by Dick Happy
“Why are you staring at the debris bin?” asked Diane, our volunteer garden leader. “Remembering George.” I said. “I received word from his daughter that George Gannett passed away on Cape Cod last Thursday.”
First Diane smiled and then she frowned. “George was one of my favorite people and one of our best gardening crew workers. We were sad when he moved north to be with family. But how does staring at the debris bin help you remember George?”
I chuckled. “Our Tuesday mornings garden crew comes up with lots of big branches and other debris and places them in a bin at the back of the property. When George worked with us, he would cut them up and put them in a very orderly pile. We had the neatest debris bin on the face of the earth! And he was strong - when he was part of our group he was in his late seventies and early eighties and he could outwork much younger members.
George was also integral to the functioning of the church in another way - for many years he helped keep the multi-media booth operational. But most of all I will remember him as a gentle, warm hearted soul with a ready laugh.”
Diane remembered his wife, Joy Erickson, who pre-deceased him. “She also helped out in the sound booth, was a first-rate artist and an expert genealogist. As a couple, they gave a lot of time and effort making our church what it is today.” I agreed and continued to stare wistfully at a very messy debris bin.
“Why are you staring at the debris bin?” asked Diane, our volunteer garden leader. “Remembering George.” I said. “I received word from his daughter that George Gannett passed away on Cape Cod last Thursday.”
First Diane smiled and then she frowned. “George was one of my favorite people and one of our best gardening crew workers. We were sad when he moved north to be with family. But how does staring at the debris bin help you remember George?”
I chuckled. “Our Tuesday mornings garden crew comes up with lots of big branches and other debris and places them in a bin at the back of the property. When George worked with us, he would cut them up and put them in a very orderly pile. We had the neatest debris bin on the face of the earth! And he was strong - when he was part of our group he was in his late seventies and early eighties and he could outwork much younger members.
George was also integral to the functioning of the church in another way - for many years he helped keep the multi-media booth operational. But most of all I will remember him as a gentle, warm hearted soul with a ready laugh.”
Diane remembered his wife, Joy Erickson, who pre-deceased him. “She also helped out in the sound booth, was a first-rate artist and an expert genealogist. As a couple, they gave a lot of time and effort making our church what it is today.” I agreed and continued to stare wistfully at a very messy debris bin.
 George in the MultiMedia booth |  George and Joy |
 George being honored for his years of service. |  Marci Saunders, Julie Leach and George at the Social Justice table. |
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