This is Jim writing.
We wanted to let all of Dad’s friends know that he passed away this morning while he was in the hospital. The doctors postponed surgery yesterday because of some health issues.
Yesterday afternoon he felt pretty good and was alert and talked to his visitors. Early this morning he was resting, was alert, and knew all the family that was with him. Around 9:00 AM or a little later he turned for the worse and died around 10:15 AM while he was asleep.
47 comments:
My condolences to all the family. May God touch each family member and give you peace. He will be missed. Helen
I am so so sad to hear about this. Dad was such an inspiration to many people and he will be missed greatly. Linda
Oh NOOOOO! What a wonderful man who lived life so fully and shared his joys and loves with so many. He will be greatly missed. So glad he got to publish his book and see the joy it brought to many.
My sincere condolences to all the family. ..Sara's Mom (Joan)
I am so sad as all who knew and read him are grieving today..he will be missed and my family sends our love and prayers to all family and friends.
So sorry for your lost... Your in my thoughts!
-- Christopher
http://thethoughtsofchristopherm.blogspot.com/
Mary and Jim,
I'm so sad to hear this news. Mornings won't be the same. We'll think of your dad everytime we pour a cup of coffee. I have no doubt that his smile will be shining down on everyone.
Take care and peace to your family at this sad time.
So sad to hear the news this morning about Dad's passing. He was a wonderful Uncle & did so much to help me with my blog. I learned so much from him & will also miss reading his posts every morning.So glad that he lived to see the book published. Our thoughts & prayers are with Mary & Jim & the family during this difficult time.
I just heard on Facebook of Dad's passing and came as soon as I could get this page to come up. You don't know how sad this makes me. I loved Dad. He was always so good and kind. I loved reading his news about gardening, life and his love for Our Heavenly Father. Please let Mary know that Carlene sends her hugs and much love. We have a new Angel up in Heaven...and his name is 'DAD'.Please know that I am praying for all of yall.
In deepest sympathy,
Carlene
Oh NO!! I sure hate to hear this!! I will always treasure getting to meet him and Mary!! My thoughts and prayers are with you all!!
It was an honor to know your father and all of his family. He had an amazing spirit and I am proud to have known such a wonderful man. God bless all of you.
We are broken-hearted since hearing of Ray's passing this morning. There are no adequate words to say how much he meant to us. His testimony will live on. He always spoke of remaining faithful and there is no doubt that he was faithful to the end. He was a shining example to all of us and we are better off for having known him.
Love, Dara, Darryl & Darian
Dear Mary, Jim and family of our beloved DAD, the Tomato Man,
DAD is a precious memory. His love of God, family,friends, work, tomatoes, smiles, Shelties, cats and coffee inspired us. He welcomed us into his home everyday and we looked forward to the wisdom he would share with us.
We Love You DAD and we promise to try to live for others. Aloha from HI....Sara's aunt
My heart is grieving with you. Dad was a wonderful man and all his blogger friends loved him. Prayers for Mary and Jim and the rest of the family. Little Prince will miss him too. Dad will be greatly missed. Much love, Sheila
You all have my sincerest sympathies. After reading your Dad's journal every day for quite a few years now I felt like he was a friend of mine too. You are all in my thoughts and prayers as you go through this difficult time. Your Dad will be missed by many and that includes me. His good cup of morning coffee and smiles will be remembered always.
I lost my own beloved father a few years back, and he loved hearing about Dad's work and philosophy. Since my father's passing, Dad has been like a surrogate father to me in some ways; I looked forward every day to his wisdom, humor, and stories, but most of all, to his gentle, tolerant, and kind sharing with friends all over the world.
All of the other posters have expressed thoughts and feelings I share. The rest is just tears for us left here, but also prayers for Dad, for his loving family and friends, and love. He is truly a treasure, and his legacy will live on in each of you, and in his writings.
May you all be comforted in the sure knowledge that he is with his beloved again, and that they surely are in Glory.
You are all in my prayers and thoughts during this difficult time. I am so sorry for your loss. Your dad's blog always cheered me when I visited. He was loved and will be missed by all of us in the Blogging community. take care.
Our mornings are going to be empty without 'Dad' and his coffee. And at first it will be hard to do, but I think he would want us to try to smile. Whenever I see a tomato, I will think of him and his faithful life. Lots of love and hugs to the family.
So Sorry, will mis his "Posts" and also his wisdom..
He will be dearly missed,here on earth but he is smiling in heaven.
Sorry for your loss Jim,Mary and family.
Terrie
Graham Farm Ga
I am so sorry to learn of your dad's passing. I have been a reader of his blog for a few years. I always admired his great encouragement, ability and interest in blogging at his age. He will truly be missed.
I met Dad through AOL Journals and fell in love with his wonderful view on life just as everyone else who happened upon him did. I would have loved to have met him in person and share stories over a pot of coffee. Perhaps some day~
Jim, to you and the rest of Dad's family, I share your grief and hope you find comfort in the gift he has left behind, the story of his life in his own words.
Sincerely,
Jody "Dornbrau" Navakuku
I'm so sorry to hear about 'Dad'... I will surely miss hearing about his tomatoes... He was a wonderful man and an inspiration... Special Thoughts and Hugs to the family.....
Although I did not know him personally, only through these writings, I am saddened. My prayers will be with him tonight.
God speed, he will be missed.
I so adored Dad. I hope he (and all of you) know that so many loved and admired him. Please take comfort in knowing that he trusted that God would always take care of him and his loved ones.
In sympathy,
Nancy
I'm so very sorry for the loss of your wonderful father. I'm so beyond sad as I read this... he was such a kind and gentle soul. May you and Mary find comfort in the knowledge that he is at peace in the arms of our sweet Lord. My heart is with you.
Joann~
Please accept my condolences for the passing of your Dad. Down through the years he helped so many people grow gorgeous tomatoes..he was the "go to" guy for info. My late husband was an avid gardener and read his blog too. I'm picturing the two of them growing tomatoes in God's green heaven...and comparing notes...He will be missed.
I am saddened at the news of this wonderful man passing. He was always so kind and encouraging. He was Dad to all of us bloggers and a lot of us knew him for several years from AOL. I am so sorry for the family and praying for peace for you all. I know you must be proud of the person he was and you have so much to celebrate in his life. How lonely it will be without him I know. He had a positive outlook and he loved his blog and sharing his knowledge with us and I hope that heaven sends him a big mug a coffee. I know they will have it for him up there every morning. He'll have a webcam up there smiling down as he watches below. Much love to you, his family. From Nashville...Bye DAD! We love you!
Dad you will be missed. Prayers to your family.
Charlene
My deepest sympathy.He was a sweet,kind,smart man. May he rest in peace in Gods garden.
I am so sorry to hear of Dad's passing. What a testimony for God left behind! His last couple of posts - very powerful words to live by. My prayers are with the entire family.
Heaven needed tomatoes. Bless you. Dad will be missed.
I have some good memories of Ray & Laverne in earlier times with their young family. Mary & Jim & family, there are so many who share in your greif & loss. Ray will be sorely missed now, but you can rejoice in the fact that you had such loving, caring & faithful parents. Grace
I am so very sorry. I'm glad he went peacefully and wasn't suffering, but my heart goes out to you and your family.
Dad,
You will truly be missed my friend, thank you for sharing a little bit of your life with us. Sending your family (hugs) and prayers.
My sincere condolences to all the family, on the loss of a remarkable and well-liked personality. Wishing you all strength in coming to terms with Dad's passing.
"Time is so precious - do not waste it." Will so miss this wonderful gentleman's blog. What a precious life.
This is Mike S. in Nashville... I am so sad to hear of Dad's passing and send my condolences. Just the day before Dad passed my 43 year old fiancee passed away from a sudden illness, so these are some tough times. "Time Is So Precious" indeed, and I hope the blog will remain in an archived form. Dad was a great man and it is a pleasure to have had the privilege to have known him personally.
Another beautiful spirit gone back home to rest...
May God blanket you all with His supernatural peace and give you strength and courage to get through this sorrowful time.
With love,
Vicki in Birmingham
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I'm new here but just want to say Bless his heart, and yours....
hughugs
I'm so so very sorry and very sad to here of Dad's passing. I read and commented in his journals off and on through the years that he wrote it. I haven't been by for a while. Lots of love to all of Dad's family. Xxxxxxxx
I am so sad, and will miss reading his daily post. To think he was fine Monday and gone Wednesday. It's so hard to accept. Hugs to all of you, and thank you so much for letting us know. He will be missed by a large # of readers...look how many lives he touched.
We're so saddened to hear of "Dad's" passing. I so looked forward to reading his blog every morning, because I loved his verse and his hymn for that day.
Thinking so much of you and Mary...hugs across the miles from TX to TN.
I am so sorry to hear of Dad's passing. I started reading his blog several years ago for his advice on growing tomatoes. I thought it was fascinating that a man in his 90s would fully embrace technology as he did, and I knew he would have plenty to teach me about gardening. I quickly learned that his comments on walking with God and living a life of faith were incredibly inspiring. He was truly a man of God, and he demonstrated it every day to those of us who followed his blog. I know that he is with Jesus and his beloved Laverne....and I pray for peace and comfort for all of his family and friends who I know will miss him very much.
Hugs,
Vicki in Illinois
I am sorry to hear about your loss. I used to see his blog every once in awhile and I really was blessed by it. I bet your dad is growing the most beautiful tomatoes in Heaven. God bless all of you. You sure have a wonderful Dad. He has blessed so many people. One day, I hope I get a chance to meet him in the presence of God. (((HUGS))) and love to all of you.
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