Easter this year went from fun to mourning! On Easter Sunday morning, when were were planning to be in church with our friends and family singing God's praises and celebrating a risen Savior we were instead gathered in a hospital ICU crying and saying Good Bye to Grandpa. My dear father in law passed away and we are heartbroken.
Grandpa was a good and hard working man..Who had married the love of his life when he was very young and spent the next 49 years putting her first and helping to raise 5 sons. These wonderful men are all examples of the love that their parents shared, and the strong hand of the father they were given to guide them into adulthood.
I was lucky enough to become part of the Bumgarner family 10 years ago, and I see Grandpa's traits in all the boys. This is what I see as the strengths passed on to each of them.
Randy is the oldest. He had an car accident as a teenager that caused him to have some brain damage, but this doesn't stop him. He learned from his father the love of the outdoors and watching things grow.. He spends his time raising various farm animals. A lot of goats and chickens. He also grows crops and trees. He bought Grandpa a plum tree for the yard, and we are going to plant it in the yard along with our beloved Grandpa's ashes. This was Grandpa's final act to letting Randy know that even though he wasn't exactly the same as before the accident he is fine. I know this because Randy is the only one in the family with the ability to get a Plum Tree to grow in the yard.
Jeff got his sense of humor from Grandpa. Grandpa liked to tease, and so does Jeff. There isn't a time when the family is together that Jeff is not picking on someone...We all know that if we give him an opening Jeff is going to tease us and make everyone in the house laugh. Grandpa would do this too. You had to stay on your toes or never hear the end of it!!! Grandpa also taught Jeff to be a Master Chef of Hot Dogs and Hamburgers. I believe he did this so that one day Jeff could teach Grandma how to start the grill.
Keith gets his strength from Grandpa. He is also hard working and loves his family, but he is the one that everyone turns to in any situation. When someone has a problem or things are not going well, Keith gets the burden of all the phone calls. He tries to fix things the best he can for everyone, and everyone expects him to be strong for them. I love Keith for this. He doesn't complain that we tend to lean on those big broad Bumgarner shoulders. He just takes the roll of BROTHER seriously always listening and being there for us.
Bobby got quiet intelligence from Grandpa. Not that the rest of the sons aren't intelligent because they are, but Bobby is the one that knows things. He can figure out how things work, and the best way to go about doing the things that need to be done. If he teaches you about something, he does it in a way that does not make you feel small because you did not know. Bobby like Grandpa does not flaunt his intelligence, but instead uses it to help everyone figure things out that we need to know.
Mikey learned how to love from Grandpa. All of the boys love each other and their families. However, as the youngest he got to spend his time growing up watching how Grandpa interacted with his brothers, grandma, and everyone else around him. He watched all the traits that were passed on to the other boys. He watched them make mistakes and have highs and lows in their lives. He uses those examples along with the example of love from his parents marriage to show others love. He is a wonderful and loving dad and husband because he watched Grandpa's love for those around him.
I will miss this man who was all of these things: a good and hard working father, grandfather and husband who loved the outdoors and growing things. Who was the strength of his family. Who was funny and loved to laugh. Who was intelligent and queitly used this intelligence to teach those around him. This man who loved his wife, his sons, and their families more than words can really say.
I love you Grandpa, and I am glad you're now in heaven where there is no Heart Disease, Diabetes, ESRD, Blindess, or Pancreatitis. I am greatful that your are now without the pain. I imagine that you are in heaven playing with BJ the dog and planting things in your yard while you are still doing what you have always done, watching over us and loving us.
