talks

Good Afternoon Brothers and Sisters, friends and family.
For those of you who don't know me, I'm Carolyn's sister, Judy Anne.
Today I've been asked to speak about Gary, my brother in law, by my sister and her children.
I'm glad that this service is at "High Noon", because that was one of Gary's favorite movies.
He was born August 17, 1946, Gary Leon Cutbirth. He was born to the parents, Wanda and Floyd Cutbirth in Springfield, Missouri. Gary was the oldest of 4 children, all boys. He was raised in California. Believe it or not, they lived on the next street over from our house in West Los Angeles.
One of the things I remember about Gary when I was a kid growing up, was that when we would go by his house, he would throw rocks at us! I never could figure that out.
I remember when Gary joined the church and was baptized by my husband, Greg. In our church, when you are baptized, you go completely under the water, and come back up. Well Greg got Gary under the water, but had trouble getting him back up again. It seemed like it took forever to get him back out. But we all knew that he was sure cleaned of his sins when he came out of that water.
These are just a couple of things that make me laugh when I think of Gary.
Oh, Carolyn, do you remember that pink Cadillac he had when you were dating? It had those big fins on the back. Gary loved that thing.
Last night when I was asked to talk for Carolyn and the kids, I asked them to give me one or two things they remember about their Dad, a trip, a story, a movie or just something for me to go on.
Well this is what they wrote.......

Gary Jr.~
     My Dad was a man that if you needed something all you had to do was call and say, Gary we need your help moving, or anything else that someobody needed, he would be there to help.
     Me and my Dad when I was growing up weren't really that close. but after I left home, we were closer than ever.
      I remember one time we went out hunting in the old yellow station wagon. We were on our way home, when the fish and game officer pulled us oever, just about a half a mile from the main road. Dad got a ticket, and he was so mad!
     But we still had fun....

Jessica~
     I remember going camping with my Dad a lot when I was a kid. He used to let me take my giant teddy bear with us when we went. Another thing I remember is my Dad running my foot over with the car. We were going shopping and I yelled, "you ran my foot over"! And he said, "No I didn't".
     Well when he got out of the car, I showed him my foot, I had white shoes on, and one of them now had a tire mark on it.
     I also loved building stuff with my Dad, and working on cars with him.
     My Dad was a wonderful man, and will be missed very much.

Kelly~
     Standing here today in front of family and friends, talking about the kind of father and grandfather my Dad was, will be the hardest thing I do in my life. My Dad had the biggest heart, and the kindest soul of any person I have ever known,
or ever will know. And I know that's why all of you are here today. We aren't only here to mourn his death, but to celebrate his life. Because he lived it to the fullest, everyday.
     My Dad was the type of person, that called his Mother, his brothers and his children, faithfully, everyday. Like clockwork, the phone would ring, and you would know, it's Dad. Most of the time, he would just call to see what we were doing that day. He would always ask, is everyone ok today? no one's sick?
How are the rugrats? And even though I'm 28 years old he would still say, hey little girl, when he called. And no matter what, he would end every call with, tell the kids and Robert I love them, and you too. He made it a point to tell us all he loved us everyday. It's those little things, that we all take for granted, that I am going to miss the most.
     My Grandma Cutbirth has always said, you are never finished raising your kids, even when they have kids of their own. And my Dad believed that too. He was always so generous. Even when he and my Mom had nothing, he always had something to offer. He always said, as long as my kids and grandkids are fed and have a roof over there head, that's all that matters. Material things never meant much to him.
     And just like my Grandparents, you can't think of one without the other. You can't think of Mom, without Dad, Gary without Carolyn, Nana without Big Grampa. They were a team. My parent's made it through everything life could throw at them, no matter how hard it was. They raised four kids, and my brothers and sister and I know we didn't always make that easy for them. They took in the partners we chose for life, as if they were their own kids. They have eight beautiful grandkids. And no matter which ones lived closer, or came to visit more, they never favored one more than the other. Their love is unconditional. They were second parent's to many of Rusty's friends. And they will always be Mom and Dad, Gary and Carolyn, Nana and Big Grampa.
     And I know I speak for my brothers and my sister as well as myself, when I say, that we will never let our kids forget what a wonderful man their Grampa was, and they will know how much he loved them. He left us a legacy that will never be forgotten, and the bond of our family will never be broken. A part of him will live in our hearts forever. A day won't go by that one of us won't think about him, or see or hear something that reminds us of him. And I know it seems impossible right now, but like everything else, we will get through this, together.
     When I told my Uncle that I wanted to try and speak today, but wasn't sure if I could do it, he told me, you can do it kid, just remember that you are doing it for your Dad, and make him proud.
     I hope I've done that, not only today, but for the last twenty eight years, and the years to come.

Rusty~
The things that meant the most to me, was the time that my Dad spent with me. We would turn the tv on and watch WWF wrestling. Dad would sit in his big chair, and I would sit on the couch. While we were watching, my brother Gary would call from California, and he'd be watching wrestling too. Me, my Dad and my brother would all be laughing and yelling, and enjoying each other's company. That's what meant the most to me. Time well spent with each other..