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We buried him where he could watch the deer.
#6493335
10/13/16 04:25 AM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 44
TexOddball
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 44 |
My Dad died in August. He was 57.
He died of complications from a minor foot surgery, it was very sudden, and completely unexpected. None of the "end of life" preparations were ready, he didn't have a will, or any funeral arrangements. All the details and untied ends had to be nailed down by my Mom, my two siblings, and I. Among all the dozens of decisions we had to make was picking out a burial plot. We have a family cemetary, that dates back to the 1870s, but Dad had never reserved a plot. So we met with our cousin that was head of the Board, and took a stroll through the cemetary to pick a spot. Mom mentioned she had once heard Dad say he wanted to be buried near the back fenceline, so he could watch the deer. In the back of the cemetary is a grove of liveoaks, and, it being a blistering August day anyway, we kind of gravitated to that spot. Using the map of the plots, we found a cluster of unreserved gravesites. We wanted to be sure there would be room for the rest of the immediate family to be buried back there, when our times came. It seemed like the perfect spot, and then I started looking at the landscape with a hunter's eye.
The back fenceline is a five-strand barbwire fence, with a row of cedar trees growing along the other side, about a four-foot-wide lane is kept trimmed back, and I started looking for the deer trail through the cedars. Sure enough, right next to a live oak inside the fence, I could see a trail, and as I moved closer I found hair snagged on the fence, and the ground was cut up from where they jumped over. The trail and the hoof prints ran right in a line toward the gravesite we had already selected.
We laid Dad to rest in the shade of the liveoaks, where acorns will fall thick, right where the deer move through. He's at the base of a tree exactly where he would have built a bowstand. It's very likely I'll walk back there someday and find a shed dropped right on his grave.
Howdy, ya'll. I found this forum about a year ago, and have been lurking ever since. This is one of the best forums I've found on hunting here in Texas, and I decided to finally join the conversation. I mostly hunt Deer, Doves, pigs, and Turkeys, but I'm up for anything when it comes to hunting. I promise the rest of my posts will be more upbeat, but I knew this was a community uniquely suited to appreciating that story. Hunting is a long-standing family tradition, and it's what Dad and I bonded over the most.
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493345
10/13/16 04:48 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,663
CRAnderson52
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,663 |
Best introduction I've ever read! Howdy!
You can run but you can't hide...
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493350
10/13/16 04:54 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,535
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,535 |
to the THF
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493377
10/13/16 10:27 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825
poisonivie
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825 |
Well, that was way better than my intro post. Well done, sir. Glad you're here.
Pee on Photobucket
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493378
10/13/16 10:34 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,083
tlk
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,083 |
Great story. Told my wife if I get dementia to prop me up in a deer stand and drop me a sandwich at noon. God bless your Dad
You can't fix stupid
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493383
10/13/16 10:43 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,372
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,372 |
Welcome and thanks for writing about your dad. 57 is way too young in these times and I know what a shock wave that is for your mom. Your dad's resting place sounds perfect.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: CRAnderson52]
#6493393
10/13/16 11:06 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,600
decook
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,600 |
Best introduction I've ever read! Howdy! I second that. I can tell your dad had honor by the way you honor him. Welcome to the THF.
Press for an AMERICAN.
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493424
10/13/16 11:46 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,941
Simple Searcher
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,941 |
"Man is still a hunter, still a simple searcher after meat..." Robert C. Ruark
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: kmon11]
#6493425
10/13/16 11:49 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,806
Deerhunter61
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,806 |
Best introduction I've ever read! Howdy! to the THF
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493435
10/13/16 12:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185
hook_n_line
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185 |
Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493462
10/13/16 12:38 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,459
majekman
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,459 |
Very sorry for loss of your dad at such a young age...sad. Guaranteed he's proud of you for running a "last scout" for him.
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: decook]
#6493467
10/13/16 12:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,789
Mr. T.
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,789 |
Best introduction I've ever read! Howdy! I second that. I can tell your dad had honor by the way you honor him. Welcome to the THF. X2
Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co. Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493501
10/13/16 01:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091 |
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493508
10/13/16 01:06 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,973
ChadTRG42
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,973 |
Wow, great post! Thanks for taking the time to write that!
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493527
10/13/16 01:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
BenBob
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308 |
Tired, Wired, and Uninspired
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493535
10/13/16 01:24 PM
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,140
Dalee7892
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,140 |
After reading your post I had a tear in my eye. You have done your dad proud. Thanks for the post. Welcome brother.
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493538
10/13/16 01:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 420
cheetah577
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 420 |
Sorry to read about your loss. Welcome to the board.
God bless John Wayne!
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493539
10/13/16 01:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657
colt45-90
Texas colt45
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Texas colt45
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657 |
welcome, thanks for sharing with us about your dad. I lost my dad when he was 67, he always said he wanted to farm until he died, one of the neighbors found him behind the tractor where he was in the field.
hold on Newt, we got a runaway
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493573
10/13/16 01:44 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,453
JKC
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,453 |
and thanks for sharing, what an awesome tribute.
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493591
10/13/16 01:57 PM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,101
Always ready 2 hunt
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,101 |
. Truly blessed by your intro. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493619
10/13/16 02:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 344
rabbit_jack
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 344 |
May your father RIP at his special site.
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493641
10/13/16 02:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Sorry for you loss
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: TexOddball]
#6493703
10/13/16 03:06 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,407
dkershen
Rev Dave
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Rev Dave
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,407 |
to the forum. Very sorry for your loss. You did right by him with your choice for sure.
To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.www.NewHopeEquine.com - Health and Healing through Horses.
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: JKC]
#6493717
10/13/16 03:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,126
kdkane1971
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,126 |
and thanks for sharing, what an awesome tribute.
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Re: We buried him where he could watch the deer.
[Re: kdkane1971]
#6493729
10/13/16 03:30 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,314
KG68
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,314 |
and thanks for sharing, what an awesome tribute.
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