Last night at 11:00, November 3, 2008, my sweet grandfather, Bill Corley, passed away. It is hard to know what to say about a man who has been a living hero of mine since I can remember. I know I am fortunate to even have memories of a grandfather, let alone one I have had in my life for 40 years.
Grandpa was born in Hollis, Oklahoma, in 1918. He had 3 sisters and 4 brothers and his father, Ezra, was a farmer. The stories my grandpa told me when I was a young about his childhood are the type of true American tales that movies are made of. I could sit for hours and listen to him talk about all the funny things that happened on the farm between him and his brothers. He was a gifted guitar player and singer and would often play for us which we really enjoyed and greatly miss (check out www.youtube.com/user/AZCorleys). He was a true fisherman and I think that was when he was the most content. I say that knowing though that this was a man that never seemed anything but content. He always had a smile on his face and was always whistling a tune. I never once saw my grandpa angry.
Like many of his generation, my grandpa served in the military in World War II while my Grandma was back in the states. He wrote my Grandma frequently, many times in poems and many times in letters that had codes in them so she would know where he was at. After the war he went to school on the GI Bill and again, like many, moved out west where he started a family, drove an ice cream truck for awhile, bought a small home and started a church. He became a school teacher and then a vice principal and retired from teaching in the early 1980s. He truly had an American life and was part of what I believe was the greatest generation.
There is so much more I would like to share with you about him but I just want to give you a brief picture of this great man and try to honor his memory in some small way.
I know as Christians that we don’t deserve what God has given us in our salvation. But I have no doubt that he is now home with God enjoying his heavenly gift. I don’t know exactly what happens to us when we die and I don’t know if Grandpa can have a conversation with God right now. But, if he can, I want God to tell him that I could never tell him enough how much I loved him. I could never tell him enough that he was and is my hero. I can never thank him enough for teaching my father about Jesus and being an example for him, for me, and for my entire family on how a Christian man should love and live. There is no telling the number of people my grandpa has influenced in his live, my guess would be in the thousands. I do know that his impression on me has shaped who I am and has shown me how to love my children, how to love my wife, and how to love my God.
Grandpa, I will miss you greatly. I know you are complete now and I rejoice that you are with Grandma again after so many years here without her. I rejoice that you are home with God. I look forward to the day when I can see you again and quietly listen to the stories of your youth, see your smile, and hear you whistle a tune in heaven. I will think of you whenever I see my boys smile.
Monte
Posts
3 comments:
Your Grandpa sounds like a great example of Christ's love. It is so neat to have someone so close to you that you respect so much.
A righteous man leaves an inheritance for his children's children. Keep adding to that inheritance of his and pass it on!
Great reminder Jon. It is Biblical, the blessing of the faith of those who come before us. We are thankful for the faith of our grandparents and generations of faithful Christians that have come before them. If you are a first gen Christian, then be thankful God chose to start an inheritance with you!!
Post a Comment