Leigh's father was a wonderful man. He led a long, full life. He served willingly and faithfully. He had a strong testimony of his Savior Jesus Christ, and he lived by what he knew. In life, he was a chemistry teacher, a farmer, and a lepidopterist. Perhaps he is chasing a few butterflies in Heaven.
We miss Poppie, but we know he is in a better place, and I know we will be reunited with him someday. I am grateful that my girls got to know their grandfather, and I am sad to think that Alex will probably not remember Poppie. It has been our habit to visit Leigh's parents every Sunday, and Alex always headed first to the cookie jar. Poppie would meet him there and pull out a cookie for each hand. Alex would climb up on his lap and give him kisses. Poppie delighted in watching Alex build with the Duplos and also seeing him spin around and around while his sisters played the piano.
That was a tradition too--Callie has been playing the piano for Poppie since she was 7. He looked through her piano book and asked her to learn one of the songs for him. Callie was able to play that for him during his final week of life.
Poppie was so proud of his grandchildren. He liked to brag about them to anyone who visited. He liked to say he had the smartest grandchildren around--all 23 of them.
On Valentine's Day, Leigh's mom called and asked me to send Leigh over immediately, then she hung up the phone. Leigh had no idea what he would find when he arrived. Poppie had fallen and broken his femur right by the hip. That night at the hospital, he was joking with the hospital staff and telling them he'd made it through WWII without an injury, but was shot by a buddy a few days after discharge while they were out bear hunting. The friend was so upset, that it was Poppie who got them both safely to help. That's the kind of man Poppie was.
Surgery repaired the bone, but Poppie did not do well after the surgery, and he developed pneumonia. He was released from the hospital, and hospice care began at home. He died peacefully there 5 days later with his wife and 3 of his 7 children at his bedside. He would have been 89 this month. He was a good man.
I wish I had taken more photos of Alex with his grandfather. But at least we have memories. And what wonderful memories they are! We love you, Poppie.
