My father-in-law passed early this morning in Amarillo.

[panader0]

Jeannie and I aren't married, and David was actually her step father, but the
only one she ever knew. He taught her how to ride a bicycle. He was a crusty
old guy (86) from the Texas panhandle and grew up in an orphanage because after
his mother died, his father put him in the orphanage because he couldn't handle his
kids. He eventually joined the army, became a sergeant and was Elvis' boss in
Germany. He worked many jobs, delivering propane, driving an ice cream truck
(where he gave freebies to the poor kids). A crusty old guy with a big heart. I've gone with Jeannie a half a dozen times to visit them in Fritch, Texas, a dying town in the panhandle.
I was the oddball, a long haired liberal, but I always worked on his place when I was
there. (Better than sitting inside listening to all the gossip). So he liked me, though he
called me boy (I'm 69). It bugged me until I heard him call his grown sons boy too.
A smart guy with no education. Jeannie got the call at 6 am. I guess another trip
to Texas is in our future.

[TEB]

1. So sorry

[dewsgirl]

2. I am so sorry.

[Demovictory9]

3. may he rest in peace

[handmade34]

4. so sorry

[FM123]

5. Oh, I am so sorry for your loss.

It is quite apparent from what you shared with us that there was a special fondness you had for one another. Sending you all hugs.

[panader0]

8. Yeah, I think we had a fondness for each other.

Me for him because of his tough life, and him for me because I have been
with Jeannie for over 20 years now, smooth sailing, and I wasn't afraid to work.
Jeannie and her siblings used to be down on him, because he was crotchety in
recent years. I always stuck up for him, saying he earned the right to be
crotchety.

[FM123]

13. He was lucky to have you.

[Clash City Rocker]

30. I kind of like crotchety people

You always know where you stand with them.

[Glorfindel]

6. He sounds like a good man who lived a good life

May that be said of all of us, everyone. Deepest sympathy, panader0.

[Sherman A1]

7. My condolences

for your loss.

[Anon-C]

9. You and Jeannie rake care during this time.

[Fla Dem]

10. The circle of life. Last week you were celebrating a birth, this week, mourning a loss. Peace.

I am sorry for you and your wife/partner.

[panader0]

14. Thanks. Little Elise is 8 now! Days.

[blm]

11. ((pan))

[gademocrat7]

12. Condolences on the loss of your father-in-law.

[UpInArms]

15. I am so sorry

[LiberalLoner]

16. I am so sorry for your loss.

[Cracklin Charlie]

17. Bless his big ol' heart.

Be safe out there if you travel.

[CountAllVotes]

18. My god

Firstly, I am very sorry to read of your loss.

Secondly, my husband was in the U.S. Army with Elvis in Germany too!

My what a coincidence!

I just asked my husband if thought he'd remember your father-in-law if he heard his name and he said yes, he thought so!

If you feel like it, message me and we can compare notes!

He was not forgotten, that is for sure!

[onecaliberal]

19. I'm so sorry for your loss.

[Coventina]

20. My deepest condolences.

My FIL just passed away a few weeks ago.

[panader0]

21. Back at you Coventina. My condolences to you too.

It wasn't unexpected, but still a blow.
It's a long drive to the panhandle. We used to make it one day when we were
a bit younger. Now we stay in Albuquerque overnight.

[MuseRider]

22. Oh I am so sorry to see this.

Things are hard enough right now. He sounds like a mixed bag but a wonderful, interesting mixed bag.

Sometimes those closest to us are not "real" family but the best family of all.

My sympathy to you and Jeannie.

[sarge43]

23. A good life well led.

Peaceful passage and a comfort to all his family and friends.

[sinkingfeeling]

24. I'm sorry for your loss.

[irisblue]

25. I am sorry for your loss. Your father in law sounds like a good man

[bronxiteforever]

26. I am so sorry for your loss.

[DarthDem]

27. I'm So Sorry

May he rest in peace. RIP.

[Ohiogal]

28. I'm so sorry.

[panader0]

29. Thanks to all. So many good people on DU.

[MontanaMama]

31. My goodness. I am very sorry for your loss.

These are hard days to be sure. My FIL died March 11th after a brief illness. It was difficult to have closure when there can be no services due to the virus. I’ll be thinking of you and Jeannie and wishing you well.

[TruckFump]

32. So very sorry! EOM

[H2O Man]

33. RIP David.

It sounds to me like David was Jeannie's father in the literal sense, which is frequently much more important than the biological.

Many years ago, at the Long House at Onondaga, an Elder was saying how nice it was that so many young people were returning to the Territory. Those he was referring to were 60+. I realized then that it was a matter of perspective.

David's death makes this an even harder time for the two of you. I'm glad that Jeannie and you have each other.

Peace and love to both of you from upstate New York,
Patrick

[panader0]

34. A big bunch of my relatives are in Canton.

Grandpa C.S. Kingston moved west during the Alaskan gold rush, got as far as Spokane
and taught at Eastern Washington U for many years. Has a building named for him there.
He married a young half Crow orphan, a marriage doomed by their age difference.
Wrote extensively about Northwest history, especially Indian history.
One of his many published articles: (from 1932)
https://journals.lib.washington.edu/index.php/WHQ/article/view/8098

[H2O Man]

38. Outstanding read!

Wow! I loved it! Thank you so much!

[panader0]

40. I'm proud to be one eighth Crow.

My mom, C.S.'s daughter was a quarter, and had the look. Me, not so much.
I still have never been to Lodge Grass on the Crow Rez, but it's on my list.
Grandma Hazel Ide was adopted by a white family, the Ides, who had a trading
store in Montana. I have an old photo of her and I can see why C.S. was attracted to her.
She was sent to Cheney Normal School, now EWU, to learn the white ways.
But she strayed and was shunned and never seen again. C.S. was left with four kids.
He sent them all back to Canton about 1920, my mom would have been 12 then.
She rebelled and he had to drive back to get her. She was basically an only child,
growing up in Cheney, Washington, where EWU is located. Strange histories, we all
have them.
Didn't mean chatter so much.

[H2O Man]

44. Family history

is a fascinating topic. Since doing some of the DNA tests, I've learned about relatives I had no idea existed before. One was a cousin who grew up 20 miles away. He had been adipted, as a youngster, by a family there. After his death a few years ago, his son -- who knew the name of his biological grandfather -- did one of the DNA tests, and was able to contact my son and I.

"Family secrets" are curious things. The above is but one of the examples we've found out about. My youngest daughter says that they need to be a thing of the past .....that it's good for the truth to rise to the surface.

[GeoWilliam750]

49. History turns on the smallest things

And the collection of stories of the family are so wonderful.

Everyone has a fascinating story to tell.

[H2O Man]

51. Definitely!

Those stories are important. It's our connection to the past. I think one of the most hopeful things in recent times is that so many people have become interested in their genealogy.

The various DNA tests are helpful, too. I have a photograph of my great grandfather's brother, a marble-cutter who came to the US at the end of the Great Starvation. He had wrote a message to one of his sister's on it, and headed west. The family in NYS never heard from him again, and it remained a mystery here for over a century what became of him. My son, who has replaced me as our extended family historian, was able to find out that after making money out west, he returned tothe Old Sod.While that is but a little thing, it was good to learn.

[Dem2theMax]

35. My sympathy to you and your entire family.

Reading about David reminded me of my dad. He too grew up in an orphanage. Went into the army as soon as he could. But he didn't meet Elvis.

I wouldn't call my dad crusty, but he sure was stubborn.
They were a special kind of guy. Sounds like you were lucky to have each other in your lives.

[2naSalit]

36. Sorry for your loss...

to Jeannie especially!

[sdfernando]

37. I'm sorry about your FIL

He sounds like one hell of a man!

[Different Drummer]

39. So sorry for your and Jeannie's loss, panader0.

[vercetti2021]

41. I'm so sorry

I'll check our local paper for the obituary. I live up here in Amarillo so.

[panader0]

42. David Oscar Horn.

I'll be on the road first thing in the morning.

[vercetti2021]

43. You heading here?

Be safe

[LuckyCharms]

45. I'm very sorry.

[Kali]

46. sorry for your loss

safe travels. loved your history above. we really need to have a meet up!

[GeoWilliam750]

47. Condolences

[In_The_Wind]

48. May he rest in peace. My condolences to you and your family.

[DFW]

50. It's never easy, is it?

Be thankful, at least, you got to have him this long.