a sad but good day....

[jodywy]

Was over in some big beautiful country yesterday, it is 50 to 70 miles of graded dirt road just to get there. It was nice sunny day for an outside service. And I got sunburn, right to the top of my head and thinning hair one saddle horse that they had not gotten out of the pasture ran by the service then stood at a distance and reverently watched. There was a meadowlark that thought she could sing better then we could, but did her singing when we weren’t. The service was long but enjoyable, then the casket was loaded intro a chuck wagon and we all walked ¾ of a mile to top of a hill overlooking the ranch and red wall for a grave side service. Military honors, cowboy hats and nice suits were all involved. The lariats used to lower the coffin were thrown in grave. Gene would have had a fit as they probably all still had a few loops left in them. All the neighbors and friend took turn shoveling the red dirt back into the grave. There was a great meal and visiting. We left at 6 pm and didn’t make it home till 1:30am this morning.

[Nicky]

Sounds like he'd have been proud of it all (except maybe the ropes). Our thoughts are with you.