Happy Father’s Day
I lost my Father in October, suddenly and unexpectedly. John F. Downs Jr. was 91 but still had impressive energy, zest for life, and a strong desire to be with and care for his loved ones, especially his wife of 69 years, my mother, Dee. Sunday will be our first Father’s Day without him. I
often see on Facebook frequent tributes for deceased mothers or fathers and am at a loss for what to say to acknowledge the loss and void involved. Now I understand a bit more of the ache of grief. It was a great blessing to our family to Dad for so long. It is a gift granted to me that a few of my friends or clients.
In the ordinary shuffle of the day-to-day busyness, I have a kaleidoscope of impressions and sensations just getting from morning to night and have taken precious little time to mourn and appreciate Dad for all he meant to me.
My seven siblings and I, as well as Mom, all deal with the impact of Dad being gone differently. I have had the duties of estate management and coordination of benefits. In working with many people serving as executors or trustees, Grieving can be delayed or buried altogether with the distractions afforded by having multiple tasks one needs to pay attention to manage the affairs of the person we have lost.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad. Thanks for the love, support, and encouragement you always have given me. I strive to do the same for my kids.
If you have lost your Dad, take some time Sunday to appreciate and regret a few things said and not over a lifetime.
I know some people have a biological father who never rose to be active in their lives. If that is your case, there may be another man, be it stepfather, uncle, or brother, who was effectively your Father.
If you still have your Father, take a moment to reach out and tell him one thing you appreciate that he did for you that he would have forgotten. It will make his day. He has made many of yours.
Here are some gratitude from our team to Fathers, both living and deceased:
Thank you for being my hero in every conceivable way! -Patty Perez
Thank you for teaching me to appreciate the beauty of nature.- Sheree Tiller
Dad, thank you for letting me work with you in the summers during college, and for modeling St. Joseph the Worker for me.- Justin Wedgewood
For teaching me to “Dance.”- Jackie LeCompte
Thank you, Dad, for being a very kind and understanding man. One summer, he taught us kids geometry in our kitchen so we could
skip a whole class in high school. He was a good teacher!- Wendy Krehbiel
Thank you for your sense of humor, for passing on your faith, for teaching us important life skills, and for making fun a priority.- Daina Bowen
Dad, thank you for leading our family and honoring Mom in our daily life.- Stephen Wallace
Thank you, Dad, for always being willing to play ball with us after you got home from work.- Tom Downs
Best wishes.
Summer Is Upon Us
A new season. Don’t they change now so quickly?
I know I’m old because I already long for the end of summer. Chalk it up to global 
warming, but heat doesn’t give me the thrill it once did. Have I become the old man next door who will keep the ball if it comes into my yard? Yep.
My sister Teresa has a retreat in West Virginia called “Three Otters.” It is a magical place to visit because, while only two and a half hours from Laurel, it lacks the internet. No cell phone signal. You can take the kids there and then will enjoy a game of cards after a day or so.
When my Father died in October, we held Dad’s Covid-safe celebration of life there. There is enough open space to entertain 60+ people with plenty of social distancing. It was fitting because it was a place my parents loved and supported enthusiastically.
When my mother-in-law died in March, I told my Grandson that we were going to a funeral for her. He said excitedly, “Are we going to Three Otters?”
What a significant, if short-lived, association of a funeral with the river and campfires. I wish it would always be so.
Upcoming Events
We will have seminars to educate people about Estate Planning in July and August. This is a good basic overview of the choice you have in putting your affairs in order, wherever you are in your life’s journey. Also, inviting someone to a seminar is a great way to nudge a loved one to get their own will or trust completed. After attending a seminar, it may well be their idea that doing so makes sense. If you are interested or know someone who might be, the scheduled seminars will be at our office, in our seminar room.
Tuesday, July 19 at 10:00 AM or
Thursday, July 21, at 10:00 AM or
August 3, at 3:00 PM.
Seating is limited, so call for reservations. We will serve light refreshments.
Find Us Online
Building wealth is only half the job. Protecting wealth for your loved ones and yourself is equally important. Through estate planning, business planning, and asset protection, our firm will help you protect everything you love — family, friends, and favorite charities. For more information, be sure to visit our website, where you will have access to our blog, events schedule, and a complimentary newsletter subscription!
