Saying good-bye to cousin Hershel

Sadly, yesterday was spent with Mom and Dad the funeral of Dad's special cousin Hershel Doyle. Hershel was 90 and had been ill for a very long time. His precious wife, Lillie, like my Mom, untiringly cared for Hershel throughout the duration of his illness. Hershel died in his own bed, holding Lillie's hand. Until his death on December 18th, he and Lillie had been married 71 years! They married in 1939 in the Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Giddings TX and remained life-long members there. It was in that same church where the funeral was held Saturday.

Hershel's mother, Mamie, died when Hershel was only 15 months old. My Grandmother, Mabel, took over the care of baby Hershel, even though she was a very young girl. I have not yet been able to find out what year Ira and Ida married to determine how old Grandma was at the time, but I do know that Grandma cared for Hershel a good while and called him "her baby". That was until Uncle Ira remarried Ida Wuneburger. Grandma married Grandpa Sewell Smith when she was only 16 and my Dad was born on her 17th birthday!

Dad and Hershel were 4 years apart. In celebration of Hershel's 90th birthday in May 25, 2010, a collection of friends' and family's comments was made. I was talking to Gary, Hershel and Lillie's son, yesterday. He told me that the last lines of what Dad wrote for Hershel's birthday, for him, summed up his Dad's life. I want share Dad's full comment with you. I am typing it exactly as Dad did..."DEAR HERSHEL;AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MY HERO..SOME OF THE MOST FONDEST MEMORIES OF MY GROWING UP IN ELGIN WERE WHEN UNCLE IRA AND ALL OF YOU WOULD COME TO VISIT US IN THE WAGON...NOW THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO, BUT I STILL REMEMBER IT. I ALWAYS WANTED TO GO HOME WITH YOUALL AND DRIVE THE MULES. I WOULD STILL LIKE TO HAVE SOME MULES BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITH THEM..YOU ARE GOING TO BE NINETY YEARS OLD...MY WHAT A MILESTONE..I HOPE I CAN MAKE IT..I WILL BE EIGHTY FIVE IN JULY...YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN YOUR LIFE...YOU SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN WORLD WAR TWO---YOU AND LILLIE HAVE HAD A LONG AND HAPPY MARRIAGE---YOU ARE AN HONEST AND SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN---YOU RAISED A GOOD FAMILY---WHAT ELSE CAN A MAN ASK FOR IN LIFE? I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT YOU ARE MY FRIEND. MILDRED AND I THINK OF YOU OFTEN AND HOPE TO VISIT SOON. WE LOVE YOU...HARVEY AND MILDRED SMITH" And Dad signed it "Harvey"

Dad was especially sad at the funeral. I believe it was because of his love and admiration for Hershel and that Dad was thinking about his deceased brother Roy. As I said good-bye to Mom and Dad yesterday after the funeral, I hugged Dad and told him that I'd bet Hershel and Uncle Roy were already fishing together in heaven! Dad laughed and shook his head yes.

I then said, "And don't get it in your head to join them any time soon!" Dad pursed his lips, grinned and nodded, "Okay!" At least, that is what I am interpreting it to mean!!! God bless the soul of Hershel Doyle and give Lillie, daughter Barbara, son Gary and all their family strength and peace.

The Smith family will gather at Glenda's house on Saturday to celebrate the birth of Christ and and the joy of Christmas. I am printing out a child's version of the story of the Nativity for the younger kids to read aloud to our family. I firmly believe it is our job to teach them about Christ in Christmas! At this link, there is a colorful printable "book" for children ages 6-11, although I hope to have my great-nephews Randy-15 and Bradley-13, and great-niece Kelly-9 (Jean's grandkids) take turns reading it to all of us. A lot of family members will groan, but we traditionally sing a few Christmas carols while Danny's wife Lisa accompanies us on the piano! I am big on tradition!!!

From all of us to all of you, have a safe, blessed and merry Christmas and a joyous, healthy and prosperous New Year! "Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on Earth." Amen!