In Memory

Daniel Knight



 
  Post Comment

02/20/12 02:47 PM #1    

Richard "Dick" Oakley

Danny and I were very close friends all thru our high school years. When he passed away I sent a card to Lizzie- the essence is:         D.J.   Full of life...always smiling...well-built tough guy...lovable bully by age 12...Great friend...Never met a stranger...Little league center fielder for Loren Smith's Dodgers..1956 Little League all-stars...Boone,Iowa LL championship game, a 3-2 heartbreaking loss...Rugged fullback for Golden Gordie-the Galloping Grid-Iron Great...loved outdoors...a hunter...woodworking/saws/guns/cars/Lizzie...Great and constant smile...always joking...full of the"blarney"...oldest member of class of '62...1st to get driver's license...trended to hang out with guys in class of '61...Forced 6th grade friends to push him to school on streets of ice as he leaned back and stiffened his legs...scared buddies forced to comply...loved his mom's deep-fried donuts... at 16 threatened to hold mom-Sarah- upside down to shake the change out of her pockets for gas $$...Sarah would run away laughing/loving every minute of her son's playfulness...Dad- Elmer- never missed saturday night's Gunsmoke...worked at Condenser...Died in his early 60's...sister-Janice-walked with limp due to polio...died in her 40's...brother-Pat- married Carol Selk...died of gunshot wound in early 20's...old copper colored Plymouth in Wood driveway from 1960 on...Loved Lizzie BIGTIME...a son had early medical problems...D.J. coped...he knew life was filled with curveballs...Well great friend 46 years have passed since we last talked...Bet you didn't know I knew you well and cherished  the memories of our friendship...I cared about you...I know you battled in those last days cause you were a battler...Oh those carefree days in Watseka... You- my dear friend-were a very important part of my growing up... you are a part of who I am...I thank God for our friendship and your life.. I will always miss you... Dick Oakley


  Post Comment