About 2 weeks ago my father passed away also, I hope you don't mind If I post this here.

What I remember about Dad… How and where do I start? I’m not very good at this but… In no particular order… here goes…

No person ever had a bad word about dad, he was known as a “Gentleman†especially in business. Strangers, to me, but people who knew dad would tell me what a gentlemen he
was. This happened time after time over the years, with businessmen and friends alike. It’s funny, but I’ve never heard that expression about anyone else before. Bob, one of dad’s friends, an Architect and hunting buddy took me aside one day while we were hunting deer, on the Utah, Wyoming boarder and said that he had never meet a Finer Gentleman in his life and that I should be very proud of Dad. I didn’t quite understand then, I do now.

Dad’s sense of humor was wonderful. He could tell a “Storyâ€, a joke, or recite a poem from beginning to end without missing a word. Limericks were a favorite of his, some off color, some not, but all were told without missing a beat.

I remember the time he spent teaching me how to fish and hunt. Later both fishing and hunting became a large part of my life. I remember his patience when I missed an animal or bird. He was the best shot with both a rifle and shotgun I ever knew. He told me that when he was growing up, they were too poor to miss and that bullets were expensive.
He was never able to fish much when we went fishing or boating. When I watched him, he never had a minute to himself, he was always baiting a hook, driving the boat, using the net, changing gas tanks, changing lures, fixing a sandwich or getting a drink for someone. It couldn’t have been much fun for him, except that he loved doing it for us.
I am a little older than my sisters and I remember camping in a tent, in the†Primitive country†in Idaho, along a fork of the Salmon River. How easy it all seemed to him, I guess when I think back, that’s the way he was raised, with a bed roll, grub box, tarp and horses and little else.

I remember time he took from his busy business life to help me. We built a kayak with the Explorer Scouts. Canvas over a wood frame, it was a big job. I remember we didn’t put the correct canvas cloth over the wood the first time. It was too soft and stretched too much, and we put the wrong paint on it. The paint was Marine paint, you would think that is what it was for, but alas it was very brittle, when you pushed on the canvas it would stretch and the paint would crack in little concentric circles. Well, it was quite a job tearing the canvas off and doing it the right way, we both learned that reading the directions was probably a good idea. Dad, again found the time to come with us on a trip to Yellowstone with the kayaks. By the end of the trip, there wasn’t anyone that wasn’t glad that dad had come along and brought his boat to haul food and dry clothes. That kayak went down the Colorado, Green, and Bear rivers, as well as countless lakes and reservoirs, dad built most of it, and I got the benefit.

Dad bought himself a “Blazerâ€, a two wheel off road trail bike. He almost got to ride it, once, but only after I had it torn up and nearly worn it out. I broke it and myself often. It didn’t matter, it was the best thing I can a boy growing up with.
Again, dad took time off work to go on a trip with the “Scoutsâ€. Dad and several other adults arranged to take 40+ kids over 110 miles of southern Utah desert on “Tote Goatsâ€. I could fill a book with the stories about what happened on that trip to everyone except Dad and me. (Lost, Cold and hungry kids, broken machines, you name it, it happened)

What do I remember about Dad? Those were but a few of the times that dad was there. Flaming Gorge, Lake Powell, Yellowstone, the Bookcliffs, the Canadian Rockies, the list of places Dad took us goes on and on.

It was too many years after the kayak trip that, Dad got really “dumbâ€. He didn’t know a thing. Didn’t understand me….. Even during those times I knew he was there. And then he got really smart again, I don’t know how it happened…

Dad, and Mom have given me more support, both monetary help and with advice, direction and love than any child has a right too. No child and I mean this; No Child could ever want or deserve parents that have given as much as both of them have given me. Nothing I could do could ever hope to re-pay them for their support over my lifetime. I know for a fact that Dad gave up a “Big†promotion with Honeywell because it would have meant moving to the Mid-West, Chicago or, Minneapolis. He wanted to raise his family here in Utah.

I remember Dad and myself sitting in a duck blind at his club….many times waiting for the birds to come over, we talking about how life was, how the world was, how to cure the worlds problems, how he was glad he was able to share the club with me, how he wished his father could have been able to be there. I think I will treasure those times, maybe most of all…

I remember Dad being gone on business trips. I remember a phone call in the night. Dad had gotten burned on a job in Idaho. Dad having Cancer, and earlier losing his stomach to ulcers.

Yes, I remember Dad being mad at the things I did, and the things I didn’t do. Not mowing the lawn, wrecking the car, not helping Mom, when she needed it. Wandering off with my friends before the work was done. His famous “quit fartin around†saying, when he thought I wasn’t doing something fast enough.

I remember the 2 beautiful homes I was raised in. I remember that Dad made it possible to live better than most of the worlds population..

I remember that my Father and Mother are still married after nearly 60 yrs. I remember dad’s birthday, it was also my son Sean’s birthday. It was quite a joy to be able to call dad up and wish him a happy birthday and to tell him his first grandchild had been born.

I remember that Dad was able to take Mom and travel nearly around the world after he retired.

I remember that Dad became my best friend, Yes, I remember……………..

2005

I don't read many long posts, but I read that one. Glad it wasn't me writing it.

But thanks, reminds me I need to get that fishing trip with my dad planned.

Good luck to you AI. My prayers are with you.

My Dad died almost 8 years ago and I think I miss him more every year.

I remember my first turkey hunt with my Dad when I was 12. We got lost on the way to a blind (we were huting on a chilly autumn day over a feeder). He decided to sit down to wait for the sun to come up. As the sun rose we saw two turkeys walking on a hill about 30 yards away. My Dad told me to shoot the one on the left and he would take the one on the right. He counted 1,2,3 and BOOM we both shot.

I started whooping it up because I had just shot my first turkey. I turned to look at my Dad and was met by a frown and some choice words. He said that only one turkey was hit and he was sure that he had shot it. He certainly didn't think that I shot it. He was a little upset that I had let my turkey get away. He was kind about my mistake and said soothing things as we walked up to get the turkey, but he kept calling it his turkey.

As we got to the top of the little hill it turns out that the hill was a tank dam and the turkey was floating right in the middle of the tank. My Dad turned to me and said "since you shot it you better swim in and get it." When we got back to camp he told all the men how I had shot my first turkey giving me all of the credit.

I might have found hunting without him, but it would have been much latter and I would have missed the best moments of my youth.

Doug

AI-thanks for the great words, the relationship I have with my father and I is very much the same. So much so, it is a bit scarry and I find it hard to read your words and not get a bit wet in the eyes thinking about the day when my Dad moves on.

I pray he was a Christian and knew the Lord and is in heaven and a hunting right now!

For what it is worth IMO this story is worth reading and most of the bullet minutia that is posted and farted about isn't.

Thanks again for sharing and you were a lucky man to have such a wonderful father. What was his name?

Thx

Mark D

Thanks for posting that. I remember lots to, about my dad, hunting and fishing. We never left the house without a fishing pole behind he seat of his pickup. And when I was a little twit, I remember picking up his empty shotgun shells and smelling the burnt powder.

Thanks for the memories!

Wow, thank you for such a warm post. Not often do people stop to be thankful. Great post.

Kudu-between the spent shotgun shells and Hoppe's #9 I don't know which I would prefer.
Both have many a good memory!

Mark D

I lost my Dad this past January. This is the 1st hunting season without him. Best post I've read in a long long time. Hang in there, my friend.

I honored my Dad by taking his favorite gun on my African safari.........I seriously doubt that I'll risk losing it to the airlines again. It's now home safe and sound and the mounts are with it.

Yea, guys, I truly relate to this thread.

quote:

Originally posted by AI22-250:
About 2 weeks ago my father passed away also, I hope you don't mind If I post this here.

What I remember about Dad… How and where do I start? I’m not very good at this but… In no particular order… here goes…

(....)

I remember that Dad became my best friend, Yes, I remember……………..

2005

All my sympathies for you and my prayers for your father, my friend ... with all my respect

Sorry to hear about your father. You will treasure the memories of him forever. You are lucky you had so many years to spend with him. I only got eight with mine.

I am sorry for your loss. I must say that you were truly a lucky man to have such a great father.

I have never known my father. My parents divorced when I was 3, and I feel like I have missed out on a lot. However, where my father failed me, my grandfather and my uncles took over.

When my grandfather passed 3 years ago I felt as you probably do. For a man who lived his life in the middle of nowhere, he had somewhere close to 300 people, some from many states away, come to his funeral. He was a great man, and I miss him dearly.

As It turns out I suppose I wrote this for all of us. Thanks everyone

AI22-250,

Thank you for your post and you have my most heartfelt sympathies.

Best,

JohnTheGreek

My Dad had a stroke in Feb and several heart attacks. I am at his house now caring for him now. His time is short How long only god knows.

But were many good times trip to the boundry waters may camping trips ect.

yes it well be hard to lose him but he has lived a very good life. He is 87 and has been married to my mother for 65 years.

Thanks from me, too. I still "talk" to my father, tho' he's been gone for about 18 years. So often, I suddenly think "I'll ask my Dad about this".....and then I suddenly remember....and feel the loss once agin.

AI22-250,
Tears are puddling on my desk, and it will be 5 years in December. I appreciate your post, and humbly suggest that I know how you feel. You do him honor with your prose.
Here's a glass raised to "the Old Man"
Don

Thanks for that post, my old man died April this year, sorry for your loss, it's a hard time.

Thanks friend, for sharing your thoughts. My dad passed away 16 years ago. He was only 50, and I was 31. In the years since I have grown to know him more, and miss him in ways I didn't yet know about when he left. Dad gave me the gift of the outdoors and I will never be able to thank him enough. When his time came an unexpected accident took him while he was in the woods building a road into a cabin he had built for he and mom. They loved it there, and so did I. It took three years before I could bear to go there again, and when I did, I went to spend two weeks. It was four years later before I moved back into town. Some of the best years of my life where when I lived in that one room cabin, hauling water and no electricity. Thanks dad.

AI22-250,
A very moving tribute to your father. He would have been proud. I lost my dad 4 1/2 years ago. I thought about him a lot this past Saturday sitting in a marsh he had first taken me to when I was young. I was accompanied by my 14 year old son and 13 year old daughter who was on her first hunt. The feel, the smells, the sounds all made for poerful emotions. I reflexivly had the same thought I've had often since he passed away that the first thing I wanted to do was call him and share with him. y deepest condolences to you and your family on your loss. May God give you strength.

Jeff

I too rarely read the long posts, but this one had me from the begining.

Very nice tribute.

May God be with you and your family.

Things like this really put a lump in my throat. I'm so glad to here men who have these kinds of memories with thier fathers, and that hold them so dear.

If only as a society we could encourage fathers to be the fathers they should, all would be able to have memories like these.

My sympathies to those of you who have lost your fathers. Mine is thankfully still around. But for me, hunting with my grandfather was a treat I only got to enjoy a few times.

Memories are golden, keep them polished up! Nate

Thanks, I Took some time to enjoy the gift of the out doors my Father has given me.

I want to take a second and thank you all for taking the time to respond to my post. Believe me, it did me a world of good to write it and take the time to say a few words about my dad. I just returned from this years opener of the Utah deer hunt. I was able to take one of my sons on this years hunt, my other son had to cancel at the last moment, I felt as bad, as did he.
I'm sad at losing dad, but just being in the woods renewed my spirit. It was hard not seeing dad in camp but looking up at the night sky, without any city lights has way of putting everything in it's place.

May all you shots be true..........

By the way, didn't get a deer, never really cared......

Thank you, Your's was a wonderful post. My own father was not a hunter, but both my grandfather and uncle were. MY FATHER HOWEVER, realized my great passion for the sport and never stood in the way, in fact he did everything anyone could do to help me realize my love of the sport. His best friend was an old timer that help built the TAMIAMI TRAIL through southwest florida. Meese was THE MAN as far as I was concerned. My father arranged for Meese to take me on my first deer hunt at the age of 14. He even took me out of school so that I could go. It was an expreience I have never forgotten and even at my advanced age I can remember every detail of that hunt.
Your father sounds like a wonderful person and I can only assure you that mine was also.
NEVER FORGET HIM and always take every opportunity to tell you children about him. Of this legends are made. I am now a school teacher and I tell my students stories of my father, grandfather and of course Meese. They love to hear these personal windows into my life. So many teachers now are afraid to let there students into their personal lives. I feel that by telling them how things were and about the great examples set for me that I assist them in forming a proper set of values that they are not getting from present society.
Tom Cruice and other Actors are NOT PROPER EXAMPLES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE to follow. Nor are the current sports figures with rare exception and most of them are in Golf. Tiger Woods is A GREAT AMERICAN and I don't even play golf. HE SETS THE PROPER EXAMPLE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE but the currant crop of Football, Baseball, Basketball and Hockey players ARE WORTHLESS AS EXAMPLES OF GREAT AMERICANS.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
I don't read many long posts, but I read that one. Glad it wasn't me writing it.

But thanks, reminds me I need to get that fishing trip with my dad planned.

Good luck to you AI. My prayers are with you.

I am taking him fishing to AK in June. Flying him up there First Class, then a fly in trip. Almost blew it off, but thought he won't live forever...

A122-250

Very sorry for your loss, I can't really post much about my Dad, I was very youg when he passed away. I do remember sitting in a apple tree with him, he had a recurve bow in his hands. I spent a few evenings with him in that tree. That I will always remember. I was too young to hunt, the time was the early to mid 60's. Back then people thought my Dad was crazy to hunt with a bow!

In 3 days it will be 40 years since the day he left me, that's one day unfortuntely I will never forget! It's good to read these posts,

To all of you who still have there Dad to enjoy life with him!

To all who have lost their Dad, my thoughts are with you.................