The loss of an amazing man

A little girl often thinks her daddy is the most amazing man on the planet. She looks to him for advice, protection, guidance and what team to follow in sports.

My dad was the most amazing man on the planet. He was the strongest man I ever knew in both physical strength and in his faith.

I lost him this month to a farming accident. I cannot even explain the hole his absence has left but I can tell you a little bit about the man I called Daddy.

My dad could fix anything and that’s no exaggeration. If he didn’t know how to fix it, he would somehow figure it out. I sit at a desk at work that was once broken but is braced by his ingenuity.

He knew every stat for any sport played within his lifetime. When I watched games with him he could throw out a fact before the announcers and then just turn to me and grin. Baseball, football and basketball were his favorites, University of Kentucky basketball to be specific. Oh, how he loved the Wildcats, and his little girl does, too.

He was a man of the land and farmed it from the time of his youth. He loved to see a good crop in the field and looked at tractors like some men look at sports cars.

My dad was very intelligent. When I was in school, he could work out an algebra problem everyone else, including myself, would give up on. He also liked history, something I think I inherited from him.

He had a dry humor that could make all around him laugh. His smile was contagious.

To those who were younger, he was a mentor. To older folks, he was help in time of need. To most, he was counted as a friend.

I never knew the number of people who treasured his friendship until I saw how many people turned out for his funeral. I not only lost my father but many others lost a dear friend.

He loved children. It wouldn’t be unusual to see him sitting in a tiny chair at church, playing with children. When he was around the children of friends and family, he was the first one to the floor, playing with them on their level.

He loved his family. He loved us through his affectionate teasing, especially his sister. He loved us with his time, talents and possessions. I cannot even tell you how many family members he has moved, fixed something for or taken somewhere they needed to go, often putting aside his own needs to do it.

He loved to serve his church and would help with any event. But he served with humility. He didn’t look for attention or thanks for the things he had done. Sometimes, people didn’t even know he was the one who did it.

My dad was a man of great faith. He loved pouring through God’s word, spending hours late into the night reading the Bible. His theological library would rival most pastors’. After his death our pastor asked what biblical passage was his favorite. After thinking about it, my family could only come up with one answer: Every passage. He no longer needs books to learn more about his savior. He is in His presence, learning from the source.

My daddy truly was an amazing man and I could go on and on about the kind of man he was. He was by no means perfect but he was someone you could truly describe as a good man.

I’ve spent days surrounded by memories of my dad. From memories of childhood to recent events, memories are flooding my mind.

The last memory I have of my father was the last time I saw him. We ate lunch after church and he joked with the waiter throughout the meal. That’s dad.

Daddy, you truly were the best daddy in the world and I miss you dearly.

I want to thank so many in our community who poured out their love and support to my family during this time. Special thanks go to the many farmers who came out over the weekend to harvest Dad’s crops. You always will hold a special place in my heart.

Becca Owsley can be reached at (270) 505-1741 or bowsley@thenewsenterprise.com.