"Captain" Raymond B. Shackelford of Shackelford, VA... January 9, 1925 - December 13, 2006 Fiance of Becky Father of Debra, Irvin, Ronnie, Barry, Joyce, Janice, Shirley, Richard, and Ken Brother of Joyce Funeral Service Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 3:00pm SBC Union Baptist Church Officiating Reverend Capt. Bill West Interment Glou. Pt. Cemetary I know that may sound strange, but I do have a few friends in their eighties and nineties, since my mom has worked in a nursing home for twenty years and that place was my life when I had no babysitter. The residents would often voluntarily watch me when my mom was working... so. Anyway, this man survived four heart attacks, a quadruple bypass, and a stroke. It takes a hell of alot of strength to survive such feats and still be able to be of sound mind, but he was. He kinda started my interest in my current Summer career (though I may be working on a deadrise again, year-round, soon) in working on the water, after my grandfather die. His family was like my family... He'd always come visit us on our farm and bring a few hundred fish with him on ice and give them to us, pretty much every time we saw him. So... I'm not really distraught or anything, over it. He kept telling my mom that he had a big home and he wanted to go home, the night before he died, then my mom realized what he meant, so she figured it wouldn't be too long. He went into code blue and they tried reviving him for awhile. My mom was the one doing compressions. It's just amazing that she was walking him down the hallway and talking fine five minutes beforehand. The last things he were talking about were how he wished me well and that I should keep working on the water... but, I can't handle things like that because it just wigs me out that I'd be one of the last few thoughts running through one's mind before their time is expired. I hate to be one to speak of death, often, but it's always been a part of my life. I remember patients dying and people telling me to stay on the opposite hall in the ward. It's inevitable... but people die too much. Third death in three weeks, for me. So, I'm about to head out to the memorial services. Peace y'all.
We're all destined to go at some point. 82 years is a pretty damned good run. Be happy you had the privilege of such a friend and those around you might be thankful that you're not given to age prejudice. You've shown pretty good character... perhaps your friend is thankful he lasted long enough to get to know you and your mom.
Maybe it's a bit morbid, but I would think that would make me very happy, as long as the thoughts of me were in some way positive. People should be at peace when they die, and if you're the source of their peaceful thoughts, well, George-take pride in that.
moas of the old people i know are hell of wise dudes they have survived WW II they have seen a lot u can always talk to a old dude im sory man
