Farewell Ray ...

Several of us attended a packed church for a funeral on Friday afternoon.

Of course, we will all miss this very gentlest of gentlemen: his warmth, his friendship, his courtesy, his humour and his music.

Will Warman recited this poem, He is Gone ...

You can shed tears that he is gone,

Or you can smile because he lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,

Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see him,

Or you can be full of the love that you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him and only that he is gone,

Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,

Or you can do what he would want:

Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

David Harkins, 1959.

Ack: poetic expressions

We left the church to a recording of Ray singing Shep Woolley's song, Down by the Dockyard Wall ...

Yes, Ray used to sing it better!

We all joined in the chorus.

Were there tears? Yes ... only good ones, healing ones.
Memories? Yes ... fond ones.

As it says in the poem ...

Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.