Grandpa Earley

I've been thinking about making this post all week. My Grandpa Earley passed away last Sunday morning. I was very fortunate to grow up right down the road from him and got to spend a lot of time with him. I have so many wonderful memories of my Grandpa- I'm very lucky to have been able to know him the way that I did. I have never been able- and never will be able to- smell sawdust without thinking of him. The man could do amazing things with wood. I remember as a little girl getting into my head the idea that I wanted a box with lock on it to store all of my worldly treasures (don't ask me what treasures- I think I thought if you build it they will come). He made it for me with a little tiny shelf on the inside and my name across the top. I remember thinking that it was the coolest thing ever and he made it for me! I still have it.

He was also one of the biggest teases I've ever encountered. There was a rule at my Grandma's house when we were little- Courtney and I could not get into the chocolate chips at all, not one little bit. . . unless they were already open. Which they hardly ever were. We always checked though. One day, to our complete delight, we found the bag of chocolate chips, normally sealed tight as can be, was open. So we dug in of course. My Grandma was not so pleased when she found us and I think she thought we were lying when we said the package was open when we found it. It was quite some time later when I realized that Grandpa- knowing we would check- opened the bag and let us take the blame. He was sneaky like that.

I am very grateful for the many other experiences that I was able to have with my Grandpa, listening to him tell stories, feeding the cows and watching him work in his shop. I am very much going to miss him, but I will never forget his tenderness and strength and kindness. I'm so thankful I got to have him in my life.

Our wedding 11/28/03.




At Ava's blessing in February.

Obituary