Memories of Our Dad

James Roberts

They say we are like our parents whether we know it or not. In times like this, we tend to stay to ourselves and take on a quiet demeanor, much as our dad would do. Our sorrows are exhibited in private and yet shared with each other. We become restless and look for a means of escape within ourselves. But here we've decided to show the talkative side of his trait we inherited. The side he showed when enjoying his family and friends.

Dad suffered from Alzheimer's, a terrible disease that erodes the mind. To watch your loved one slowly deteriorate and eventually revert back to infancy can take a terrible toll on an individual. There is so much pain watching someone you've looked up to and loved all your life, suddenly unable to do common everyday things most of us take for granted. And yet if you closely watch, you'll see them struggle to hold on to the values that are so deeply instilled within them. He knew the fate that was ahead of him and expressed his fears before it took him. So for now, we will put aside the negative images that have overshadowed our fond memories for the past several years. We would like to embrace the good things we all loved in his life and share them with you.

Our dad (who loved to be called J.R.) had a quiet presence around the family. He was comfortable and well adjusted when spending time with family. He never craved attention and was happy playing with the grandkids and great grandkids. When attending a function and he wasn't there, Dad, Grandpa, Jimmy, Robert or J.R. was surely missed. Even now the grandkids and great-grandkids ask "where is he"? His keen sense of humor and joking mannerism were always right on time, whether it was teasing the kids or reminiscing with family or old friends... Dad knew and loved people wherever he'd go.

He was truly a Jack of all trades. Whether it was repairing things around the house, running his business, playing a game of dominoes or believe it or not a round of crochet, he enjoyed it all. He was patient and calm. He would teach the kids to tie their shoes and count their money. We would play various card games for hours and he would make sure we knew how to add the numbers and even keep track of cards that had been played. It was a learning lesson with plenty of fun pile on top.

Dad had a relentless work ethic. As the owner of his own business for over 40 years, he gave 200% and he made sure all of us knew how to run the business. He didn't pamper us when it came to work. Yes every one of us can manufacture screens from bottom up. He expected an honest day of work, whether we were kids sweeping the floors or as we grew and went out on a job. He loved his shop. And the customers and merchants that he served had a mutual respect and love for him.

Dad had an adventuresome spirit and was always ready to experience something new. As children he took us to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. It was the greatest experience a child could have. How ironic that it would be his last outing, when he returned with Steve and His family two years ago. His other love was Cane River. He always carried the memory of his childhood and his life in Cane River. When he spoke of the things he did as a boy it made us dream of being there. When he'd encounter a relative or acquaintance that grew up with him, we already knew the story and welcome the individual with our deep affection.

My dad loved and often spoke warmly of his brothers and sisters. Attending the annual family picnic was an event he always looked forward too. He also loved and cared deeply for his cousins.

These values of love and appreciation were overwhelming when it came to his parents and siblings. Even in his late stages of the disease he would say "My Daddy, John Roberts, taught me to be a man" and How Nannie raised him. Occasionally he would speak of his mother and you could see the sadness from losing her at an early age.

Dad had a personal sense of service to others. He was always helping someone. Whether it was someone down and out on the streets or one of our friends, it didn't matter. He'd put in a full day of work and then show up to help someone move or work on a car. Although Sundays were always family time, if you were in need, he'd be there, sometimes we'd all be there with him. He had an ability to accept everyone as they were.

As his children, whatever our successes are, they are his successes. We can only hope he is as proud of us as we are of him.

He encouraged us to follow our dreams whether it was a career overseas or enjoying the exciting opportunities that come with performing telecommunications for the stars. His words were something like this, "find out what is out there. You Know what is here and what there is to come back. You don't want to wonder or wish later that you should have followed your dream and taken this opportunity".

We embrace the knowledge of him being with those he loved so well. He is in the company of God and his family, his mother and father, his two brothers, and our mother's grandmother, all who he dearly loved are among a few he treasured so well that awaited him.

We will carry these memories of our Father for the rest of our lives along with many, many more. We will past them on to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

If you would like to share with us memories or special thoughts you have of him, please add them as a comment on this website. We will make it available for all his family and friends to recall when ever they visit the site. Or you can email your thoughts and/or photos of him to me at sroberts57@yahoo.com or get them to any of my siblings so we can post them.