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Lost my Father about 3 weeks ago while he, myself and my son were on an annual deer hunt in Alabama. Below are some excerpts from his Eulogy which I wrote the morning before his funeral. I just thought those that hunt and fish might enjoy reading it. The part I have posted is only the beginning and end of it I have left out the main body or middle.
September 13, 2010 (I had wrote this some years ago and posted this on this site) Dad died Jan 18, 2013
Early teal season opened up here Saturday morning and dawn broke to find all 3 generations of Cope men, in the blind together for the first time. Dad is 73, Ethan is 6, God what a great day. Thank You
Dad has a bad heart and other health issues and didnt know if that morning would ever materialize but it did and I am a blessed man because of it. Truly one of lifes great moments.
It was an perfect morning and I still get kind of emotional just thinking about it, as the whole event just registers heavily with me on so many levels, family, tradition, and life lessons. Being in that blind with my dad on one side and my son on the other as the sun rose and the birds began to fly was priceless and changed me as a man. Dad was looking like his grandson with wide eyes and anxiousness as the first group circled and were about to light in the decoys, Ethan mumbled shoot em, paw paw, shoot em.
Still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end just thinking about it, what an awesome morning! My only wish is that everyone could share a moment in a similar experience with their loved ones. I know that may seem kind of hokey but it just really registered with me.
Sometime has passed since that duck hunt back in 2010 and despite his continually declining health Gene continued as he always had quietly going on with his dedication to God, family and work. Teaching Sunday school, making the birthday parties, sport games and family vacations with not only his children but now his grandchildren as well, this included a recent hunting trip which was an annual event for him, his son and sometimes other family members over the previous 10 years.
Dawn broke this past Thursday morning this time finding Genes family under one roof that was blanketed with a fresh covering of snow. As a grandfather and grandson silently stood next to each other at a window watching the snow fall in the woods, a Father took notice and was reminded once again that God is the captain of our soul. That evening would find Gene, Mike and Ethan under a cold night sky in rural central Alabama looking for a deer Paw Paw had taken. A scene that had played out many times before through the years not just celebrating a deer but also the first generation through deeds and actions teaching lessons to the second and third about the creator and circle of life. With the deer found the walk back across the greenfield to get the truck would reveal that Paw Paw and Ethan had walked the entire field holding hands. Unbeknownst to either that Ethan was walking his paw paw home while at the same time Paw Paw was leading Ethan into his future.
The next morning before heading out for his hunt Paw Paw leaned over and kissed Ethan on top of his head saying, Ill see you later, little knowing what was to shortly unfold. As only minutes later Gene was too quietly and peacefully pass while en route with Alabama hunting buddy Mr. Donnie Richards to hunt a spot where nearly 2 years to the day Gene had previously taken one of his biggest bucks ever. Later in the day while traveling home Ethan explained to Mike that he knew what paw paw meant when he had kissed him on the head and said see you later earlier that morning, as he said Dad, paw paw meant he would see me in Heaven.
Those remarks without question tell all that is Genes story and that he was called home to be with his Heavenly Father as his work here was done, for even in his passing he was still quietly leading and teaching by example.
Thank you Dad for taking the time to take me hunting and fishing.
MikeC
September 13, 2010 (I had wrote this some years ago and posted this on this site) Dad died Jan 18, 2013
Early teal season opened up here Saturday morning and dawn broke to find all 3 generations of Cope men, in the blind together for the first time. Dad is 73, Ethan is 6, God what a great day. Thank You
Dad has a bad heart and other health issues and didnt know if that morning would ever materialize but it did and I am a blessed man because of it. Truly one of lifes great moments.
It was an perfect morning and I still get kind of emotional just thinking about it, as the whole event just registers heavily with me on so many levels, family, tradition, and life lessons. Being in that blind with my dad on one side and my son on the other as the sun rose and the birds began to fly was priceless and changed me as a man. Dad was looking like his grandson with wide eyes and anxiousness as the first group circled and were about to light in the decoys, Ethan mumbled shoot em, paw paw, shoot em.
Still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end just thinking about it, what an awesome morning! My only wish is that everyone could share a moment in a similar experience with their loved ones. I know that may seem kind of hokey but it just really registered with me.
Sometime has passed since that duck hunt back in 2010 and despite his continually declining health Gene continued as he always had quietly going on with his dedication to God, family and work. Teaching Sunday school, making the birthday parties, sport games and family vacations with not only his children but now his grandchildren as well, this included a recent hunting trip which was an annual event for him, his son and sometimes other family members over the previous 10 years.
Dawn broke this past Thursday morning this time finding Genes family under one roof that was blanketed with a fresh covering of snow. As a grandfather and grandson silently stood next to each other at a window watching the snow fall in the woods, a Father took notice and was reminded once again that God is the captain of our soul. That evening would find Gene, Mike and Ethan under a cold night sky in rural central Alabama looking for a deer Paw Paw had taken. A scene that had played out many times before through the years not just celebrating a deer but also the first generation through deeds and actions teaching lessons to the second and third about the creator and circle of life. With the deer found the walk back across the greenfield to get the truck would reveal that Paw Paw and Ethan had walked the entire field holding hands. Unbeknownst to either that Ethan was walking his paw paw home while at the same time Paw Paw was leading Ethan into his future.
The next morning before heading out for his hunt Paw Paw leaned over and kissed Ethan on top of his head saying, Ill see you later, little knowing what was to shortly unfold. As only minutes later Gene was too quietly and peacefully pass while en route with Alabama hunting buddy Mr. Donnie Richards to hunt a spot where nearly 2 years to the day Gene had previously taken one of his biggest bucks ever. Later in the day while traveling home Ethan explained to Mike that he knew what paw paw meant when he had kissed him on the head and said see you later earlier that morning, as he said Dad, paw paw meant he would see me in Heaven.
Those remarks without question tell all that is Genes story and that he was called home to be with his Heavenly Father as his work here was done, for even in his passing he was still quietly leading and teaching by example.
Thank you Dad for taking the time to take me hunting and fishing.
MikeC
