Blackwater
06-22-2017, 03:46 PM
I asked you all to pray for my dear friend Mike, who was going through chemo for cancer. And thank you for all your prayers. But yesterday, the Lord decided to end his suffering, and take him home. He leaves behind his wonderful wife Bonnie, who has one tremendous voice, and often sings for the church, and a number of children and step children.
Mike was always one of those people who ... well, "what you see is what you get." There was absolutely no pretension within him. In his earlier days, he was pretty adventurous and daring. He built and raced cars, and for a while, boats. He also worked in the oil fields when younger, working his way up to driller. He could fix anything with any kind of engine in it, either fuel or electric. He always thought of himself as a dumb, country redneck, but when he asked me to teach him how to tie flies, I told him that he'd catch on quick, because he'd really been an artist all his life. He did a double take and made me explain my words, and I explained that his manner of working on anything was that of an artist, because he actually saw, mentally at least INTO the things he did, and figured out what to do and how to best do it. It took a while before he believed me, but he knew something separated him from all the "parts changers" that have so long marked and been characteristic of mechanic work. And I told him early on that teaching him to tie would make me a better tier. Again he recoiled, but later, it proved out, and he never really understood it quite fully, but just accepted it, and finally found I wasn't just saying things for effect.
He had many stories, and a fishing trip with him would be one long and interspersed monologue of some of his more humorous adventures. And he didn't mind being the butt of his own jokes, either. He was truly a humble yet assertive man, who saw everything as either right or wrong, whether it be how his work was done, or how he or others behaved. He was the best fishing partner I've ever had, despite the fact that, at least according to me, he liked to fish too much "on top" of the fish. We had our differences, but we always disagreed agreeably, and neither of us ever cut back on the straight truth of what we believed. I think he respected that in himself, and demanded it of others.
I could go on for hours about ol' Mike, but ... why? He was a very rare bird, and a very dear friend. He married a woman who had married early to a man she thought she loved, and was loyal to, bearing him two children, but he abused and neglected her and the kids unmercifully. She was quite reluctant to try again with another man, but Mike just simply won her over, and the more he found out about her, the more he came to love her, and he determined that she'd NEVER again have to worry about any sort of abuse. They did marriage RIGHT! And she thinks he hung the moon! If you will, please pray for her and their kids. His step kids love him just as much as if he'd been their natural father. He earned it.
There'll be a really big hole left in all who knew him, but he'd suffered greatly through the chemo and radiation. And suffering and not being able to get out and do things was NOT something that came easy to him. But he did it, and I think he did it so he could be with his loved ones and they with him yet a while longer. But we all have our appointed time, and yesterday was simply his. I will miss this wonderful friend tremendously, and I doubt I'll ever find another fishing partner anywhere nearly as pleasant and enjoyable as Mike was.
Thank you for any prayers you can render for Bonnie and the children. He's meant a great deal to a great many folks for a long time, now. He's left some awfully big shoes for someone to fill in his absence. I can't help but wonder who will even try. Thanks for all you folks have done in praying for him. I wish it could have led to a longer stay here, but the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord, forever. Amen.
Mike was always one of those people who ... well, "what you see is what you get." There was absolutely no pretension within him. In his earlier days, he was pretty adventurous and daring. He built and raced cars, and for a while, boats. He also worked in the oil fields when younger, working his way up to driller. He could fix anything with any kind of engine in it, either fuel or electric. He always thought of himself as a dumb, country redneck, but when he asked me to teach him how to tie flies, I told him that he'd catch on quick, because he'd really been an artist all his life. He did a double take and made me explain my words, and I explained that his manner of working on anything was that of an artist, because he actually saw, mentally at least INTO the things he did, and figured out what to do and how to best do it. It took a while before he believed me, but he knew something separated him from all the "parts changers" that have so long marked and been characteristic of mechanic work. And I told him early on that teaching him to tie would make me a better tier. Again he recoiled, but later, it proved out, and he never really understood it quite fully, but just accepted it, and finally found I wasn't just saying things for effect.
He had many stories, and a fishing trip with him would be one long and interspersed monologue of some of his more humorous adventures. And he didn't mind being the butt of his own jokes, either. He was truly a humble yet assertive man, who saw everything as either right or wrong, whether it be how his work was done, or how he or others behaved. He was the best fishing partner I've ever had, despite the fact that, at least according to me, he liked to fish too much "on top" of the fish. We had our differences, but we always disagreed agreeably, and neither of us ever cut back on the straight truth of what we believed. I think he respected that in himself, and demanded it of others.
I could go on for hours about ol' Mike, but ... why? He was a very rare bird, and a very dear friend. He married a woman who had married early to a man she thought she loved, and was loyal to, bearing him two children, but he abused and neglected her and the kids unmercifully. She was quite reluctant to try again with another man, but Mike just simply won her over, and the more he found out about her, the more he came to love her, and he determined that she'd NEVER again have to worry about any sort of abuse. They did marriage RIGHT! And she thinks he hung the moon! If you will, please pray for her and their kids. His step kids love him just as much as if he'd been their natural father. He earned it.
There'll be a really big hole left in all who knew him, but he'd suffered greatly through the chemo and radiation. And suffering and not being able to get out and do things was NOT something that came easy to him. But he did it, and I think he did it so he could be with his loved ones and they with him yet a while longer. But we all have our appointed time, and yesterday was simply his. I will miss this wonderful friend tremendously, and I doubt I'll ever find another fishing partner anywhere nearly as pleasant and enjoyable as Mike was.
Thank you for any prayers you can render for Bonnie and the children. He's meant a great deal to a great many folks for a long time, now. He's left some awfully big shoes for someone to fill in his absence. I can't help but wonder who will even try. Thanks for all you folks have done in praying for him. I wish it could have led to a longer stay here, but the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord, forever. Amen.