Kelly Stone, 1929-2005

448 words written by dylan
Posted August 16, 2005 @ 10:42 PM
13 comments


With Grandfather Stone
Originally uploaded by Dylan W..
My father-in-law passed away today, and oddly, the weather in Seattle was almost exactly as it was the day I first met him in Reading in 1997. Muggy, battleship-grey sky, and somewhat surreal. Surreal on that day because I was meeting my future (and jetlagged) in-laws from Alabama in, of all places, England. Surreal today because, well, he's gone.

That first day, I swore he had this look in his eye of "Son, don't ask me how, but I got a shotgun through customs, and I know how to use it." He had the air about him of someone monumental, of a man from the time when men were made of iron and ate coffee and drank eggs. And yet, as I came to know him later, he wasn't the least bit self-important. His purpose in life was to do, not be. He married his high school sweetheart, built his own house, raised three sons and a surprise late edition daughter, rose to foreman at the steam plant, then became a first-response medic after he retired -- something he finally gave up earlier this year as his third bout with cancer loomed.

And yet, he was always just happy to have another day on earth. He played well with others, at once being as easy going as you can be and still correcting you if you were an idiot (in Christian love). And he was as stubborn and as rockheaded as anyone with a surname of "Stone" could be.

He had a high school education, yet he was as well-versed in world politics as any Harvard fellow, mainly because he had a quick mind and he read. He was a voracious reader without a bit of pretension -- I once caught him reading a romance novel, simply because it was there to be read. Tolle, lege indeed.

Like his siblings, he stayed down home, living on the family land. Unlike many of them, though, he didn't stay down home, making it to Europe and seeing almost every state, finally notching Alaska with a 50th anniversary cruise in 2003. He never did make it to Australia (his last great travel wish) or Rhode Island (but I don't think he missed much).

And, I think he liked me, respected me, maybe even loved me, despite all the silly, stupid lessons I've had to learn in the seven years I've been his daughter's husband and his granddaughter's father.

Of course, he'll live on. Every time Annabel gives the tantrum-throwing baby in the church nursery the look of "What is your problem, kid?" he'll live on.

You were a good man, Kelly Stone.

Comments

  1. A beautiful tribute for a beautiful person.
    Thank you Dylan!

    My love and sympathy to all of you.

    Gramma K.

    Posted by: Marjorie | August 17, 2005 05:22 AM

  2. Yes, a lovely tribute. Obviously, I never met him, but now I feel as though I have. Thank you for sharing that.

    Posted by: Elaine | August 17, 2005 07:36 AM

  3. What a gorgeous tribute. He sounds like someone I would have liked, had I met him, very much.

    My condolences to you and Susan and Annabel.

    Posted by: Amy Garvey | August 17, 2005 08:06 AM

  4. This is a beautifully written, warm and loving tribute to someone who sounds very familiar to this southern-raised woman. My sympathies to all of you on losing him.

    Posted by: Beverly | August 17, 2005 08:25 AM

  5. He sounds like a good man, in the best possible way, and I'm sure he'll be much missed. Thanbks for sharing this little piece of him with us.

    My sympathy to you, Susan, Annabel, and everyone else who loved him.

    Posted by: Elisabeth | August 17, 2005 09:10 AM

  6. He sounds like an amazing man who made the most out of life. My condolences.

    Posted by: Sunil | August 17, 2005 09:31 AM

  7. Annabel has the look of him, doesn't she? I'm hoping you both get to see him, giving you that nice steady look of his, through her eyes, often.

    Posted by: Deb Grabien | August 17, 2005 10:11 AM

  8. My condolences to everyone affected. Your eulogy was beautiful.

    Posted by: Dave | August 17, 2005 04:34 PM

  9. He sounds like he was a wonderful man to know. My condolences on his loss to you, Susan and Annabel.

    Posted by: Ellen | August 17, 2005 07:52 PM

  10. My love to you, Susan and Annabel. I'm sorry I never got to know Susan's dad.

    Posted by: Mary | August 18, 2005 08:23 AM

  11. As usual, I'm slow to the uptake, but I'm very sorry to hear this :( Take care, hang in there, and give us a jingle if you need anything.

    Posted by: Tara | August 21, 2005 10:34 PM

  12. I have known Susan's Dad for many years. I loved him as much as my brothers. He was indeed a good and honest man. Susan and her brothers were blessed to have him for the time they did. Thank you Dylan, for the wonderful thoughts. I shall keep them in my family Bible. Please continue to pray for Susan's Mom.
    Lots of Love,
    Aunt Brenda

    Posted by: Brenda Bourbon | September 21, 2005 05:17 PM

  13. I'll admit that I always took Uncle Kelly for granted. Then three or four years ago my Mom was trying to think of a gift to give him for Christmas. What do you give to someone who doesn't NEED anything? She had a plaque made declaring Kelly the "Worlds Greatest Brother-In-Law". He was that. He's the guy that not only the family can count on, but the whole community can count on. I suppose people like that are the ones most often taken for granted. Thank you Dylan for putting your thoughts (and mine)into words.

    Posted by: Paul Morris | September 21, 2005 06:03 PM