A small one-page program had been prepared. I liked the notation on the front of the program “Sunrise: November 22, 1943 – Sunset: September 11, 2019. The simple alteration of wording was a nice contrast to “date of birth” and “date of death”.
The obituary in the program provided a thumb nail sketch of Lou’s life: “Louis Wayne Turley, 75, of Dripping springs, Texas passed away on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at his residence in Henly with his loving family at his side.
Louis was born on November 22,1943, in Fort Worth, Texas to Maybell Painter Turley and Louis J. Turley. He was a United States Army and Navy Veteran; a retired Hays County Detective and a member of Henly Baptist Church. Lou loved to hunt, fish and barbeque but mostly loved to spend time with his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Lynda McCarty-Turley of Henly; children Dawn Ullman and her husband Kenneth, Donald Ross Turley and his wife Diane and Callie Taylor and her husband Jason; grandchildren, Taylor Dickey and her husband Scott, Carter Ullman and Aidan Turley. He is also survived by his brother, Gary Turley and his wife Sue of Weatherford”.
Yesterday morning as I prepared my thoughts regarding the comments I wanted to make, it occurred to me that I had known Lou for well over half my life. I quickly did the math in my head. What I am saying is true.
I was privileged to become pastor of Henly Baptist Church in February 1979. In that role, I officiated at Lou and Lynda’s wedding two years later. The wedding took place in the same room where we gathered yesterday to celebrate Lou’s life.
Trust me, 38 years ago a wedding was a welcomed change in the role of my tenure as pastor. In the two years preceding Lou & Lynda’s wedding, I officiated at 5 funerals. Lou and Lynda’s wedding was my first wedding in Henly Baptist Church.
Consequently, I am in Lou’s debt for the welcomed shift in pastoral responsibilities. Fast-forward 35 years - In the last three years, I’ve also been privileged to officiate at his daughter’s wedding and most recently his granddaughter’s wedding.
It was in that frame of reference that Lou and I became friends. In the role of pastor, you can learn a lot about people by simply observing their lives and their inactions with others. When Lou and Lynda built their home in Henly over a year later, I volunteered to help paint and wall paper. You may never have thought about it before, but painting a room is one way to immediately recognize that you’ve made a difference. I was grateful for the opportunity.
To add a little levity to my comments, sometimes the difference isn’t good. I’m sure it was Lynda and not Lou that picked out the color of paint for Callie’s room. Callie was not yet born, but her arrival was anticipated.
The color was mauve – it was not a subtle color. It fell into the category of bright mauve. Though I didn’t actually see it, I’m convinced the color had the capacity to glow in the dark. Intuitively, I knew it couldn’t be good for a baby’s brain development. Seriously, It had to be as damaging as lead based paint. Consequently, I offered to repaint the room white before Callie was subjected to the exposure.
Like I said, you can learn a lot from observing people and the way they interact with others. It was a brief observation and it took place at their almost completed newly built home. The interaction I observed made a lasting impression on me. Professionally, I am an old child welfare worker, so my frame of reference is mostly from working with children and families from hard places.
I was just leaving Lou and Linda’s home, when Lou’s children and their mother arrived. Lou and Lynda were greeting them as I was leaving. I actually also had the privilege of meeting them.
Watching the interaction between Lou and his children spoke volumes about their relationship and the importance he saw in his role as dad.
Under the best of circumstances, blended families are tough and are not always effortlessly orchestrated. Across the years, all of the family members found the resourcefulness and love to make it work.
One of the gifts that Lou provided his children was not only his love, but the knowledge that God loved them as well. One of his children told me, Dad was the first person in my family to tell me that Jesus loves me. What a life-long difference that makes in establishing the framework that equips one for life.
Lou’s courage and optimism in the face of inevitable odds underscored his faith walk. If anything, Lou’s illness was a catalyst that drew him closer to God. Lou loved life. He loved his family. He loved his home. In fact, he often shared time with his family and friends enjoying barbeque that he had prepared. He loved the adventure of camping in the mountains or an Alaskan getaway. But mostly, he was consistently content with the beauty of his surroundings and the place he called home.
Somehow, with God’s strength, Lou managed to negotiate the chronic difficulties and pain associated with his lengthy illness without bitterness or lasting depression. Like the Psalmist, Lou could say with David. “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me”.
That’s not to say that in the face of his medical prognosis, Lou didn’t ask some hard questions. How would you respond to the question: “What is heaven like?” For years, I’ve described Henly as the edge of Heaven, but that was mostly associated to the days when there was only one blinking light at the intersection of Hwy 290 and RR 12 in Dripping Springs. That falls into the category of precious memories from long ago.
I’m sure it represents a character flaw in me, but there is something related the concept of streets of gold that I can’t quite wrap my head around. Maybe it is because of my frame of reference. Of course, it is a personal preference, but I kind of favor a crushed granite road in the midst of the country. I do know from Scripture that heaven will be God’s dwelling place with his people. We are also told:‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’.
In order to be more resourceful, I provided Lou a copy of Randy Alcorn’s book entitled Heaven. It highlights a picture of heaven where there is no presence of sin, suffering or death. It underscores an environment brimming with Christ’s presence, wondrous natural beauty and the richness of human culture that God intended.
Jesus expressed our great hope like this: Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go now to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am, there you may be also.
Yesterday’s celebration service was a tribute to the life and legacy of a friend who built of host of memories for many that was too precious to forget.
All My Best!
Don