Grandpa Whiting

Last night my Great-Grandpa Whiting passed away at the ripe old age of 95.  I have always looked up to Grandpa, and I even wrote a report about him when I was in elementary school and won an award (because Grandpa was so cool!)  I was lucky to live next door to him and Grandma for the first 7 1/2 years of my life, and I have so many wonderful memories of them and playing at their house.  Eating big family dinners over there, watching Grandpa and all the men play 42, playing with all the toys in the back playroom, coming over to watch Care Bears, playing with Suzy, swinging on the swing outside, playing with my brothers in the "playhouse" (a bunch of trees that we turned into a fort), cracking pecans with Grandpa, listening to him play the harmonica, staring at the big scary hog by the door, and my favorite memory of all, feeding the cows!!  I was showing Tom the memory book that Aunt Deanne made our family about 13 years ago, and I ran across this little treasure:

"Here's a story about something that happened to me...Whenever Grandpa Whiting goes to feed the cows I come with him.  He always lets me wear the other cowboy hat he has.  I like going to the barn to get some hay.  There's a big stack of all this.  The hay was in blocks.  We always climbed to the top and jumped in a big pile of hay at the bottom.  When we climb to the top, when we're stepping in the hay to the top, Grandpa says that we should watch for skunks that live in the hay!  I was scared when I climbed up all the time.  Most of the time I didn't even climb up to jump.  When we go to feed the cows, Grandpa lets me ride in the back (of the truck).  I always counted the cows with Grandpa.  When he stops the truck, I know that its time to feed the cows.  When Grandpa gets out, I help him throw the hay to the cows.  After that we went home. That's my story."
-Chantelle Whiting, Age 8 

Grandpa, I love you and we will all miss you! But I know that you must be so happy to be with Grandma again.  Thanks for being such an example to our family of hard work, kindness, and love.  I love you!