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)
Leilana
Such a beautiful tribute to your dad!
UteBigSmile
He sounds like an amazing man! A trully beautiful tribute dear Mike!
npauling
A beautiful tribute to your dad and he would have been so proud of your eulogy. In the coming years you will remember all the things your dad did and you will feel blessed over and over that you were lucky to have had a great father. 😀
Crudelitas
Very touching words. And I love the Little Alligator with Hat. I know that a new warrior has taken place at Odin's table. His name is William Jesset. Your father was a great man. I wish I would have had such a fantastic father. Mine was also a warrior, but where he went, he left nothing but suffering, hatred and scorched earth ...
MagikUnicorn
marvelous tribute my friend !
RodS Online Now!
A most fitting and excellent tribute to you dad, Mike! His legacy will live on through you, and I'm sure he's beaming with pride looking down on you, buddy. A lovely photo and wonderful way to remember!
jeroni
wonderful photo and colours
mapps
my thoughts are with you :-)
Radar_rad-dude
You were most fortunate to have such a warrior for a dad! I much enjoyed reading your eulogy! You really loved your Dad and are missing him greatly now! My heart goes out to you for your huge loss, but also for all the joy and wisdom your Dad gave you while you were alive! Celebrate his life and be assured that he is most likely enjoying some much deserved praise in the Halls of Valhalla!
rbowen
A wonderful tribute, Mike. His spirit will be with you, always. He was a warrior, indeed! Thank you for sharing.
dochtersions
This is so impressing, as touching, my friend. I have great respect for your words, it will have been very emotional for you. You had an incredibly loving father, as I realize that you also follow ,in the footsteps of our heavenly Father, you are a loving person, Mike. I wish you many more blessings on your way, plus a speedy recovery of your mother. I hope she is a lot better now, my friend. Thank you for sharing this, the photo is impressing beautiful, with all what I see on it.
mistressotdark
wow.. sorry for your loss my friend and beautifully done
MrsRatbag
What a beautiful speech; I'm sure your dad was proud! He sounds a wonderful man, and you were lucky to have him in your life. May his next step in the journey be a good one!
loligagger
Great tribute,it seems you are very lucky to have such a great person in your life.Big hugs to you!!!!!!!!
Madbat
I missed this one! Mike, your Dad sounds like a great person. You seem a lot like him.
KarmaSong
This heartfelt and very moving tribute to your Dad speaks volumes of true love...
flavia49
beautiful and touching tribute
netot
Beautiful words, Mike. They told me a lot about the wonderful person who was your father, and your love for him.I am sure that now, next to the Lord, he looks at you with pride and love
anahata.c
I'm sorry I'm late on this, Mike, I've not been here much; but this was so beautiful, I couldn't go without commenting. A direct-from-the-heart, very beautiful tribute to a man you obviously loved deeply, and a man any of us would have loved if we'd met him. I love what he did for people in need, how he took you into it all, and how he cared for you, gave you all the right medical treatments, helped you learn to love reading, encouraged you to go your own way re faith, etc, etc. People like him are rare; and in a handful of paragraphs you captured him so beautifully, he is really alive for us. We can feel your glowing love, and your sense of triumph---your eulogy is a triumph, it shines with hugs and celebration, which is wonderful, growing as it must have out of the sorrow and loss you've experienced. You said there was a bet about whether you could 'complete' the eulogy...I've not been able to complete some in my life, because my emotion stopped me in my tracks (if that's what you meant)...but your love and joy must have carried you, as your father's presence must have, too (on big overseeing wings). A beautiful eulogy without a shred of rhetoric or platitudes---all eulogies should be this way. Thank you. Truly moving...and though I don't know you very well, may I say: like father, like son. May he shine in you forever...
nefertiabet
A wonderful letter and so wonderful words for your father Mike.
shadownet
Beautiful tribute to your dad, Mike.
SunriseGirl
Thank you for sharing this glimpse into to the life of your father and yourself. He sounds like an amazing man who raised an amazing son as well as all the other good things he did. How lucky you have been to have such a father.
lwperkins
Thank you for sharing this! I think I would have liked to meet your Dad in person, he sounds like such a great guy and I have worked with guys like him when we did events with the Lions; they were both great with their families and cared about their communities. Your Dad sounds like he made the world a better place by being in it.
junge1
Mike, reading your eulogy for your dad I am sure he couldn't have hoped for anything more. He did a fantastic job bringing you up and instilling values into you, yet he was tolerant and understanding enough to let you believe in your own god. I can see why you were so devastated by losing him so unexpectedly. In a way, that's how I feel about my parents, even though I didn't have the chance to be at their services.
mininessie
I can see your dad was a great dad! Cherish the good memories....as i did with mine...it will help! Big hugs!
Desgar
An amazing and very heartfelt eulogy, Mike. Please forgive the lateness of this comment.
Your father was a great man and Odin had a seat ready for him at the Great Table for a very long time. May you and yours find solace and comfort.
Thank you for sharing.
clbsmiley
He will always be in your heart.