"In Memoriam"

The Jay Foshee Gazette Weekly Email 

Series 13 Issue #102

August 30th, 2013

"Untitled" or "To a Friend". 

Monday morning I lay in bed and heard the pitter patter of little feet coming down the hall. I continued to lay still as Cordie climbed into bed with me and stated that she wanted to watch Calliou. I sarcastically stated "Good morning Daddy" to which she replied, "Good morning Daddy" then reinstated that she wanted to watch Calliou. This is our routine on the mornings when I'm home, when I'm not home I've been told the routine is that she asks where I am, then asks to to watch Calliou. 

As we lay in bed I could hear fire trucks pretty clearly but I thought nothing of it because of our proximity to Stage Rd and we can sometimes hear sirens clearly through our bedroom windows. We we got up to get ready to go to our babysitter I looked out the office window and saw a fire truck, ambulance and police across the street at my neighbors house. 

Last year Mr. Holloway had some health problems and I was concerned that maybe he'd had a heart attack. This wasn't the case. I'm not interested in the details of how he died, I want to tell you how he lived. 

Look under "good neighbor" in the dictionary, er-uh, on your dictionary APP and these days you'll probably see an ad for State Farm Insurance but then definition number 2. would say see Roy Holloway. He was what you'd want in a neighbor. He'd loan you a tool, cup of sugar, his truck (which he's doing now since the Rodeo is overheating) whatever you needed he was ready and willing to help. He'd be there with a wave hello, a good morning, advice and he was willing to watch out if you were getting up on the roof and would call someone in case you fell off and broke something. 

His death has affected me and my family greatly this week. More so than I would have every thought it would. It, his friendship, was something I've only missed once it was gone. I realized that even thought he was 33 years my senior that we were pretty good friends. We talked to each other almost daily, which is more than I can say for my life long friends. SURE, I keep up with them on F'book but that's not the same. 

Cordie loved Mr. Holloway, she'd see him out the window working in his yard and she come running up and say "I wanna go to Holloways." I'd walk her out to the street and call out to him and see if it was okay(it always was) and he'd just smile and say come on! I'd walk her across the street, she'd follow him around for an hour or so then she'd say I wanna go home. He'd walk her back. 

He was the kind of neighbor who if you went out of town you could say, "Roy, look after the place" and know that it would be done. You know he'd water the plants, get the mail, and call the cops if he saw someone walking off with your TV. He was the Wilson to my Tim the Toolman Taylor except he lived across the street and he wasn't "ashamed" to show his face.  

It was a shock and we are still reeling from his death. I've been in thoughtful prayer for his wife and son all week. You just want to say Why? How could this happen? You want to hold them, hug them, help them, just help them anyway you can. They've ask for a few things and I've been happy and honored to help the family through this time. I will continue to pray for them I know it will be hard for them. On Tuesday morning I got up and got the girls ready for the babysitter and managed to forget about it until I walked out the door and looked across the street expecting to see him for a second until I remembered it wasn't a dream, a bad dream. 

He was a Godly man, took pride in his lawn, his cars, his house and himself. He was a good man, husband, father, grandfather, neighbor and friend. He will be missed. 

To view his obituary follow this link. 

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/commercialappeal/obituary.aspx?n=roy-g-holloway&pid=166673242&fhid=5683#fbLoggedOut

Song of the Week

Dandelion- The Rolling Stones.