|
|
In Loving Memory of Fred MeadeWho entered this life on November 14, 1898, and exited this life on September 3, 2000.
Funeral services for Fred were held at the Dunn-Kelley/Prater & Dunn Funeral Chapel at 1:00 pm on September 5, 2000. Order of Service:
Pallbearers: Donald Gardner Honorary Pallbearers: Tone Gardner Jr. Fred Meade is survived by: Dorsie Meade, son Grandchildren: James D. Meade, Linda and Ron Munro, Ann and Dan Larsen, John
Meade, Donald and Judy Gardner, Great-Grandchildren: Steve Munro; Devon and Dana Larsen; Craig, Toni A., Brett and Drew Gardner; Byron and Stuart Gardner; Julie and David Rippetoe; Natalie Florence; Stephanie and Katie Burkich Brothers: Lloyd Meade, Charles Meade Sisters: Mahala Hicks, Elizabeth Lemaster, June Sowinski Fred Meade was preceded in death by: June Caudill Meade, wife The following was written, very lovingly, by Miriam Silman, with help of Fred himself and his children Dorsie and Emma Faye: "Fred's life was extraordinary in many ways. A life that spanned three centuries and two millennia, he witnesses great changes and progress in the world. Fred was very proud of his longevity, and was thrilled to have lived to the year 2000. He was also very realistic, and he knew that some day we would gather together as we have today to celebrate his life, to share stories about him and to mourn his passing. With that in mind, when he was 97 he started to write his own obituary - although both he and most of us thought that even at 97 it was premature! Always a particular and thorough person, he wanted to make sure we didn't leave anything important out. What follows is based on what he wrote: Fred was born on November 14, 1898, in Magoffin County. The second child and oldest son born to Leck and Julia Howard Meade, Fred was to become the second of fifteen children in all. Growing up in Johnson County at the beginning of the century was not easy - even as a child, life was more about working than school or play. Fred often talked of going places on horseback, and using mules and other animals to plow the fields. And, although he probably didn't go to school more than a few months a year, from an early age he was curious and eager to learn everything he could. Fred would remain an avid reader his entire life. At age 19 Fred left home to begin what would be a long and varied working life. In his own words, he said, "I got a job in the oil field, worked at that a year or two." This took him away from Johnson and Magoffin Counties for a while, but he soon returned. However, he almost went even further away; in 1918 Fred and a friend were in the process of enlisting in the army to fight in World War I when the armistice was declared. After that, apparently he "bought a department store for a short time. [But I] didn't like it so I sold it and came to Magoffin County." It was in Magoffin County that Fred met and married June Caudill - he was 26, she was 19. He told his son that he noticed June at a church social on Buffalo Creek because of a wide-brim, red hat she was wearing. As Fred was always known for being a snappy dresser, it makes sense that he was attracted to such stylish attire! Fred and June's marriage would be blessed by lasting for 66 years until June's death in January 1992. They had three children: Dorsie, Lillian and Emma Faye, and would go on to have 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. June's father had a mill on Lick Creek. Fred wrote, "I traded the farm to my father-in-law for a farm and store and grist mill. This was in 1929. I stayed there 12 years and did well." This home place and store on Lick Creek became home to Fred and June and the children and store was well known. Fred stocked it with everything from food, to tools, to clothing and material, even lace-up women's boots he special ordered. Keeping such stock was not easy and he often hauled supplies from Paintsville by horse-drawn wagon, a trip that took two days at that time. His mill was known to be able to grind the best corn meal around and people came by mule from near and far, loaded with corn, to have this early motor-powered mill grind it into meal. Fred's daughter remembers people coming with sacks of corn draped over the mules and horses, and leaving then with sacks of meal. Fred loved being a storeowner - he recalled reading letters for people, and writing letters for others, and always trying to keep supplies available during the years of the depression. He was proud of his immaculate bookkeeping and kept the ledgers from the old store in his neat handwriting for many years. Fred also help the Rural Electric Company get electricity out to the rural parts of the county during the 1930's and 40's. Knowing the land well, he would lead the way to run the lines through the hills. In 1943 Fred and June moved from Lick Creek to New Boston, Ohio. During the war years Fred actually lived and worked in Michigan as many men did. He was pleased to be able to help the war effort, and proud that as a Kentuckian he was considered a hard, reliable and steady worker! After the war he and June moved to Ashland, about which he wrote: "I bought an apartment building and a store with it." They stayed in Ashland until the late 1940's and then moved "back out of the city" to a farm in Flemingsburg. Fred wrote, "[I] went into the dairy business and tobacco farming and stayed for 6 years. [I] had one of the best in Fleming County and a 4 acre tobacco base." Fred was proud of his farm and loved to work. He often said, "I was always glad to see Monday come so I could get back to work." By the mid 1950's, though, Fred was back in Dayton where he worked for the department store Elder's. After spending a few years in Dayton, Fred and June moved back to Salyersville, at the lower end of town. He continued to raise tobacco and to keep beef cattle, and in fact Fred and June raised tobacco themselves until they were 90 and 83, respectively, working by hand to make sure it was the best crop possible. Often, the tobacco was taller than either one of them, but that never seemed to dissuade Fred from working it himself. In fact, he was adamant that not a single leaf be missed, and he climbed into the barn loft and out onto the rails to make sure that the tobacco was hung properly. He and June always enjoyed going to the tobacco auctions and having their tobacco praised by the buyers and the auctioneers. Fred stayed on this small farm, moving from the bigger house to a smaller one, for the rest of his life and once again, Magoffin County became "home". He was delighted to be back close to the First Baptist Church where he had been baptized in April 1942. And he made sure he not only worked on his farm but he stayed involved in the community. Fred was appointed County Judge Pro-tem in the 1970's, and he was active in politics and made sure to vote in every election. His love for politics and history continued throughout his life and well into his 90's he read huge books about Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, the history of Kentucky and the United States. Fred often said that if he had had the chance he would have loved to go to college - in a way, he made his life and the world and current events his education. But, don't think that this meant Fred was a homebody - in fact, he loved to travel. Between 1970 and 1980 Fred spent eight winters in Florida, enjoying the bus ride down there and the sights he saw and the people he met as much as the warm climate. Over the last ten years Fred has taken many trips to the Smoky Mountains, along the Blue Ridge Skyline Drive and even to Gettysburg with his son, Dorsie. They would take off in Dorsie's van or camper, camp out at night, and see the countryside. All the park rangers in the Smokies got to know Fred, and asked after him this summer when he wasn't able to go with Dorsie. Fred never seemed to look or act his age. His skin was smooth - thanks to the hat he always wore outside, and the cream he always put on his face - and his body remained agile and strong for most of his life. But, he did have some exciting moments! Once, in 1981 when Daniel and David were building an addition up the branch from Fred's, he fell off the second story to the ground. Everyone panicked but he shook himself off and got up, not any the worse for the fall. Another time, on a trip to the Smoky Mountains, he tripped over the tent opening during the night but didn't tell anyone. When he came home from that trip, he had a little bit of a limp, but he brushed off any questions, saying he was just "stiff". When David's wife was doing his laundry she noticed that his pajama knee was ripped and had what appeared to be dried blood on it. Of course, now Fred had to confess the truth and when they went to the doctor to see about getting it cleaned out a little, the doctor thought Fred was kidding when he told him the story of what happened. Imagine a man in his mid-90's camping out in a tent! As Fred got older, his incredible spirit, energy and intelligence were recognized and he received numerous awards. Not only was he a Kentucky Colonel, but also he was named one of only a few Kentucky Admirals. Fred was recognized as the oldest Continuing Education Student through the University of Kentucky Donovan Scholars Program. In addition he has been recognized for his longevity by the Kentucky House of Representatives, and the Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. On his 100th birthday he received greetings from President Clinton and Governor Patton. He was especially thrilled to have reached this milestone, as this had been a goal of both his and his father's. Unfortunately, Fred's father, Leck, died just six months before turning 100. Fred always knew that such an achievement was not a thing to be taken for granted. After coming back to Magoffin County Fred stop driving, and his wiry figure was a common sight to see walking through town. Fred was unmistakable in appearance - always dressed in trousers, polished shoes, a button down shirt, suspenders (and a belt) and always sporting a hat. His walk was energetic and determined, and as he got older he often had a cane with him although sometimes he hung it on his arm. Even once he started using the cane, he still looked spry - like an elf! Fred walked to places the rest of us drive to - the post office, the bank, the church, the Senior Citizens Center, the grocery store, and even all the way up to the barbershop. As most of you know, he rarely accepted a ride - unless he had bags of groceries. But, stopping and offering him a ride became a kind of ritual, a way to say hello. Fred loved to see familiar faces, and loved to be greeted by younger people who introduced themselves and gave him their parents' and grandparents' names. Fred often said, "everybody is my friend - they all know me" with great pride. And, he rarely forgot a face, and only occasionally, in the last few years, a name. He seemed to know everyone - and everyone seemed to know him. His deafness sometimes prevented him from knowing exactly what others were saying but he always knew that it was a friendly word and he felt very loved and cared for by the entire community. On his behalf, the family thanks all of you in the community for always taking care to watch out for him as he made his way through town - sometimes two or three times a day! Fred also loved a social event. He loved his daily lunches at the Magoffin County Senior Citizens Center, and he loved going out to eat, especially at Ponderosa in Paintsville, Golden Corral in Ashland, or Morison's in Lexington. He enjoyed cooking himself, too, making his special "hobby cakes' as he called them - fried corn meal cakes and baking sweet potatoes. While he was staying with Faye in Lexington he enjoyed going to the mall where he would walk for exercise, but also to keep an eye out for familiar faces from Magoffin County - and, to his delight he often found some! Staying with Dorsie he became part of a new neighborhood, and there, too, everyone looked for him walking up and down the road each day. He looked forward to church each Sunday, always being sure to dress in his best clothes, often with not only a coat and tie but a red or yellow vest and one of his good hats! But what Fred looked forward to the most each year was the Meade Family Reunion each fall at the Carriage House in Paintsville. In 1998, the reunion had a special 100th Birthday Celebration for Fred and he was thrilled to have it announced on the signboard outside, eagerly posing for pictures! At the reunion he never seemed to sit still, wanting to be sure to speak to everyone there and trying to be sure to remember all the names and family connections. Fred was very proud of his family, and proud of all the love not only from his children and grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, but also from his sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews and their families. When Fred came home on August 2, it was clear that he was in pain and failing health. His wish was to be cared for at home, should he ever need care. He particularly hoped that he would be able to die at home, in his own bed. Fred wasn't yet ready to acknowledge that he might be at the end of his life, and for the first few weeks that Faye cared for him, he talked about getting better, being able to attend the family reunion in late September, and celebrating his birthday in November. When he realized he was not going to get better, he accepted it with his usual dignity and grace. One day, when someone told him they were leaving and would be back, he said, "I'll be here - I thought about leaving but I think I'll stay." Another time he told Faye he was ready to "just be quiet and let the Lord have his way." Fred's will to live was grounded in his love of life. And even as he was failing and getting weaker, this love did not cease. he was grateful to be able to be at home as he wished, and to be surrounded by family and friends. Fred was preceded in death by his wife, June Caudill Meade in January 1992; by his daughter Lillian Meade Gardner, in October 1987, and by granddaughter Pamela Fillmore and great-grandson Michael Fillmore. He leaves a son, Dorsie Meade, and his wife, June Meade, and their children and grandchildren James Meade; Linda and Ron Munro and Steven Munro; Ann and Dan Larsen and Devon and Dana Larsen; and John Meade. He leaves Lillian's family, Tone Gardner, Jr.; Donald and Judy Gardner and Craig, Toni Alexandra, Brett and Drew Gardner; David Gardner and Miriam Silman; Daniel and Winnie Gardner and Byron and Stuart Gardner; and Toni Gail Gardner. He leaves a daughter, Emma Faye Meade and her family, Jerry and Patsy Fillmore; Deborah and Mike Florence and Natalie Florence, Julie and David Rippetoe and Jacob and Lauren Rippetoe; Janice and Steve Burkich and Stephanie and Katie Burkich. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Leck and Julia Howard Meade; two brothers, Everett and Joe Meade; and seven sisters, Nancy Lemaster, Flora Jackson, Carrie Stanley, Mary Whitt, Martha Cooper Russell, Cora Brown, and Levechia Wheeler Minix. He is survived by two brothers, Charles Meade and Lloyd Meade, and three sisters, Mahala Hicks, Elizabeth Lemaster and June Sowinski; and many nieces and nephews. One of Fred's favorite times was Founder's Day, the annual celebration in Magoffin County over Labor Day Weekend. He often went to the beauty pageants in the evenings, and he always walked to town for the parade on Saturday. This year, of course he could not make it, but somehow it is fitting that his death came on the weekend he always loved so well. We hope that you will think of him often and with fond memories and lots of joy throughout the year, but especially on Labor Day weekends in the future. He was blessed with grace and dignity, intelligence and curiosity, strength and longevity and he would want us all to remember his life as one filled with great joy and celebration."
|
Web Design and Maintenance by Petronella StanleyOther
Web Sites:
|
