John McGill Memorial Service completed, Friday even.
Lexington,Ky, March 16.
The Cuimberland Lansdowne Presbyterian Church in the Tates Creek area of Lexington was mostly full. Friends, relatives, co-workers, and many from his past places of work were present. In front was a table of John's books, awards, with a collection of pictures and clips in a large frame to the right.
Rev. Tom Cottingim opened the simple memorial service with an invocation. Paschal Baute, long time friend of John opened the eulogy, and after speakers Tom, Billy Reed, and Mark Maloney, added closing remarks. We closed with a final prayer by the pastor and then greeted gathers who came forward.
It was a moving ceremony. Billy Reed had graduated just ahead of John at Henry Clay High school, called him Johnny, and shared many experiences of some 47 years of friendship and working together. Tom, John's pastor, shared experiences and memories concerning their common interest in cars and the outdoors. Mark shared how John had been a role model for him at the Herald Leader since the 1970s and how inspirational John's courage and humor had been during his last months.
I shall share only a few remarks from my eulogy.
At the end John found a love he never imagined he could have and felt enormously blessed by all those who reached out to him. "Lucky" he called himself, while the cancer was eating away at his life. He discovered a lost love. The final mystery of John's life, was, I suggested, one of Forgiveness, hope, trust, and love. He died knowing he was loved, truly loved, and as far as most of us who knew John could tell, he had never allowed himself to experience that.
I shall miss John enormously. But like Helen Keller in speaking of the friendship offered her from age 14 on, by Samuel Clemens, Mark Twain. "I withdraw all my charges against life due to my circumstances, because of the friendship I have experienced." She concluded:
"AS LONG AS THE MEMORY OF CERTAIN BELOVED FRIENDS LIVES IN MY HEART, I CAN SAY LIFE IS GOOD."
Regarding the gift of John's life to us, maybe to many of us, I deeply feel the same today. Thank you John McGall for all that you were. We shall deal in love with the rest.
Paschal
Billy Reed has his own eulogy posted at his web site. Very worth reading.
Google Billy Reed Enterprises, Louisville, Ky
The Cuimberland Lansdowne Presbyterian Church in the Tates Creek area of Lexington was mostly full. Friends, relatives, co-workers, and many from his past places of work were present. In front was a table of John's books, awards, with a collection of pictures and clips in a large frame to the right.
Rev. Tom Cottingim opened the simple memorial service with an invocation. Paschal Baute, long time friend of John opened the eulogy, and after speakers Tom, Billy Reed, and Mark Maloney, added closing remarks. We closed with a final prayer by the pastor and then greeted gathers who came forward.
It was a moving ceremony. Billy Reed had graduated just ahead of John at Henry Clay High school, called him Johnny, and shared many experiences of some 47 years of friendship and working together. Tom, John's pastor, shared experiences and memories concerning their common interest in cars and the outdoors. Mark shared how John had been a role model for him at the Herald Leader since the 1970s and how inspirational John's courage and humor had been during his last months.
I shall share only a few remarks from my eulogy.
At the end John found a love he never imagined he could have and felt enormously blessed by all those who reached out to him. "Lucky" he called himself, while the cancer was eating away at his life. He discovered a lost love. The final mystery of John's life, was, I suggested, one of Forgiveness, hope, trust, and love. He died knowing he was loved, truly loved, and as far as most of us who knew John could tell, he had never allowed himself to experience that.
I shall miss John enormously. But like Helen Keller in speaking of the friendship offered her from age 14 on, by Samuel Clemens, Mark Twain. "I withdraw all my charges against life due to my circumstances, because of the friendship I have experienced." She concluded:
"AS LONG AS THE MEMORY OF CERTAIN BELOVED FRIENDS LIVES IN MY HEART, I CAN SAY LIFE IS GOOD."
Regarding the gift of John's life to us, maybe to many of us, I deeply feel the same today. Thank you John McGall for all that you were. We shall deal in love with the rest.
Paschal
Billy Reed has his own eulogy posted at his web site. Very worth reading.
Google Billy Reed Enterprises, Louisville, Ky
posted by Paschal Baute at 7:11 PM
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