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Too Late: A Tribute To My Grandfather

Category: Captain's Quarters           Date: 02/06/08            Comments: 1

Hello Everyone - This is not another "catch-up" entry, but a pause in my daily routine to tell you of the loss of my Grandfather - Edmund Davis Hays. Some of you may have read my 11/24/07 entry entitled "Happy Thanksgiving", in which I spoke of coming into possession of his memoirs. I wrote, "I think I'd better get busy sorting out these notes, maybe I'll have time to read them back to him yet"...well I was too late.

About two weeks ago, Pepa, as he
has always been known to me, stopped eating, drinking, talking and rarely even acknowledged my Father's presence
during his visits. The experienced people
at the nursing home said it meant he was giving up, he was ready to go.


No one was surprised, especially since
my Grandmother's passing just over a
year ago, for it was as if they lived for
each other and neither really wanted to
be here without the other.


So, sometime yesterday afternoon my Grandfather left this earth and no doubt
is elated, as once again he stands by his beloved Vivian. And she too no doubt is elated as "Eddie" was everything to her.

Here they are in 1999...



He was a loving Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather who was born Oct. 1, 1913 in Urbana, IL. He made it through the Great Depression and proudly served on the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. Lovering during World War II. He was my family's last connection to our country's greatest generation.

I'm still working on his memoirs and hope to honor him and my Grandmother soon by sharing their story with an undeserving world. Are your Grandparents still alive? You're lucky if they are and you better spend as much time with them as you can or you may be too late too.

Thanks...........Clay