A tribute to my Dad by Faemike55
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this is the eulogy I spoke at my Dad's memorial:
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for attending this celebration of life for my Dad, William ‘Bill’ Jessett. Also known as Froggy and Birdman.
My Dad was a warrior! His enemy was hunger in the community. He had the Helmet of Hope, the spear of Charity, the shield of Compassion and the Sword of love. For over 30 years he fought this battle at Inter-Faith Treasure house. He coordinated Bread Runners, Commodity runs, and Food drives. He was involved in the Walk & Knock program, collected the food from the Postal Food Drive and other such events. He was relentless and tireless in this mission.
He was also a member of the Washougal Lions and volunteered heavily there as well. He was recently awarded the Melvin Jones award.
He got me involved in his work by taking me along on bread runs, liquor box pick-ups, for food boxes mind you, postal food drive pick-ups and rag-runs.
In my younger years, when I was undergoing corrective surgery at Children's Orthopedic hospital in Seattle, he would take me by Amtrak. Those trips were so much fun. I remember them to this day and I still enjoy traveling by train over any other mode of transportation. In between surgeries, he would take me to speech therapists so I could overcome my speech impediments. My most memorable time was when he took me to Camp Melacoma on the back of his Vespa, along the Washougal River Road.
He and my biological mom, Virginia, gave me the love of reading - they had a library that I thought was wonderful. Alice in Wonderland, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and other novels that I still enjoy. Later on, he gave me the love of mythology. All the Gods and Goddesses of olden times. The ones that fascinated me the most was the Norse mythology. They also gave me a love of music. I listened to everything from classical music, Folk music, Big Band era, and some artists you may not have heard of: Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass, Peter, Paul & Mary and many more artists.
Dad encouraged me to work to learn the value of money. I picked strawberries, beans, cucumbers & raspberries so I could have a say in what I wore for school. He helped me on my paper route on Sundays. Those papers were heavy! Do you remember the Oregon Journal and the Sunday Oregonian?
Dad and Idell were fabulous cooks and re-introduced me into the fine art of cooking. Dad and Idell were also heavily involved in the Church, but he did not force me to believe as he did. He allowed me to go my own way to find God, by whatever name he is called. I respect and thank him for that.
While he was a warrior, he was my dad, first and foremost and I love him for all he’s done, not only for the community but for me.
And while I am of no particular religious calling, and I know that Dad is with God, I do ask that Odin to invite Dad into the Halls of Valhalla and bid him to sit at the great table with the other great warriors and to hear Odin proclaim to them, HERE IS A TRUE WARRIOR!
(Invite Pastor Tom to pass the peace and closing prayer)
In the tradition of the Lions and especially of my Dad, I make a motion to adjourn! Do I hear a second?
BTW - I was the last speaker - I should have taken my Uncle Steve's (Dad's youngest brother on the bet (70 to 1 odds on my ability to complete the eulogy))
Comments (57)
You are blessed to have had him for a dad. And you have honored him in a wonderful way Mike. Thank you for sharing.
very nice tribute to your dad A Mighty Warrior
You have a lot of your father, Mike. You can tell by your words my friend. Very beautiful eulogy and great capture.
We'll never forget our fathers, Mike. They will always have a special place within us. Always cherish the precious moments you've spent. I know the feeling all too well.
Excellent dedi, my friend.
many hugs to you, Mike, this is a beautiful and very touching tribute.
superb writing Mike and one heck of an eulogy . sounds like he was an exceptional person
What a marvelous tribute to your Dad! He would have blushed but loved it. He sounds like a man worth knowing not just because of his community work but in the way he raised you. Memories of him will live on for many years. My Father died in 1993 and just the other day we got a reminder from a young woman who hadn't known him personally, but had heard stories of him for years and all of them were of what a good man he was. I have a feeling you will continue to hear wonderful stories of your father for the rest of your life.
A very nicely done tribute!...
What a wonderful speech, Mike. I'm sure your dad was a great man and you gave back what he gave you ... LOVE. Loved humans remain forever among us even if we do not see with the eyes but with the heart.
This is a very beautiful!
Very well done.
Very Cool!!! All I could say for my Dad was " he was a good man and I love him".... except I don't think there were any spaces!!! all one long word!! I'm impressed by folks who can speak while in pain!! Good job!!
Very touching and beautiful Well done my friend
Your words are beautiful and full of wonderful feelings
Fantastic tribute full of feelings and love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a heartfelt tribute full of so much love, wonderfully written.
Very moving Mike - what a wonderful tribute to your dad!!!
A very eloquent and heartfelt tribute to your father. He sounds like a beautiful soul, someone I would have been honored to know. As I write this I am listening to an old Scottish song "The Parting Glass". It is a song of leave taking and has been sung at memorials for those departed. The best I've heard is by Peter Hollens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hMdoGet2A8
Very touching tribute to you Dad, Mike!
Very touching tribute, thanks for sharing.
You did much better than I could have in your situation.
What a phantastic Dad he was! What a lucky Son you are, to have had such a Privilege to be raised by such a great Dad! Your tribute to him is really great! Thanks for sharing!
bel hommage
Very great tribute my friend !!!
He sounds like an amazing man! A trully beautiful tribute!
Beautiful tribute. Brought tears to my eyes. You really showed what a father he was, and what you have received from him. It also tells a lot about you - I feel I've gotten to know you a lot better, too. And the froggy on the table beside the "urn". Such a personal touch.
I'm not rating this since I feel it's not something to subject to rating. Thanks.
I count you among one of the lucky ones, Mike. Glad he was your dad.
He sure was a great man and it's good to see the young warrior following in his footsteps and I know there is a beer mug and bench there in Valhalla with his name on it !
Yeah, shame about the bet, you really nailed it Mike.
~Cheers~
very nice tribute to your dad !!
Mike, what a wonderful tribute to your dad. Your love for him comes through in every memory you have shared. I am sure your dad was & is very proud of you. xxxx