It seems trite to say that losing a loved one is difficult... even with the hope of heaven, it still hurts, deeply. Anyone who says differently is not being honest with you and/or with himself/herself. I find a certain measure of catharsis in writing, so that's what I'm doing. Read it if you'd like. I suppose this is really more for me than anybody else. The newspaper in McAllen had a very nice, very standard obituary for my Grandpa. However, I'd like to think I could write a better -- truer -- version. Here's my attempt:
Irvin E. May went home to be with the Lord on January 27, 2013. He was 89. He lived a full life in those 89 years. Born on a ranch in Wyoming, Irving worked the cattle, loved the land, and made his home. When duty called in WW II, he answered it humbly yet bravely, and he served in the Army in the South Pacific. After returning home, he met and fell in love with Mildred, the woman who would marry him and be his companion through the joys and sorrows of the following 64 years. Life's adventures took them from a ranch in Wyoming to a home in McAllen, Texas. Always ready to serve his community, Irvin was a member of the American Legion, a little league baseball coach, a Royal Ambassador leader, and a 3rd Grade Sunday school teacher.
Irvin's influence does not stop there. He helped raise two sons, Patrick and Ronald, and had tremendous impact on the lives of his three grandchildren, Ronnie, Bonnie, and Leesa, and his great-grandson . He provided everyone he met with practical examples of living simply and selflessly. Never found without a smile and a kind word, Irvin moved throughout his days lightening the load of those who were heavy burdened and encouraging those whose troubles threatened to overwhelm. He delighted in listening to others, and when he spoke, it was with a combination of humility and authority and wisdom. However, no game was ever too silly to play with his grandchildren -- he spent many hours drinking tea out of a plastic tea set or pretending to be in school along side long-suffering stuffed bears and dolls -- and he laughed and smiled all the while.
Perhaps one of his greatest legacies is his propensity for smiling and finding the bright spot in any situation. Just ask anyone who spent any time around him; he never had a harsh, cross, or unkind word to say. If something did not go his way, he would smile, accept it gracefully, and then find a way to make the best of it. Though his family members mourn his passing, they are so very thankful for Irvin's life and the impact he had upon everyone he encountered.
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