish we had more time... Remember, to appreciate your friends and loved ones, every day as they may not be there tomorrow...