At around noon, Wednesday June 20th, 2007, the big laugh that always rose above the roar of our family gatherings, or any gathering for that matter, was silenced with the passing of my Grandpa Ardell.

He died as I suspect many of us would like to die, surrounded by his family in the house that they had all called home for most of their lives. He lived as I suspect many of us would like to live, surrounded by a family that knew the importance of family. It isn’t something they talk about it’s just something they do and have always done. They are there for each other, they cry with each other, and they laugh with each other….laugh a lot. Grandpa or “Big Grandpa” as my kids called him was a fine example to us all.

Grandpa was born on March 17th, 1931 in a house that was located about a mile from the house where he lived and died. Today there is a rock pile located where the old house stood. I asked Grandpa a few years back where he was born and he said, “In a rock pile about a mile north of here.” Then he paused and said, “I haven’t made it very far have I.” A country mile in 76 years… it had to have been the most enjoyable mile anybody has ever lived.

I heard it said once that a mischievous boy makes for a more interesting old man. A fine case can be made for that statement with my Grandpa, who always entertained us with story after story of the mischievous adventures of his youth. You also have to understand that “youth” for Grandpa never really came to end; he was always a kid at heart and liked to make people laugh right up to the end.

The last time I saw my Grandpa we laughed and talked like we always did, and even after 34 years he still had stories that I hadn’t heard… funny stories of course. When I was getting ready to leave he asked when I’d be back again and I said I would be home in about a month. I knew and I’m sure he knew that he might not be around that long, but if you thought about stuff like that all the time you would drive yourself insane. Usually when I or anyone would hug him goodbye he would tear up, but he wasn’t tearing up about things as much as he used to. He was ready to go, a man at peace with his time in this world.

That last time I saw him he looked me in the eyes with that little smile of his and said the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. He said, “Ya know I always thought that this world would be better off if there were more people like you in it.” Funny, I always thought the same thing about him, so coming from him that meant the world. He’s a big part of why I am who I am and I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to share in his life.

My Grandpa hasn’t been gone long but I already miss him, I miss his laugh, I miss his jokes, I miss his stories, I miss seeing him scare little kids with his false teeth, I miss seeing him scamper through the house in his underwear when company arrived unexpectedly, I miss everything about him and I imagine I always will. What I have now is 34 years of memories to rely on, memories that make me laugh and make me cry and I imagine they always will.