.
with you every detail of its preparation,
meticulously documented.
Reade would tell made-up stories
to the kids up at Tonche about his
buddy, Max, including way-toocomplex details about Max’s vehicles.
He told those stories, that is, at least for
as long as he could stay awake. More
recently, when he’d call someone in
the family and leave a voicemail, he’d
always be sure to mention the time of
the call, “your time,” and where he was
in the country – Bryn Athyn, Wyoming
or elsewhere – as if to say, “Whenever
it is, wherever I am, I’m thinking about
you.”
When the kids were in college and home on break, he’d top off the washer
fluid and check their tire pressure before they’d head back to school. And as
they were finding their way in the world as adults, Reade helped all he could
in his small, subtle ways and sometimes, when the situation called for it, in
take-charge and precisely effective ways. And beyond all this, Reade the most
excellent grandpa is a whole new chapter of his story.
A close friend observed that Reade and Lynn together were “consummate
parents, totally calm, relaxed but in control.” Lynn herself says that she and
Reade just always seemed somehow to be in sync, with only a rare exception
or two, always agreeing about raising the kids or any other decisions that
they would make. Kyle made it a point the other day, as a family meeting was
winding down, to say that while Reade may not always have been the most
forceful disciplinarian in the household, there was one thing it was clear that
he would not allow: no disrespect of Mama.
It is countless small examples of love and care like these that all put
together build a wonderful family, a wonderful marriage and the wonderful
life of a wonderful man. It is these moments of precious love, innocence and
peace that the Lord most carefully and most ardently protects. These are what
live forever in the spiritual world and in our hearts and minds here. Reade lives
in the spiritual world, and we can be lifted up by the hope that we will be with
him again and all of these things will still be true of him.
All of these things, too, are what make this loss of Reade’s life on earth
so sad and difficult to bear. There is no way to minimize it. We can, though,
as we carry on with heavy hearts, continue to love and admire Reade. We
can offer love and strength to his family and close friends. We can honor his
It is countless small
examples of love and
care like these that all
put together build a
wonderful family, a
wonderful marriage
and the wonderful life
of a wonderful man.
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