I called him Shepherd.  It started out as Mr. Shepherd 30 years ago when I started to court his daughter.I once saw a talk and it was titled How to be the coolest person at your own funeral. Its him John Melvin Shepherd He is missed, he is loved because he showed love, he showed it unconditionally, the most giving man I have ever met.He defined- give and don’t expect anything in return. Married 58 years to his high school sweetheartWatched 15 seasons of survivorAte cereal with out milkCouldn’t take medicine in the pill formHad to have an extra cup of ice with his un sweet Ice tea.Well done food or im gonna send it backHe was the best dad a pair of daughters could ever ask forHe was a blessing to his grandbabiesThe man who went into the hospital on Aug 2He was in the hospital for 58 daysHe lost 70 lbs

I never know what to say when someone has a loss.  This is different its not someone this is us, our family. This didn’t just hit close to homeIt hit my home. I tell folks…im sorry for your loss im sorry for your pain and your grief and your sadness. As I look at Anita im sorry for your loss and the familyIm sorry for our loss.And as I look at my wife….my high school sweet heart my soul mate, im heart-broken for you your sadness.But Shepherd is seeing all this, because he believed in heaven, he believed in our lord Jesus Christ and he sees this.I want to tell him one thing….i got it…I will take care of Anita, I will take care of Rhonda and the family so don’t worry about that.Don’t worry about that.