Prescript: I had a difficult time writing this post for obvious reasons. It has taken me some time for my mind to clear so I could write what best honored my dad. Thanks to all of you out there who reached out and offered condolences, prayers, and support in this difficult time.
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Hughie Don Sheffield died this morning (May 4, 2022). It was no surprise, but it was a shock.My Dad had Alzheimer's disease. He had it for the last 4-5 years. His decline went slowly for a lot of the time, but in the last six months it was steep. In the last three weeks, he dropped very quickly.
Up until two weeks ago, he was able to live at his home with my Mother. That was a good thing.
One of his grandsons, Joel Conyers, said that his grandpa lived a long, productive life. And that is true.
As we gathered as a family to honor his life, three things became clear to my Mother, two sisters, Debbie and Cheryl, and me.
- Hughie loved his country. Most, if not all of this blog, has been dedicated to retelling his story in the Navy. None of us doubted this commitment. After retirement, he was still committed to our country and served in community and church organizations to help others. He spoke at Memorial Day ceremonies and he even wrote a few guest editorials for the local papers.
- Hughie loved his family. For all his faults (yes, he had some), he never pushed any family away or walked away from any family needs. He took care of his alcoholic brother, cared for his parents as they aged, and above all, was the patriarch of our family, keeping us and encouraging us to be together for all of our lives. A story my sister Cheryl told at his memorial service - Dad always told us that he would never leave our Mother. Then, he invariably added, we agreed that the one who left would have to take the kids!
- Hughie loved his God. The last few months of living in Japan, my parents, both of whom (I have never used "whom" before, so exciting!) had grown up in Christian households, decided they wanted to get back to church and God. From that point forward, Dad got serious about his commitment to God. He became a deacon, church leader, went to seminary, became a minister, then spent about 15 years as the pastor of a church. God was on his mind and heart a lot for the last 55 years or so of his life.
The time we spent together honoring Dad's life was bittersweet. We will miss him and we believe that he is out of the earthly prison of his Alzheimers mind and with our Lord.
You are with God now, Dad. But, we still miss you.
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Postscript: This story is the epitome of my dad to me - One year, he was the president of his local Rotary Club. The Rotary Club had a meeting on May 6. The dues, I believe were $7. On this particular day, he arranged for a meal of Mexican food and he made the dues for that meeting $6. His theme for the day? A Day Late and A Dollar Short. Get it? I did.
