My Eulogy:

My Dad: You loved him or you hated him. But you always knew where you stood with him. A lot of people will tell you what you wanted to hear. Pop he told you what you needed to hear.

Not many people know how religious he was. But to him religion was in your heart, not concrete buildings. I remember one time he was so disgusted with organized churches. He said, "Every time you go, all they want is your money". And sure enough raising money had replaced raising ones soul. I know he was very pleased with the Lake City Church of Christ. And I must say that the Lake City Church of Christ must have had a lot of heart because Pop did miss going there.

I remember when Pop had his logging company in south Georgia. We had someone to break in to our equipment shed. Well the Sheriff found the Father and Son who had stolen our equipment. When Pop went to verify this was his property, he saw how poor these people were. Instead of having them arrested he hired them to work for him.

There are very few people left in this world who do things from their heart. It takes courage to do the right thing for the benefit of others.

Growing up it was hard for Pop to be a weekend Dad. You see, Pop traveled from Monday to Friday in his job then. Saturdays were very special. We had our Dad for a whole day. Sundays he would have reports to do and prepare to leave on Monday. Some people would think how cold a Dad must be to be gone from his family all this time. But instead, for Pop, he was sacrificing himself to make sure his family got what they wanted. And that was a lot more than we needed.

Pop was like a little kid at a zoo who has a long stick and keeps poking the bear in the cage. Just enough to aggravate you, but not to make you mad. And if Pop liked you, that is just what he would do. He would say something that would catch you off guard till you see he just thrown you a curve ball instead. When you would look at him and he would have a big wonderful grin. His smile was so comforting to see.

Pop was unconventional and ahead of his time. As they say it today, he thought outside the box. When the pulpwood business was facing a wood shortage he started a logging business to show that we could go into swamps and log the timber. Over thirty years ago he had the idea of a device in your car that would give information such as hotels, restaurants and even historical markers. Well today we have the computer in the car that does this. Long time ago he had his car setup so when you mashed the gas a green light would be on, on the rear of the car. When you take your foot off the gas a yellow light would come on, on the rear of the car. Of course a red light when you put on your breaks. These lights were placed in the rear window of the car. Benefit of this was so the driver behind you knew if you were accelerating, coasting or stopping. He is still ahead of his time. Today you see the red lights in the back window but car makers have not picked up on the benefit of the amber and green light….. Yet.

Because he was a futurist he stayed up on the latest gadgets. We always battled with each other to see who had the latest gadget. Well, I gave Pop his first computer. That first year we talked more than we had our entire life I think. And I loved it.

Back when Japan attacked, my Dad lied about his age so he could enlist. He served in the Navy CB's. He ended up on Iwo Jima and he was injured from a grenade. He came home to Georgia. He drove a Harley and had a leather jacket with the name "Spike" on it. Met a beautiful waitress at a restaurant next to a shoe factory. And the rest was history…..

Pop loved:

His family

NASCAR

gadgets

And people

I want to on behalf Pop's family thank all of you for being here. We were just saying today how overwhelmed Pop would have been with the out poring of Love from all of you. When in fact he would have complained of all the fuss people were making over him.

Pop we all love you and you did make a difference in our lives.

Love, your son Mel Jr