Friday, April 25, 2008

In Memory of Dick Bannister

A star winked over Kalama, it will never be as bright again. 
Dick Bannister has died and the light that he cast will go with him. 
He powered his family so they could show their own light. 
He was proud of his family and he had the right. 

 He was big and he was strong, a real impressive man. 
Standing out among the people as only a few men can. 
He wasn’t just big in stature, he was big in heart in deed. 
Always quick with his billfold for any worthwhile need. 

 He was honest in his dealing, always open and square. 
He wanted what he had coming but you can bet that it was fair. 
He liked people and he trusted them, he must have thought they were all like him. 
Most people that had dealings with Dick, liked his work and paid him quick. 
Those that didn’t wished they had behaved. 
For his friendship was worth more than the money they saved. 

 He worked hard and he played hard, used all of each day. 
If he was going to do something, he didn’t do it half way. 
He loved his children, took great pride in all they did. 
He never realized having him for a dad made a lucky kid. 

 The light of his life was his ever loving wife, she did everything she could. 
A lover, a mother, organizer, a partner, she did it and he knew she would. 
He watched over his mother, sisters, and brother, his concern I’m sure that they knew. 
He did his best to put their cares at rest after all what else could he do? 

He had many friends he liked being with, enjoyed B.S.ing with them. 
Bringing up fond memories shared, reliving them again and again. 
These friends will miss him but when they are hunting or on some they’ve all been. 
They’ll see a familiar hillside or a camp spot, and for a moment he’ll be with them again. 

 He inspired people to do better than they thought they could. 
May be it was a challenge to do things as they knew Dick would. 
Perhaps this is the reason they finished the job Dick was doing when he died. 
We feel it was and we know that Dick is satisfied. 

 By Karl W. Jansen November 21, 1989

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