Marvelous Monday: Marvelous Memorial

If you follow my blog, you know that my brother-in-law passed away in January. He had made arrangements for his body to go to science, so we had no official funeral. Instead last Saturday we had a beautiful celebration of life.  We invited friends and family to the fellowship hall of our church to live, love, and laugh in remembrance of a wonderful man.
The stories began with Gary’s thoughts. Brad said, “If you disagree, you can take it up with Gary in heaven.”

This picture of Gary represents his attitude in his youth.
My husband and others told of all the mischief the cousins and their friends created. Legend has it that Gary ate Mrs. Farrell’s prize pear, while it was still on the tree. When she came to inspect it, all that was left was a pear core hanging by the stem. He was a fighter and could send 3 men to the hospital.

By the time I entered the family, 40 years ago, Gary had mellowed and this is the man I knew.
Brad said, “He would give you the shirt off his back and the gas money to come get it.” He left his warm bed at midnight because I had a mouse in the house. He patiently taught my son how to work on a car.
Most of the Bacoms attended the memorial.
 
We had  representatives from most of the 8 families which produced 61 first cousins.
   My family attended.
And we could not have pulled it off without the help of our church family.
  

Thank you all for helping Brad to say goodbye to his brother.

Pictures of Gary