One of the toughest things I've ever had to do was to give one of the eulogies at my Daddy's funeral. I thought I would share how this extraordinary man touched my life...
My father was one of those hard working dads who always knew what to do in any circumstance. No matter what came around the corner, my Daddy would know how to tackle it. He always had a solution for every problem, and he had a way of making the most complicated things seem simple. That gave me such comfort and security growing up. I could always count on Dad. As a little girl, I was in awe of him because he was so strong and confident, and silent. I remember being a little afraid of him because he was always so quiet. If I am honest, I was probably a little afraid of Daddy because he always seemed to know when I was getting into mischief. You see, he was engaged and invested in the lives of his family.
My Daddy was adventurous. We had the best childhood. It was not unusual for us to be camping, tubing down the Big Black River or hunting deer in the woods. Daddy made sure I was well vetted in knowing how to run a trot line, shooting a double barrel shotgun and helping skin a deer. I guess it's not too surprising that I didn't get married until I was almost 30 years old. I found that most men were intimidated by a woman with my particular skill set. I am sure that was Daddy's plan all along.
My Daddy was tough. I would often see Dad working on something around the house with multiple bleeding cuts all over his arms and legs. He would be oblivious to these wounds because he was so focused on taking care of his task. His family was the most important thing to him, and he was intent on taking care of us. Whether it was handling some job around the house or helping me and Bobby navigate through childhood struggles, Daddy taught us one of the most important lessons: to have the courage and tenacity to tackle life. Passivity was never an option in my house. Daddy showed us time and time again that we could achieve great things if we just had the courage to believe in something and acted.
My Daddy was loving. As I grew older, I discovered that he was a very compassionate and kind man. There was never a moment in my life when I couldn't turn to Dad for advice or help. I remember calling him to tell him and Mom that I was getting married. We hung up, and Gary and I went out. When I returned later that evening, I noticed a Miller Lite Beer can sitting on the stair railing by my apartment. Inside the can was one single, red rose. Instinctively, I knew that Daddy had come by. He had driven 6 hours that night just to tell me he loved me.
My Daddy was generous. When I got married, I was amazed at how Daddy became the storyteller in our family. We would sit around the dinner table for hours while Daddy shared stories about his childhood and our family with my new husband. He wanted to help my new husband feel like a part of our family. I remember how he also tried to help Gary navigate through our interesting family. I once saw their two heads together at the family reunion. He was giving my husband advice on how to tackle the ladies at the gaming table. His advice: "Just be quiet and keep your head down."
My Daddy was a giving grandfather. My kids have grown up with a special love for their Grandpa. He designated time to take them out to shoot his guns and to ride the 4-wheeler. He made sure he walked them through his garden to pick tomatoes and peppers. They would walk around the yard eating those treats and just talk about life. He wanted to create and share experiences that were his and his alone, and he did just that.
Jerry Bob Womack was a man who gave his best in life. He has shown us how a man should love and honor his wife. His love for my mother has set a standard for us all. He has raised 2 children who love and seek after God with their whole hearts, and he has 3 beautiful grandchildren who will carry on his legacy of compassion, generosity, and tenacity. I will forever be grateful that we all had the opportunity to be on the receiving end of Daddy's best.
