On November 15, 2006, my Dad, David Allen Price, passed peacefully out of this world and into the next. He lived his life according to the teachings of Jesus demonstrating faith by actions rather than by words. He asked for a very simple service with a closed casket and no "fuss". We wanted his memorial service to reflect his faith and the joy he found in family and friends.
In his last weeks, Dad made it very clear that he was not afraid to die. When we talked about his memorial service, he asked for the song "Eastern Gate". He wanted Mom to know that he planned to wait there, sitting on the curb and watching for her. It became clear to us that his only sadness was leaving her behind. He saw his death as simply another journey, an adventure he would take with his hand in God's. I remember the many times we moved. He would go a few weeks ahead to begin his new job and to find a place for us to live. He saw this as another temporary separation.
"Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes." Thoreau said it first but Dad quoted it often. He wanted to be buried as he had lived. He lived simply - loving God and loving others with no frills and few concessions to the norms of society. So, we braced ourselves to face the winds of misunderstanding and proceeded to make arrangements for a memorial service in accord with his beliefs and preferences.
Dad sometimes handed me cash for one of life's adventures along with a familiar word of caution, "Daughter, make it do." He had a small life insurance policy which he said should be enough "to do." How that worked out is a story we will probably add to this page at a later time. For now, it is enough to know that we worked with a very tight budget. Going over was not an option. Dad expected us to make it do. And we did.
The custom here is for the family and friends to "sit up with the dead" gathering in the funeral home or a church for the days and nights prior to the funeral service. Dad did not want this. He had taught us that the body he was leaving behind was just a shell. We knew that he would be with us wherever we gathered. There was no advantage to him or to us in being in the same room as his body. As family arrived from other states, we met at his grand daughter's home to share meals, tell stories and play music. He wisely knew that this was a good atmosphere for healing broken hearts and gathering strength to go on.
As we shared meals and memories, an order of service begain to grow. The plan was roughed out on a sheet of notebook paper. Various friends and family members agreed to lead parts of the service. On Saturday, we gathered by the grave site thanking God for a clear sunny day. As on so many other family occasions, the opening chords came from Wayne's guitar.
Dad often said that we should bring our flowers to people while they were still alive. Remembering the joy he found in helping others, we asked that friends and family spend the money they would have used for flowers to help someone who had a need. We're beginning to hear stories from people who have taken him up on this challenge and we see that he continues to bless others.
Some have commented that they did not understand how we could participate in the service. There were moments when our voices cracked reflecting the huge cracks in our hearts. But overall there was the peace and strength that can only come from God. And we do rejoice in the knowledge that we were enabled to grant Dad's last earthly requests. After the service, a friend commented that he had enjoyed the service ... then he apologized for using the word enjoyed because that didn't sound right for a funeral. We understand completely!