Remembering Uncle Dick, 01-24-2022
My two most vivid memories of my Uncle Dick are those of a young boy. The first was the regular Saturday gatherings of a half dozen men on a dead-end dirt street named Broadway with their guitars and amplifiers. My dad, a neighbor nick-named Beaner, and Uncle Dick would jam for hours at a time and country music filled the street. I was mesmerized by my Uncle Dick’s talent and his joy of playing the guitar with his friends and family.
A second memory was begging my uncle to teach me how to play the card game - cribbage. I recall that he celebrated the rare occasions when I won and how joyful he was just to play the game with me. In my life, I also take great pleasure in playing the guitar and singing. My wife and I often play cribbage when we travel. It is a favorite pastime. Thank you Uncle Dick!
As a boy and as a young man, I idolized my Uncles Dick, Marion, Johnny, Mel, and Wayne, and my aunts Lorraine, Helen, Mary, Martha, and Dorothy. Each in your own way and over time has helped to inform me as to who I am! Like my Uncle Dick, each of you will forever hold a special place in my memory and in my heart.
My Uncle Dick always wore a smile and lived life to the fullest. Rest in peace, dear uncle.
Gary Hightshoe
