Steve's Articles
Meet My Dad
Meet My Dad
by
Steve Turner
Walker Mortuary and Cremation Services
My dad’s been gone for a number of years, but every day I think of him. My dad was not the sharpest tack in the box, not a fantastic business wiz and not a great intellect (many people say I take after him.) But he was the nicest, most caring person I ever met.
My dad loved people, genuinely loved them. When he asked about you or your family, it wasn’t a polite greeting, he really wanted to know. He was the best caregiver I have ever met. He always seemed to know how to say the right thing to a grieving family. I think it was because he could put himself in their shoes and understand the pain they were experiencing. It’s funny, but he was a born undertaker, not only did he care, but he would back up the caring with extensive personal service.
When I was growing up people always used to stop and say, “Wow! You look just like your dad!”
At first, it kind of bothered me because I knew if I ever got in trouble, people would immediately know who I belonged too. But, later it bothered me because rather than just have people tell me I looked like him, I longed for people to tell me I acted like him, because that would have been the ultimate compliment.
Everyone told me I had a wonderful father, a caring father or a kind father. And it was nice that people recognized his kindness and gave him credit for being nice. But, I will never forget the day I realized how right they all were. I can remember this event as if it were yesterday.
I was about seven or eight years old and I was riding in the car with my father. We were stopped at the corner of Spring and Galena where the YMCA used to be. A gentleman with one leg , supporting himself on crutches, slowly walked in front of the car and over to the next corner. My dad watched him with concern and then said, “Poor fellow.”
They were just two words, but they change my life. He said those words with such emotion and caring, I don’t remember ever hearing my dad’s voice shake with emotion like that. It was very clear he was sincere and had concern for that gentleman. I was a pretty spoiled kid in those days and had been worried primarily about myself and what I wanted. But once I heard those words, I tried to change and be more aware of the people around me. Even today I try to live up to my dad’s example and be nice and have concern for others.
Dad also left me with another legacy, of which many of you are aware. Dad loved animals. As a boy I had Hermie the Rabbit, Quack the Duck, Pete the Parakeet, Bubble the Turtle and Candy the Dog. We also had an assortment of bird feeders in every one of the homes we lived in. I suppose I get my love for Buddy the Squirrel and the Highland Geese from my dad’s example.
The greatest lesson my dad taught me is the easiest thing in the world to do is to be nice to people. I have never been able to understand when someone is not being nice to someone else.
Every day there is something that reminds me of my dad and every day I try to live up to his example and his kindness. I just hope that when he looks down on me, he thinks his little Stevie has grown up to be just like him.
Thanks for listening!
Steve