Memories of Dad on Fathers Day

Last year this week I told my wife we needed to go visit my dad, it had been since before the pandemic that we had seen him and since we were vaccinated (although he was not) we felt it was safe to visit him. So we took the several hour trip to Texas to visit dad and we had a great time, catching up on so much...laughing, oh the laughing. Dad always made fun of himself, I guess it was his way of not taking life so seriously.

The day and evening ended and we moved on, saying our goodbyes and reinforcing that we need to visit more often. That was the last time I saw my dad. Three weeks after our visit, he contracted covid from someone at their church, yet he refused to go to the doctor even though we implored him to do so. But to no avail...and dad died on July 22, 2021 at the age of 83. It was a blow to our family, a loss so many have endured throughout the pandemic, but it was hard nonetheless.

During our visit, dad presented me with over 60 pages of hand written notes he had been writing over the previous few years. He wrote down memories of his childhood and adult life and the experiences he had...many of those memories were not pleasant, but they were his memories that he wanted to share them with us all. As I read through page after page there was a recurring theme. And that was how much he loved his family...family was everything to my dad and keeping family traditions alive were vital to him. My dads parents both passed in 1989 just five months apart and since that time my dad took on the role of the family patriarch and historian. Dad knew so much about the history of our family and could reel off story after story in complete detail...like we were living it real time

As we planned for his memorial and burial I knew I wanted to deliver a eulogy, in fact I was eager to do so...there was so much I wanted to say about dad that I wanted everyone to hear. You see dad had a rough start in life, but he overcame all of it against so many odds. He created many of the struggles he had in his early adult life by making poor decisions...but one thing my dad always had was his integrity and his character intact. Anyone who knew my dad knew that Harold Watson was a man of his word, if nothing else, he did what he said he was going to do.

His memorial was held in his hometown of Cleveland, Texas...a place he dearly loved even though there were so many unpleasant memories for him there. Dad enjoyed just being at home, among the trees which encircled his home which sat about 500 feet from the highway. He would sit and drink coffee on his front porch which he and a friend built just listening to the wind whistling through the long need yellow pine trees. The same kind of trees plentiful in East Texas my dad hauled on his log truck thousands of times. He would sing hymns aloud to no one but himself, and he would smile widely while doing so. Dads faith was stronger than anyone else I have known in my life aside from my grandmother and my great grandfather and he would not bashful to share it. He could quote scripture and move you in doing so.

During my portion of the memorial service I recalled stories of my childhood, conversations my dad and I had over the years and sharing the story of when I left home and the challenge dad presented me at 18 years old. A challenge he didn't realize at the time would mean that I would never return home to live again. I credit dad with lighting a fire in me to succeed against all odds. I believe with all my heart, God put those words in my dads mouth to tell me, but he had not revealed to dad what was going to happen, or my dad may not have ever said them to me. It was all his plan for me to go, to build my own life away from my parents.

Dad so often apologized for the tough times we had growing up, and after a few years of resenting some of those experiences I came to the realization that my dad, through his actions taught me what NOT to do in life to avoid difficult times. So I thanked my dad some years later, after I had started my own family and could understand the challenges of being a parent and a spouse. It all came to into full color so I could appreciate and avoid those came pitfalls.

Dad made it well known that we wanted to be buried next to his mother in the family cemetery in Eldridge, Alabama. A place which sits up on an open hill surrounded by trees and a fresh water spring and creek which my grandmother would get drinking water from as a young girl. The same place my dad told the story of watching my uncle Joe Eason (and my namesake), coming home from the war. He was in the 101st Airborne and had served in the European theater. as dad described it in his writings, Uncle Joe walked up on the top of the hill and yelled down. Dad said he remembers uncle Joe looking dapper in his leather bomber jacket and hat, pants pressed and shined shoes. Dad told that story with tears in his eyes every time he spoke of it.

It was a hot and muggy day up on that hill when we laid dad to rest, a summer shower passed overhead and we took cover under a large walnut tree before the service began. As my step mother stepped to the podium to speak I felt a rush of emotion...this was it. The last time I would see my dads face here on this earth. As she spoke wonderful words of my dad I thought of all the things I will miss about dad, but then of all the things he leaves me with. Faith, knowledge, humbleness, love, forgiveness and a never give up attitude.

As the local Army reserve band members played taps over my dads flagged draped coffin I just lost it...knowing how much dad loved his country and how proud he was to serve in the Army during the Vietnam era. I know he was smiling with pride. But then as they folded the flag and presented it to my step mother, and she turned and handed it to me saying, she wanted me to have it. Well I lost it again.

We all returned to the hotel we were staying to catch our breath and to catch up with each other since we rarely all all together. I pulled out dads hand written notes and gathered around and everyone listened as I read them aloud. We laughed, we cried...we told our own stories of dad and remembered him for having a bigger than life personality. His defining big laugh and strong will.

I think we all left there feeling that dad lived a full life, he had ups and downs along the way...but he had his priorities in order. His faith was always first and family was what drove him to share his faith, his journey in life and all the riches which are stored up for us when we get home at the end of our earthly life.

So dad, on Fathers Day I miss you in every way. Until we see each other again. I Love You.