He was many things:
a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a friend
a deacon, a Southern Baptist, a Gideon
a WWII veteran, a cancer survivor
a county clerk, a lifelong citizen of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

I knew him as Grackie Bird.
Yes, I get strange looks when I call him that. He probably did too, but he never seemed to mind. The story goes that my lovely southern grandmother tried to get me to call him "Grandaddy" when I was a little tyke. That was a mouthful for any young one, and it came out as "Grackie." And stuck! Bird comes from his last name, my wonderful maiden name, Birdwhistell. I'm sure there's no other grandfather named Grackie Bird on the planet!

Today Grackie Bird passed away. He had a fall, injured his spine, and several hours later was no more. He was just 4 weeks shy of turning 89. It certainly came as a shock to us all.

Tomorrow in his mailbox, he will receive a card from me that he will never get to read. It was a really, really belated thank-you card for the birthday gift he sent me. I told him thanks on the phone, but I enjoy sending cards as well. I also wanted to tell him how important he was to me. How he's a role model for me. I hope he knew that already, even though he didn't see the note.

Grackie Bird was an amazing man of God. I recall he and my Granny Bird reading their Bibles every night without fail. He loved God and was an active leader in his church. That is his biggest legacy for me. And he has pressed on faithfully these past lonely years since Granny Bird died.

And now he is at peace. With family and friends who have preceded him. And some knuckleheads still here to consider his memory.

As he always told me, "Glad you got to see me!"
Yes, Grackie Bird, the pleasure's all mine!