Passing of a Friend
I'm not sure if you've heard, but a dear friend of ours has passed away. I just wanted to write a few thoughts down and just allow myself to grieve in my own way.
Jerry Durham was a great man. He was a man of few words, and at first glance, you might think he was one of those guys who kept his emotions under wraps, but that wasn't true. He loved like few men ever do.
My first memories of him for some reason, are with guns. Not that he ever brought them out around us kids, but coming from a gun free home, for some reason I was aware every time I walked through their door that I was now in a gun inhabited zone. Silly how the mind of a child works. Jerry and Jodie lived next door to my family while I was growing up. There on that street on Timber Ridge in Euless, Texas. Your first sign that this big macho man was really a softie was when you walked in the door and saw him sitting in his chair, with tiny chiuahahas sitting on his lap. How can you be scared of a man who loves chiuahahas?
As we grew and began to have kids of our own, we saw the old softie go googly eyed at the introduction of his first surrogate granddaughter, Ashlyn. I've never seen a grown man, who wasn't related to a child by blood, love a child so much. He spoiled her and loved her and was more than thrilled at the arrival of his next surrogate grandbaby Madysen. He and Jodie kept Ashlyn while her mommy was in the hospital and brought her up there to meet her new sister, all decked out in a new outfit. :)
One thing about Jerry was that it wasn't just an obligation, it wasn't like he was just going with the Jodie flow, he reached out in love because it was his own genuine love. He would keep the girls by himself and unselfishly give his time for them, all because he loved them as his own. He was their "Pops" and boy did those girls love him.
He went through hard times, yet the Lord was always faithful to see him through and no matter what, in the end, Jerry always cried out to his Savior.
He was stubborn and sometimes would drive Jodie out of her mind when he wouldn't agree with her, but there was a love and respect between the two of them. He was her steady rock. Now he's gone to be with his Daddy Jesus. He has been in pain for the majority of his life and now is up there dancing away, jumping, worshiping, doing everything that his physical body wouldn't let him do down here.
I can just see the huge smile on his face as he runs up to his Jesus. I just see this picture of him, trying to explain things to God, emotions overwhelming him, regretting decisions and words like we all will do when we finally meet Him face to face. But I just see the Lord taking him in his arms and Jerry just weeping while the overflowing, pure love of the Father engulfs him. His body is made new, his mind comes to full understanding... and then he runs. He laughs, he plays tackle football, he goes nuts, just like a child.
I don't care if you think it's trite or cliche, that's how I view where he is now. A place with no tears, no pain, where his heart is filled to the brim with love and as he stands, with no pain in his back, for hours upon hours, worshipping and praising his Savior.
My last memory of Jerry was one that I was always treasure.
He came up to the hospital to see Courtney and Judah. He brought little gifts for everyone, even Judah's first baseball bat. He brought candies and stickers for the girls and a gift for Courtney... he was such a giving man. He was so happy and was excited about how he was getting healthy again. He was so excited about Judah and couldn't wait to spend more time with him. That day there was a twinkle in his eye and he was in such a great mood. Just celebrating life.
Jerry Durham leaves behind a wife Jodie, who he loved more than air. It's going to be hard for her to move on without him, but I know that he would want her to be the strong woman that he married and keep her chin up and take the world head on. He loved that about her. I remember being young, and we were out at a restaurant all together and Jodie started getting mad at a bad waitress we had who was being rude. He just smiled and laughed. He loved her fire and her spark so much. So Jodie, don't lose that. Lean on Jesus and let Him be your steady rock now.
A son John, that proves without a doubt that you do not have to blood related to him in order for him to love you like something fierce. He was such a great father to John. As John grew up, all he wanted to do was be just like his dad. Jerry was so proud of John. You should have heard him talk about him. Serving his country, the strong man he grew into. He was so proud.
A daughter Jennifer who was his little princess and the light of his life. He was so proud of her and loved her so much. She was his everything and Jennifer is now missing a part of herself with his passing. But Jennifer, just remember the amazing love and support that he gave you and be there for your mother and Storie now. Always tell Storie about her Pops and how much he loved her and thought she was the most beautiful, intelligent baby in the world.
A granddaughter Storie, who he thought hung the moon. He wrote her a beautiful poem that announced her arrival and showed what a miracle he thought she was.
A grandson that although he may have not spent a lot of time with him due to distance, he was so proud of that boy.
And also another grandson who he never got to meet. That little boy will be raised with stories of how his grandfather was a man of love and of quiet strength.
So Jerry, you are really missed and will continue to be missed. But your memory will live on in the love you instilled as the quiet and gentle Pops. My family will miss you so much, yet I know that you are in such a better place.
We love you.
Jerry Durham was a great man. He was a man of few words, and at first glance, you might think he was one of those guys who kept his emotions under wraps, but that wasn't true. He loved like few men ever do.
My first memories of him for some reason, are with guns. Not that he ever brought them out around us kids, but coming from a gun free home, for some reason I was aware every time I walked through their door that I was now in a gun inhabited zone. Silly how the mind of a child works. Jerry and Jodie lived next door to my family while I was growing up. There on that street on Timber Ridge in Euless, Texas. Your first sign that this big macho man was really a softie was when you walked in the door and saw him sitting in his chair, with tiny chiuahahas sitting on his lap. How can you be scared of a man who loves chiuahahas?
As we grew and began to have kids of our own, we saw the old softie go googly eyed at the introduction of his first surrogate granddaughter, Ashlyn. I've never seen a grown man, who wasn't related to a child by blood, love a child so much. He spoiled her and loved her and was more than thrilled at the arrival of his next surrogate grandbaby Madysen. He and Jodie kept Ashlyn while her mommy was in the hospital and brought her up there to meet her new sister, all decked out in a new outfit. :)
One thing about Jerry was that it wasn't just an obligation, it wasn't like he was just going with the Jodie flow, he reached out in love because it was his own genuine love. He would keep the girls by himself and unselfishly give his time for them, all because he loved them as his own. He was their "Pops" and boy did those girls love him.
He went through hard times, yet the Lord was always faithful to see him through and no matter what, in the end, Jerry always cried out to his Savior.
He was stubborn and sometimes would drive Jodie out of her mind when he wouldn't agree with her, but there was a love and respect between the two of them. He was her steady rock. Now he's gone to be with his Daddy Jesus. He has been in pain for the majority of his life and now is up there dancing away, jumping, worshiping, doing everything that his physical body wouldn't let him do down here.
I can just see the huge smile on his face as he runs up to his Jesus. I just see this picture of him, trying to explain things to God, emotions overwhelming him, regretting decisions and words like we all will do when we finally meet Him face to face. But I just see the Lord taking him in his arms and Jerry just weeping while the overflowing, pure love of the Father engulfs him. His body is made new, his mind comes to full understanding... and then he runs. He laughs, he plays tackle football, he goes nuts, just like a child.
I don't care if you think it's trite or cliche, that's how I view where he is now. A place with no tears, no pain, where his heart is filled to the brim with love and as he stands, with no pain in his back, for hours upon hours, worshipping and praising his Savior.
My last memory of Jerry was one that I was always treasure.
He came up to the hospital to see Courtney and Judah. He brought little gifts for everyone, even Judah's first baseball bat. He brought candies and stickers for the girls and a gift for Courtney... he was such a giving man. He was so happy and was excited about how he was getting healthy again. He was so excited about Judah and couldn't wait to spend more time with him. That day there was a twinkle in his eye and he was in such a great mood. Just celebrating life.
Jerry Durham leaves behind a wife Jodie, who he loved more than air. It's going to be hard for her to move on without him, but I know that he would want her to be the strong woman that he married and keep her chin up and take the world head on. He loved that about her. I remember being young, and we were out at a restaurant all together and Jodie started getting mad at a bad waitress we had who was being rude. He just smiled and laughed. He loved her fire and her spark so much. So Jodie, don't lose that. Lean on Jesus and let Him be your steady rock now.
A son John, that proves without a doubt that you do not have to blood related to him in order for him to love you like something fierce. He was such a great father to John. As John grew up, all he wanted to do was be just like his dad. Jerry was so proud of John. You should have heard him talk about him. Serving his country, the strong man he grew into. He was so proud.
A daughter Jennifer who was his little princess and the light of his life. He was so proud of her and loved her so much. She was his everything and Jennifer is now missing a part of herself with his passing. But Jennifer, just remember the amazing love and support that he gave you and be there for your mother and Storie now. Always tell Storie about her Pops and how much he loved her and thought she was the most beautiful, intelligent baby in the world.
A granddaughter Storie, who he thought hung the moon. He wrote her a beautiful poem that announced her arrival and showed what a miracle he thought she was.
A grandson that although he may have not spent a lot of time with him due to distance, he was so proud of that boy.
And also another grandson who he never got to meet. That little boy will be raised with stories of how his grandfather was a man of love and of quiet strength.
So Jerry, you are really missed and will continue to be missed. But your memory will live on in the love you instilled as the quiet and gentle Pops. My family will miss you so much, yet I know that you are in such a better place.
We love you.
posted by Des at
Thursday, January 31, 2008
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