[Northkeep] A grim day for Ian

[Tamara Britton]

Ian, It sounds like you're already at a good start for honoring him. He sounds like a great man. I feel for you loss.
 
Dervilia

--- On Fri, 2/25/11, Jerry & Teresa <j.t.herring at sbcglobal.net> wrote:


From: Jerry & Teresa <j.t.herring at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: [Northkeep] A grim day for Ian
To: "'The Barony of Northkeep'" <northkeep at lists.ansteorra.org>
Date: Friday, February 25, 2011, 9:18 PM


Just a few hours ago I received a call from my mother that the father of my
father, my last surviving grandparent has passed away in the lands of
Calontir.  The eldest surviving member of the Herring Clan well into his
90's. A farmer all his life, a hard working oak of a man but also good and
kind, truly salt of the earth. His kind are rarely seen these days. Another
of those gentlemen from a bygone day that had a hand in shaping who I am. By
far the strongest and mightiest man I have even known.and I feel I have come
to know some very mighty men.manys a time I watched him move the great
weight of thick  oak logs and farm equipment all on his own and wonder at
how he did it without injuring himself. When my father was younger he and my
grandpa were out cutting wood when the tree fell the wrong way and landed on
my dad.pinned under the tree my uncles say that my grandfather lifted the
tree himself enough that my father could be pulled free. He was a veteran of
second great war in Europe where he served with honor in the Army Air Corp
as a mechanic. He and a fellow mechanic were recognized for developing a
modular replacement for the brake system of the fighter planes they
repaired. Grandpa was always a clever fellow making puzzles in his shop or
finding ways to repair the farm equipment on his own. He used to run a small
custom saw mill and men would come from all over just to acquire some of
Missouri burled walnut, straight grained white oak, or red cedar for their
mantles or some special woodworking projects. The works of art that it were
made from timber milled in my grandfather mill decorated the home he shared
with my grandmother for many decades. Many other pieces crafted from
Grandpa's timbers reside as treasures in homes and businesses stretched
across these united states.  My grandfather was from a large family half of
which were boys and he begat three strong sons himself, my father among
them.  In his 86th year my grandfather was struck by a tear in a vessel that
bled out into his brain partially paralyzing him and causing massive brain
damage. Richard Herring spent the last 4 years of his life living beyond all
understanding of the doctors who had treated him, they all said they had
never seen man with so much damage survive. I always thought it was his way
of finally getting some rest after all those years of back breaking toil in
the fields. Although he was truly not the same after that, he never spoke
and could not walk again but he did live on. At 6pm today while napping
after his evening meal and having had a visit from his youngest son he
slipped quietly away to go on ahead and hopefully reunite with my
Grandmother.



Many of you know me and know I take great pride in the part that my two
grandfathers played in making me the man I am. I had hoped to attend
populace on Monday If the plans allow it I will still be there to share your
good company and to find some enjoyment before dealing with the duties that
a grandson owes such a man when his time is done. If not in attendance then
you will  know where I will be, with my family honoring him.



Kindly

Ian



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