Uncle
Jerry’s funeral went pretty well yesterday.
Deacon Sam from Holy Family Parish did a great job with the service,
especially in the way he wove in scripture and chose selections appropriate for
the situation. He also put together a
nice eulogy. Really helped that he knew
Jerry well. Jerry’s two granddaughters
each had a speaking part, and they did a fantastic job. I know he was proud of them. His two grandsons were among the pallbearers. My part was to share what was in my heart and
to coordinate an open sharing time.
There were comments of remembrance and encouragement from people who had
been touched by Jerry in all walks of his life: Rotary Club, Family, Knights of
Columbus, Neighbors, Sailing … even some members of his high school football
team. Here is what I said:
Coming together:
Remembering Jerry Vaughan April
17, 2014
A
great way to discover encouragement in the midst of a frustrating time like
this is to come together in some common bond, to find some ways to connect.
1. And the first
place to connect is always with God
He wants to be in a personal love
relationship with you. So much so that
he somehow became a man – Jesus – lived a perfect life, died, and rose from the
dead to take care of the problem with sin that we all have. Since that is taken care of, now that
relationship is again possible. But
remember he wants it to be one of love.
And the only way love has any real meaning is if you can choose it. So God gives us that choice. Begin a love relationship with him the same
way you begin any relationship – start talking.
Say something like this: “God I know I sin, and I’m sorry. Best I know how, I want to turn away from
that and to you. I believe you lived a
perfect life, died, and rose from the dead for me. Come into my life and take over. You be the boss.” Now that’s a connection.
2. And it’s good to connect with other people
who have made that God-connection.
We are doing that today. Being here together. Saying together the Lord’s Prayer. It’s not about how we are different. The important thing is coming together in
agreement around the most important thing – Jesus Christ.
3. One of my favorite ways to connect is to remember
together - out loud.
Get together and share some of the things
you remember about Jerry. Little
things. Things that inspired you. Things that taught you. Things that made you laugh. Things that made you cry. And in that spirit, I’d like to share my own …
Top Ten Random Fun Facts about Uncle Jerry
10. When we were kids we called him Unkie. I never was sure if that annoyed him (which I’m
sure we were going for), or made him proud.
I called him that not too long ago, though, and he smiled really big and
said, “I sure haven’t heard THAT in a
long time.”9. Again, when we were kids, Jerry was a lifeguard at the Seahorse Motel. He would come home with terrible sunburns – the kind that causes your skin to peel off. My brothers and I used to have contests to see who could peel the biggest piece of skin off of Unkie’s back. I know. Strange, right?
8. Jerry was a wealth of information of all kinds. Here’s an example of what he remembered:
“We went through the 1942 Storm in that house on 25th Street, on the alley corner between L and M. The wind blew an oak tree onto the house. City crews came and pulled it off the house and replanted it, but with a tilt toward the street this time. That’s why so many of the trees in Galveston lean over the street. That was because of the 1942 Storm.
“Did you know that there was a P.O.W. camp about where the Rainforest Café is located now? We used to go over there and watch the prisoners play some weird game we had never seen before. It was soccer.”
7. Jerry played high school football. He was the quarterback for the Kirwin High Buccaneers. But you know, one of the times we talked, he told something about my Dad – his big brother Buster. He said, “You know, Buster played football at Kirwin. He was number 22. That was the reason I always wanted to play football at Kirwin, too. Buster was kind of my hero.” Hey, here was the guy who I always idolized as the big football hero telling me that his idol was my Dad. That meant a lot to me.
6. One of the things he was most proud of – outside of his incredibly beautiful and amazingly talented grandkids – was the fact that his nephews had such a conglomeration of interests. More than once he pointed out that I was into theology, Joey was into biology, and Jay was into geology – all coming together in some mystical union within one family.
5. One time as we waited for the paramedics to arrive to take him to the hospital, Jerry thanked me profusely for coming to his aid. He said he wanted the world to know that “whoever said Catholics and Baptists couldn’t coexist – especially in the same family - has never met the Vaughans.”
4. Jerry was really looking forward to the grand re-opening of St. Mary’s here in Galveston after the big post-Hurricane Ike reconstruction project there. That’s this week I think. But you know, his excitement wasn’t so much about the beautiful historical landmark. Nah. He was just excited to see his friend Cardinal DiNardo again. Friends were important to him.
3. Speaking of friends, a lot of people knew Jerry, too. I know he had FaceBook friends from literally all over the world. One of his long-time friends, Bill Cherry had this to say about him:
“Jerry and I were friends for decades. One of the great thinkers and great Roman Catholics of all times. If you don't have a copy of his books, you should immediately go to amazon.com and buy one each. They will enrich your life, I promise. RIP, Jerry.”
And I am certain Jerry would grin broadly at that and say, “Thanks for the plug, Bill!”
2. Jerry was incredibly proud of his kids. He loved telling people that he couldn’t say what top secret things his son Jer was doing with the Air Force or “he’d have to kill you.” And any time he was in the hospital he always insisted that the doctors stick around his room long enough for him to call his daughter Kristen, because “she is a doctor and can understand whatever it is you’re talking about.” And Karen was pretty special to him, too, because he said she reminded him so much of her mother. I’m just impressed that she has lived for so long in Chicago. It’s cold up there.
1. Jerry loved living on an island. Fishing. Rotary Club. Sailing. Knights of Columbus. A host of friends. All were important to him. But when you got down to it with him … he just wanted to be close to the water. Galveston was home.
Don’t
leave here today without sharing a story or two and a hug with each other.
Psalms
133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when
brothers live together in unity!”
Father God, thank you for being right here
with us. Thank you for the friends and
family who have been touched by Jerry, and who have in turn reached out to comfort
these folks here. Our prayer for today
is that you will surround our family with your peace that passes all
understanding. Our prayer for
tomorrow? The same. One day at a time, walk with us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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