[Northkeep] A grim day for Ian

[Johnson, Becky]

Greatest sympathy to you and yours, Ian.  May you find solace in knowing your grandfather is at peace.

Rowan




On Fri, Feb 25, 2011 at 9:18 PM, Jerry & Teresa
<j.t.herring at sbcglobal.net>wrote:

> 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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