Grandpa Christie, gathered to his fathers and into glory on the Thirtieth of April in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty.

One of our longest, most cherished family traditions is Thanksgiving Dinner at Grandpa and Grandma Christie’s house in Cheyenne. We’ve done this as long as I’ve been alive and before. Before the meal, we’d gather around, sometimes dozens of relatives, hold hands in a circle and give thanks before serving up. Grandpa would lead and his prayer almost always started the same way, “Almighty God, we thank you for the hearts and hands of this family joined around this table…”

You see, this man loved his family. It brought him such great joy to see his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren gather together. He was the one you would turn to for uncanny wisdom, witty humor, insightful perspective, unrivaled loyalty, bottomless curiosity, considerate hospitality, and eternally optimistic joy. Oh, such joy. I have had several opportunities to spend time with him over the past several months, each time we would visit, he would remark how proud he was of his family. It was this familial bond that was so important to him. When we gathered to share a meal, he knew it was not just palms and fingers grasping one another, he saw something bigger and more glorious. He saw a heritage.

I could write a book, maybe more, on all the lessons my grandfather taught me. Some were very specific teachings, like gun safety or how to demonstrate good sportsmanship. But the most significant lessons I gleaned from his life were the ones he did not even know he was teaching me. His attitude was infectious. As a man who lived through the Great Depression and a World War, he was someone who took nothing for granted. He was grateful for everything and always looked to the bright side. This perspective is hard to understand but plain as the nose on your face. What need did he have for the material things when the grandest of all had already been given to him? He was a simple man, he did not need extravagant wealth or widespread notoriety. He was content to inherit a wonderful family and be known and loved by them. He took pleasure in what God had given him and he took pride in strengthening familial bonds.

Grandpa was very intentional to connect with people on an individual basis. He wanted to know about your life and to know that he cared. He also wanted to know about life in general. He was eternally curious, always wanting to learn something new. Notorious for asking the most perplexing questions, he always kept you on your toes. No detail was beyond his inquisitiveness, from the shadows on the mountains at sunset to the font and color scheme of a business card. When he looked at the world with such imagination and wonder, there was no possibility of a dull life. Thus, his life emanated vibrancy, it was just that: Life. He lived and loved and burped and joked because that is what people who live on this earth do. And now, he passes into the presence of his Savior who knows all things and who never grows weary of a curious child. Willis Christie now knows fully, even as he is fully known, he is more alive than he has ever been.

It has been said that grief is just love with no place to go; I suppose it is true. Willis was a true patriarch, and the death of a beloved patriarch bears a heavy weight, its effects are far-reaching. He set the tone for the entire family. His life was an example of a dedicated work ethic, full of compassion, and commitment. The death of such a man thus leaves a painful gap. But this is the beauty of posterity. As he is gathered to his fathers, his descendants step into the gap and carry his torch. He lived on principle and at the fullness of his days, he is remembered as a faithful man. Those who knew him can naught but want to carry on such a legacy. This is what I will remember him for, a man whose example I wish to follow in joyous optimism, and humble gratitude.