My first Father’s Day without Daddy

Father’s Day is June 16.

This will be my first Father’s Day without my beloved Daddy, or “Pops” as he has been called by family for years. On June 25, 2012 Daddy was called home. Obviously they needed a coach for the HEAVEN’S ANGELS baseball team.

My dad influenced the lives of hundreds of boys and young men during his lifetime. He began coaching when my brothers became old enough to play organized baseball and coached all of his sons and grandsons. He insisted that his players develop a true sense of being a team player, usually by taking the team camping before the season started. He would always pair up the boys who had trouble getting along together. They had to spend the entire camping trip working together and playing together.

When I look at the men of the Butler family, I can see Daddy’s legacy living on. My three brothers are all wonderful, loving men and fathers because of the example they had growing up. My son and nephews continue that legacy. It extends to the next generation and Daddy’s great grandson, and although he was just an infant when Pops passed away, I know my great grandson, Pops’ great great grandson Chandler, will hear about his Pops throughout his lifetime.
Not a day goes by that we as a family don’t miss our father, grandfather, great grandfather and great great grandfather, but our thoughts of him always turn to smiles and laughter when we remember the man and the father he was. Photographs of him line the walls of the home he shared with Mom and Darlyn and Tiffini, my sister and niece. We often sit on the sofa and look up at his picture on the mantle and reminisce about Daddy and our memories of him.

Yes, we will miss Daddy on Father’s Day this year. But we will also rejoice knowing that Daddy is still with us, and that the blindness has been lifted from his beautiful blue eyes and he can see the family he left behind.

I was never much of an athlete, but I am sure he is making plans for the BUTLER FAMILY SLUGGERS team. I suspect my position will be the backstop!

Daddy, we love you and miss you more than I ever thought possible, but I look forward to the day I can run into your arms again, like I did when you returned from your last tour of duty in the Pacific so many years ago when I was about 3 years old. That memory is forever etched in my mind.