Of the two inevitable things in the world, Death is still the hardest to deal with. In the last year, several people within my friends/family sphere have died.
My uncle Joe Downs was the only one who had lived a long and full life and was ready to go, if not eagerly anticipating the release from this life. His had accomplished many things in his life, but his body had grown old and weary and broken and it was his time.
My uncle Ron Jones had nearly lived a long and full life, but he was still in good health -- so far as we all knew -- and strong as a horse, still working, looking forward to retiring someday. His stroke came as a complete surprise, and the subsequent complications removed any hope that he would be able to recover to some level of health such that he could still enjoy his remaining years. In fact, he only lived for another few weeks and then he was gone because there was nothing that could be done for him.
Our friend Amanda whom we had known for many years from the days she and her husband, Kevin, used to live here in Grand Rapids (I used to work with him at GE Aviation) and for whom Deborah had babysat their adorable children, was still very young and full of potential - a trained singer, entertainer, hostess, home decorator, fierce gaming aficionado (as is Kevin) and amazing person - was a victim of cancer. Eschewing the traditional avenues of treatment provided by doctors and hospitals, she relied on her faith and her home remedies to carry her through. They failed. She died leaving her widowed husband with their three children to raise.
Jewell Snell, a good friend of the family since our days living in Richmond, had already outlived her husband by several years and had been struggling with her health of late. She passed on to her reward in September. We weren't able to go out for the funeral but were able to watch it on the livestream.
And then Don McIntyre died. This one hit me particularly hard even though I had not seen him for years. But I had taught two of his children in Sunday School, and they were two of the most precious children I had ever taught. Brilliant, funny, neuro-divergent. And Don was one of those wonderful fathers who got involved, who spent the time to get to know the teachers because he wanted the best for his children, who asked lots of questions and wanted to help in any way he could. And he would ask me for career advice because he wanted to improve his situation and provide for his family to the best of his abilities.
He was killed in his company truck while sitting at a stoplight when someone who was not paying attention slammed into him. He left a wife and four kids behind. He was only 39. And he was one of the nicest, kindest people I'd ever known.
It's been a rough year. And it isn't over yet.
[Updated]
As if to prove the fact, yet another person has flown off into the Eternal Sunset. Tim Eby, a veteran and a pilot and a husband and brother and father, died. He led a remarkable life but I only know of him through his remarkable children. They (and their mother, of course) took care of him for the last several months with a sacrificial love and devotion that gives true meaning to agape.
Timothy Ray Eby Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information
PCN Flight West: DL Capt. Timothy Ray Eby