Post Scripts: The pluses far out-number the minuses

The death of Ed Grimes hardly came as a shock, particularly to those who knew him well and saw him from time to time, and for those who loved and respected him. His passing is a tremendous loss. Kathy and I knew his life was near an end after visiting with him a few months ago.

I was at a loss on how to begin this column about this treasured friend whom we got to know as a small Sunday School lad in the Gallatin Methodist Church. Others may not have known Eddie had a philosophy of life based upon religion and faith in God. Those of us who knew him down deep were quite aware of this. Anyway, I wasn’t sure how to jump-start this column.

All of a sudden I recalled a pillow top or something like that which had a saying in it which read: "If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I would walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again."

That expresses how Kathy and I feel about Ed Grimes

We choose to remember the pluses in his life; that he graduated from Missouri Western State College with honors, he taught Adult Education in this community for five, long years which resulted in a vast number of area students and citizens acquiring knowledge and skills to enrich their lives and stimulate their quest for worthwhile information.

We lovingly remember his kind assistance to us beginning a few years back when we acquired a computer and turned to Eddie time and time again for assistance in operating the darn thing. He was always patient and considerate of our lack of computer comprehension and with a hearty and sincere laugh would instruct us and relieve our despair. He never would let us pay him for his valued assistance. He continued giving us advice by way of E-mail, even three days before he died.

We choose to remember his taking into his home a young man who was in need of mature help in getting himself an education and prepared for college and the world out there. One of Ed’s great worries was he wouldn’t live long enough to see Jessie through high school and college.

There are so many good things that could be said about Eddie, yet there were a few who never quite understood this gifted individual. A few choose to recall his lifestyle when he chose to waste his life carousing around. He was well aware these things would be what some would choose to remember. I hope my readers will remember Eddie for the pluses in his life, for they far out-number the minuses.

I am saddened by this valued friend’s death. He had so much to give to others and he shared so much with others. A person’s character is much like a fence. All the whitewash in the world won’t strengthen it. Eddie’s life doesn’t need a coat of whitewash. We will sorely miss him!