Tuesday of this week, July 15, Richard Freeman Bogue passed away at the age of 93. He was an awesome person, and I wouldn't say that about everyone, he really was. I had the pleasure of meeting him when Josh and I were dating, meeting him when he was about 84 or so, but he always seemed so not what I knew as a grandparent. I knew several grandparents in my life, but haven't had one since my step grandmother died when I was 17. I was closest to my grandfather, my dad's dad, but he died at age 80 after a battle with Alzheimer's. I never really knew a grandparent as an adult. Richard was a nice surprise. He never acted old, would sit and talk Mariners or Blazers with you forever. He recounted stories of living in Colorado with my mom and Tim when they lived close to Durango. He stayed up late regularly. I remember driving by his retirement home one night with Josh and we saw the lights all on in his room. Josh said he would never go to bed before at least 10, early bed was for ninnies. Lol. I love it. When Ruth was alive you could just feel the love he had for her. The way they talked you could feel the love, even if he was telling her she was nuts, that takes love to tell your spouse with Alzheimer's their nuts, but it was a mutual love and trust there. I feared after she died he would fall apart without her, but it took almost 3 years after she died before he joined her again. I'm glad for that time. He got to get to know Sam, and Sam got to get to know him. (His 90th birthday was Samantha's first party at 3 weeks old.) He got to meet Audrey and see her personality start to come through. For the past few months his kidney's started to fail, he had fallen one too many times, and was finally restricted to a wheelchair and had to wear a medical alert button. 4th of July weekend he fell and broke his pelvis (ouch), and with his kidney's going as well, it was just a matter of time. He was made comfortable and then went to see his beautiful bride. He will be missed by everyone who met him, especially his family. We miss you greatly Grandpa, Great Papa. We are so blessed to have had you in our lives for any amount of time.
A sad photo yes, but one I'm glad we have. Part of the hard part with grandpa's death has been dealing with all the emotions of Wayne's death all over again, not that they ever went away, but they've risen to the surface again.
With his 5th of 6 Great Grandchildren
And with the 6th of 6 Great Grandchildren
One of my all time favorite photos, Grandpa with his brother Phil at a family get together 2012
Holding a baby Pat! 1948
Wedding to Ruth
Our wedding 2007... only half of the people in this photo are still here. Josh said that it seems our wedding was the last time the whole family was healthy. The next year Matt was diagnosed with cancer and had a battle, then grandma fell and the alzheimers got worse, Wayne died, grandma died, now grandpa. (But at least Matt kicked cancer's ass!)
Pat's wedding day, 1973
Grandpa with his 2 brothers and father, 1979
Thanksgiving 2012
Love this old shot, grandpa with his brothers and father
1960
Reunited. Walking together once again. (I fully believe every couple needs a photo of them walking away together, from any point in your relationship, there's just something sweet about it. Josh and I have one I love from our wedding.)
