Update

I’m so overwhelmed. Thank you SO very much for all your comments, phone calls, text messages, and most of all your prayers. Eventually, I want to visit each of your blogs and personally thank you.

I’m sure you’ve heard the term “The Greatest Generation,” coined by Tom Brokaw. It describes the generation of men and women who lived during the Great Depression and served our country in World War II. Pawpaw was a part of the Greatest Generation. Without a question or doubt Pawpaw served our country in WW II. I’ve heard an estimated 1000-1200 World War II veterans die each day.

Today at 1:30 PM we lost another U.S. hero, a World War II veteran, a member of the Greatest Generation, and the best Grandpa I could have asked for. Pawpaw went to see Jesus peacefully, without pain. My brother held his head and my dad prayed for him as he left this life. I know if I had asked Pawpaw who do want holding you as you leave he would have said, “Jarrett.” They have each told me on different occasions that they were best friends. Pawpaw wouldn’t have had it any other way.



It hasn’t even been 24 hours and desperately I miss him. Pawpaw was a good person, the kind of person you want to be your friend. Earlier this year I was feeling down about layoffs. I went to my Grandparents house and watched the LSU game with Pawpaw. Later that night he asked me to take him to Taco Cabana for a Cabana Bowl. Pawapaw was a simple man and being around him was comforting.

Pawpaw could fix anything. Once I took a hair dryer to Italy and plugged it into an (overpriced) adapter in a Rome hotel room. Not only did the hair dryer blow, the power went out in the entire hotel. Opps. I really liked the hair dryer and I brought it to Pawpaw to see if it could be salvaged, knowing I would probably have to spend $19.99 on a new one. He fixed it!

Pawpaw had no enemies and he would do anything for anyone. Once a lady from the church called and asked to speak with my Grandma. She wasn’t available and Pawpaw said, “Can I take a message?” She said, “Yes, our Jack Hamm (a church member) is not doing well. We are asking everyone to pray for him today at noon.” Pawpaw didn’t hear very well and misunderstood her. He responded with, “WHAT? Your jack hammer is broken and you want me to pray for it at noon? I’ll just fix it for you.” He was always generous with his time and his skills and he always made us laugh.


Pawpaw was fun and spontaneous. My brother told me one of his favorite memories was visiting my Grandparent’s home in Louisiana. My parents had purchased a slip-n-slide and we were in the backyard having fun. Pawpaw came home, dressed in nice pants, a nice shirt and a hat. Jarrett remembers Pawpaw throwing off his hat, running, and sliding on the slip-n-slide in his nice clothes.

I’ve been reading the book, '90 Minutes in Heaven.' It is true story about a man who was in a car accident, pronounced dead, went to Heaven, and came back to earth. In the book he said when he arrived at the gates of Heaven he was greeted by the people he loved that had passed away before him. They acted as if they had been expecting him and they were over joyous that he had arrived.

Today as I mourned Pawpaw’s death, I remembered that part of the book. I thought about all the people that were greeting Pawpaw...his mother, his father, his older brother and a sister. I know there are many other family members and friends greeting Pawpaw and excited that he is home.

Pawpaw was nostalgic. In the last year, he had asked my mom to cook and bake some of the old recipes his mother made when he was a child. I think tonight he is having the meal of a lifetime… all his favorites! Tonight Pawpaw’s arms aren’t black and blue from the blood thinners, he can walk without swaying or falling, he can stand straight, he doesn’t need a pacemaker, he can use his hands the way he used to and his smile is bigger than ever.

Our family is sad and we will be for a long time. However, I find comfort in knowing that Pawpaw will greet me at Heaven's gate someday; he’s expecting me.