Good-bye, Gramps
Last Friday night, after a little under a month of hospitalization, I watched my gramps die. It was the first time I have ever seen a dead body, much less an actual death process. Thankfully it was peaceful - his breath went from gasps to sighs to shallow wheezes to nothing. Most of my family was able to be there, and it was under the best conditions that could have been expected. It was the first (well, maybe the second!) time I ever saw my father cry. How do you really prepare yourself for something like that? You really can't.
The next evening, Saturday, Cain's 28-yr old cousin died unexpectedly of Congestive Heart Failure - for no discernible reason. He left a 4-yr old son behind.
Those deaths were basically at the extreme opposite ends of the spectrum: Ailing Elderly <---> Young Man in Perfect Health. It's just crazy and has left me feeling really drained and numb. I get three days of funeral leave from work, unfortunately, since we couldn't get the VA to schedule the burial any sooner, I had to come in this Monday and today. Do you know how hard it is to work when all you can think about is that your gramps is gonna be buried in the next few days? It's not easy. I do get some comfort in the fact that he is better off now - he hasn't felt well for a long time and was as ready as you can be to go. Here is his obituary:
Tildon McKeithan
Tildon "Tony" McKeithan, age 76, passed away on the evening of Friday, July 6, 2007 of natural causes at the VA hospital in Boise, surrounded by numerous family members. Tony (as he was known by friends and family) was born on March 28, 1931, at Southport, North Carolina. He was the fourth of eight children born to Edwin and Lillie McKeithan. Tony married Susie McJunkin on Christmas Eve, 1951, at Rossville, Ga. Together they had two children, Norman and Susan.
Tony retired after 20 years of service in the United States Army. He served in both the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts. After completing his military service in 1972, Tony rejoined his family in Caldwell, where he began a 20-year career at Caldwell Memorial Hospital where he was fondly known as "Mac."
He is survived by his loving wife, Susie McKeithan; two children, Norman (wife, Janie Grant) McKeithan and Susan (husband, Richard Jensen) McKeithan-Jensen; two grandchildren, Jennifer Pinkerton and Ryan (wife, Kimberly Raymond) Jensen; two great-grandchildren, Ashley and Roman Jensen; two sisters; and numerous nieces and nephews. Tony was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Lillie McKeithan; and five of his siblings.
Viewing will be held Wednesday, July 11 at Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell from 4:30 until 8 p.m. Tony's graveside services will commence at the Idaho State Veteran's Cemetery, Boise, at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 12. An escorted procession from Dakan Chapel to the Veterans Cemetery will leave at 10 a.m. The family will be welcoming visitors at their home in Caldwell following services.
Memorial donations may be made in Tony's name to the DaVida Nephrology Clinic in Nampa or the VA Hospital in Boise. Tony's family would like to extend their warmest gratitude to the staff at both facilities for their kindness and care. Published in the Idaho Press Tribune on 7/10/2007.