(As the great-grandchildren were born, he became known as Gramps to some of us.)
You are invited to add pictures or thoughts. (If you want, you can email the thoughts, etc. to me at nanalauri1@gmail.com and I will post them for you. Signed, Lauri)
November 19, 2010
by Lauri L. Egan
Dear Gramps, I wonder how you are. How has the time passed for you? For me, it has passed slowly. I miss you. You laughed and played with us as kids. We swam in your pool. We played with King, your German Shepherd. I remember you fed him bowls of ice cream because he liked ice cream so much. He swam in the pool with us.
I loved watch you sharpen tools with your traveling business. I loved playing "Pong" the hot new video game on your TV set. (It was black and white and a single ball bounced from one side of the screen to the other ... very slowly. Not quite today's standard, but boy, we sure thought we were hot stuff playing that.
I remember helping would with woodworking projects. I will never forget the game boards you would make and shellac. They were so awesome. You even made wooden blocks for our first child, Jake, to play with. They were just like the blocks you had made for me and my brothers and sister when we were little. We stacked to suckers soooo high. We made castles that my dad showed how to do. We got those things almost up to the ceiling it seemed. Well, my children loved that legacy that you left them too.
Dad said you always harmonized when your family sang together when you were married to Grammy. She played the piano for you all. Well, dad picked up harmonizing from you. He is the best. He taught it to me. I am not so good at it, but I love to sing. I sing many different parts in a choir or during a church service, from Tenor to Soprano. My mom sings as well. She would also sing a variety of parts at church too. Between them and with your musical background, I was set up well. I love music. Thank you.
Dad said you loved to dance with Grammy. He said you were in love with her and demonstrative about it. Dad has followed the good example with my mom. He loves her and we all know it. They, too, love to dance: ballroom, swing, etc. I love to watch them. I wish I could do it. Maybe some day. (smiles)
Gramps, I remember how much you loved your last little miniature collie. I don't remember his name, but he loved you too! Your little camper is imbedded well into my memories as you toured about in that in your later years.
I miss Grandma Doris too. She was a great inspiration to me. ... so calm, so refined. She taught me how to coupon shop. We'd every single store in the entire Pomona area, but boy, we had the best deals!
Gramps, I miss protecting you as you aged and I was a teenager. You drove wacky, straight down the middle of the road. I'd drive "clean up" following you in my car so no one would hit you. You worried me, you silly. But, you, like the rest of us, were so stinking stubborn: you would drive thank you even against counsel from my dad. So, I followed you around in my car. What did I learn from this experience? To turn my keys in early so I don't turn my family into a nervous wreck.
While you were in the nursing home, I couldn't protect you. That made me sad. I knew it was a place for you to smoke in bed and do those things that comforted you, but I wished I had been able to see you more often. That also made me sad. I brought my kids to see you a week or so before you passed away. We sang and sang to you. It was so fun! You smiled and enjoyed it. You couldn't talk with us, but we knew your were happy that day.
I think most days during those last ten or so years were difficult for you. You seemed to have endured much with strokes and other ailments. I remember Dad buzzing your hair and beard with his clippers. It was the funniest thing to watch, and ... know Dad buzzes his own hair and beard with his clippers. Like father, like son. (smiles) I know he misses you too.
I glad I have an opportunity to tell you how I feel. You have been an example to me of both good and bad. I have learned much. I what I have really learned is that I don't know everything. I have perceptions that aren't necessarily what was real. You were like my Disneyland Grandpa. I only saw briefly at times when I was a child, but I got to spend so much more time with you as a teen while my parents helped you in your later years. By then, you could talk well because of the strokes and such. I've missed out because of that.
Gramps, I would love to get to know you better. Can we talk when I get to Heaven? I love you!!!!! I miss you!!! I want you to hold me like you used to when I was little. I will never forget your hugs!!
Love Forever (because Families are Forever),
Lauri, Ronnie's girl
 |
| Jean and Doris Chamberlin |
November 19, 2010
by Lauri L. Egan
Dear Gramps, I wonder how you are. How has the time passed for you? For me, it has passed slowly. I miss you. You laughed and played with us as kids. We swam in your pool. We played with King, your German Shepherd. I remember you fed him bowls of ice cream because he liked ice cream so much. He swam in the pool with us.
I loved watch you sharpen tools with your traveling business. I loved playing "Pong" the hot new video game on your TV set. (It was black and white and a single ball bounced from one side of the screen to the other ... very slowly. Not quite today's standard, but boy, we sure thought we were hot stuff playing that.
I remember helping would with woodworking projects. I will never forget the game boards you would make and shellac. They were so awesome. You even made wooden blocks for our first child, Jake, to play with. They were just like the blocks you had made for me and my brothers and sister when we were little. We stacked to suckers soooo high. We made castles that my dad showed how to do. We got those things almost up to the ceiling it seemed. Well, my children loved that legacy that you left them too.
Dad said you always harmonized when your family sang together when you were married to Grammy. She played the piano for you all. Well, dad picked up harmonizing from you. He is the best. He taught it to me. I am not so good at it, but I love to sing. I sing many different parts in a choir or during a church service, from Tenor to Soprano. My mom sings as well. She would also sing a variety of parts at church too. Between them and with your musical background, I was set up well. I love music. Thank you.
Dad said you loved to dance with Grammy. He said you were in love with her and demonstrative about it. Dad has followed the good example with my mom. He loves her and we all know it. They, too, love to dance: ballroom, swing, etc. I love to watch them. I wish I could do it. Maybe some day. (smiles)
Gramps, I remember how much you loved your last little miniature collie. I don't remember his name, but he loved you too! Your little camper is imbedded well into my memories as you toured about in that in your later years.
I miss Grandma Doris too. She was a great inspiration to me. ... so calm, so refined. She taught me how to coupon shop. We'd every single store in the entire Pomona area, but boy, we had the best deals!
Gramps, I miss protecting you as you aged and I was a teenager. You drove wacky, straight down the middle of the road. I'd drive "clean up" following you in my car so no one would hit you. You worried me, you silly. But, you, like the rest of us, were so stinking stubborn: you would drive thank you even against counsel from my dad. So, I followed you around in my car. What did I learn from this experience? To turn my keys in early so I don't turn my family into a nervous wreck.
While you were in the nursing home, I couldn't protect you. That made me sad. I knew it was a place for you to smoke in bed and do those things that comforted you, but I wished I had been able to see you more often. That also made me sad. I brought my kids to see you a week or so before you passed away. We sang and sang to you. It was so fun! You smiled and enjoyed it. You couldn't talk with us, but we knew your were happy that day.
I think most days during those last ten or so years were difficult for you. You seemed to have endured much with strokes and other ailments. I remember Dad buzzing your hair and beard with his clippers. It was the funniest thing to watch, and ... know Dad buzzes his own hair and beard with his clippers. Like father, like son. (smiles) I know he misses you too.
I glad I have an opportunity to tell you how I feel. You have been an example to me of both good and bad. I have learned much. I what I have really learned is that I don't know everything. I have perceptions that aren't necessarily what was real. You were like my Disneyland Grandpa. I only saw briefly at times when I was a child, but I got to spend so much more time with you as a teen while my parents helped you in your later years. By then, you could talk well because of the strokes and such. I've missed out because of that.
Gramps, I would love to get to know you better. Can we talk when I get to Heaven? I love you!!!!! I miss you!!! I want you to hold me like you used to when I was little. I will never forget your hugs!!
Love Forever (because Families are Forever),
Lauri, Ronnie's girl
Dad, I posted this picture because I didn't have access to a more current one. Put which one you feel is best for this dedication. Maybe the one of Gramps and Grandma Doris??
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