We Miss You Papa Woody

I have been absent from this blog for quite sometime. I've dropped in from time to time, but quite frankly...I haven't wanted to post anything lately. We have had a sad year. I hesitate to say that the whole year was bad, but really there haven't been too many high points for us.
Our latest news...My father in law (Lou's "Pop") passed away suddenly on November 17th. He lost a short, but grueling battle with cancer.

Sometime in late September he began to complain of some back pain. He saw his doctor after taking a few days off work and the doctor gave him some pain medication. He figured that Woody probably pulled a muscle or pinched a nerve and nobody thought much of it. Not too long after that first doctor visit he was back home with the pain really bothering him. He saw the doctor again and this time the doctor prescribed physical therapy and some time off work.
Woody began physical therapy and followed the doctors orders...most of the time. He had some good days and would venture out too far and too long and wind up paying for it the next day, but overall he stuck to his therapy...determined to get back to work.

The pain seemed to be getting worse after a few weeks and Woody told the doctor he wanted surgery. The doctor decided to do an MRI to determine if there was anything surgical that could be done. We were shocked at the results of the MRI...They found a tumor on his sciatic nerve. The doctor order another (full) MRI and within a few days we knew that there was also a mass in the lung.

The doctor prescribed Morphine for pain, but everything was happening so fast and Woody was in so much pain. He was admitted into the hospital on November 2nd-3rd. Once in the hospital the doctors did their best to make him comfortable while they ran a bunch of tests. They moved him to another hospital to start radiation, but I think he only had a few treatments. He was going downhill fast. On November 17th...Lou called me on my way home in tears. He asked me to pull the car over and I knew what he was going to say. I was shocked. Shocked. We knew he was sick and that things were moving fast, but everything happend so quickly. None of us were really ready.

I was sitting on the side of the road across town and all I wanted to do was have Jackson and Lou in my arms in an instant.

We had the funeral on the 24th of November. My sweet husband wrote and read the eulogy. Jackson wore Papa Woody's watch and chain to the funeral. And we had everyone over to our house for a nice lunch after the service.
We miss you Papa Woody. Jackson has your glasses (he wanted your glasses...something you always wore) in a frame in his room to "watch over him." He treasures your watch and St. Christopher metal and chain. He is looking forward to continuing to grow your car collection and can't wait to join the baseball team so he can hit some homeruns for you (He knows you'll be "watching down" on the game).
When I met Woody, the first thing Jackson said (he could barely talk), was "Papa Woody is gonna get my sugars." Woody used to tell Jackson that he as gonna get his "sugars" and kiss Jackson on the neck and Jackson would crack up.

Here is Jackson and Woody...it looks like Jackson is writing something on his notepad. Jackson and Papa Woody were the BEST of pals. Woody called Jackson "Mr. Jackson." He talked to him just like a grown up and Jackson talked back just the same. They had lots of fun games of baseball in the back yard...Jackson hit many of the balls over the fence and Papa would chase them down. Jackson helped Papa Woody with several projects. Last year after Christmas they built a bird house for Grandma Bevy. While Woody was in the hospital we decided to tell Jackson that Papa was sick. He became very concerned and almost everywhere we went he was always looking for a card, some flowers, or a small gift for Papa. He hated that he could not see him in the hospital (I hated that too, but with the flu season they wouldn't let kids in).

Lou had some sweet visits with Woody in the hospital and I know he will keep those sweet conversations close to his heart forever. Lou and Woody had a special relationship. In recent months Woody was calling quite often to check on Lou. (Note: I haven't written much about this, but Lou has been really struggling with back pain since July). They had made plans to build a motorcycle together and had been gathering parts for their project. I hope Lou will finish the bike...I know Woody would want to see it finished.

Here is an old picture of Lou and Woody...both smiling so big. Woody was so proud of Lou...My husband wrote this sweet obituary:

Lyman P. Woodcook, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend, passed from this world to the next on Tuesday, November 17, 2009.

Woody as he was known to all, never met a stranger. His intellect, personality and homespun charm made friends of everyone that shock his hand or took time to listen.

Woody logged over a million miles behind te wheel of a big rig, his second home and the job he loved. He could tell you stories of every highway across the United States and always knew a shortcut or scenic route to wherever you might have been headed. His passion in life was motorcycles. Any chance the he had he'd be on his much beloved Beemer with his face in the wind, off to places unknown, no map...no schedule. In his youth, he rode and raced just about everything with two wheels and a motor. He was also a master mechanic that could build, engineer or fix almost anything.

Woody served his country proudly in the US Navy and remained a steadfast patriot to the end. He was a man who loved his country deeply...a man of his word...a man of honor.

Woody was and is bigger than life and will be missed deeply by all.

He is survived by Beverly, his wife and companion of 20 years; his sons, Vincent, Wesley and Lou; his sister Sharon; his brother Robert; his grandsons, Jackson and Dane; his daughters-in-law, Shannon and Jennifer; his nephews Ron, Mitch and Robert; his niece Tammy, along with a host of friends and loved ones around the country.

Woody, you are in our hearts forever. We love you.