What if this was you?
mrstar
The words below are from a woman who is on one of the lists I belong to. Her
husband died suddenly a little bit ago and these are some of the things she
has said about his passing and their situation. I pass this on because maybe
some of you out there can help. Whether it is to donate to the fund that has
been set up for this family or maybe just a bear to the program mentioned
below in this fellow's name or more prayers, they sound like they could use
plenty of those. I do hope no one feels this is spam, I have gotten to know
this lady on the list we are on and I really feel for her in her loss.
Blessings to you all.
Mary (Starfreedom)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you one and all for your concern and prayers. Yes, things are
quite crazy around here. The Memorial Service was so unbelievable. There
were 2,200 people in attendance and 50 fire engines/ladder rigs/medic vans,
etc., in the procession. Steve was a very well loved 20 year lieutenant
firefighter and received national acclaim for his inception of the teddy
bear
program, which is now worldwide in scope. (Giving teddies to children in
fire/trauma/accident/health crises.)
The three major Seattle news stations covered the service and procession
and there were articles in the Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia newspapers as
well as news clips on the weekend news last week.
The fire dept. bought Steve a Class A uniform in which to be buried and
all the pallbearers plus the one carrying his bunker gear through the
ceremonies all also purchased Class A uniforms for the event. The fire
dept.
provided four 10-person limosines and four brand new vans just to haul
around
the immediate family!!! (Steve was one of 14 children and they all came with
their spouses and children and grandchildren!!)
The procession was over five miles long from start to finish and we
drove
around ten miles to the cemetery from the service. Police were stationed at
every intersection directing traffic. All badges in the county- fire and
police - are all crossed in black and every fire dept. in the state has half
mast flags.
The entire district fire service personnel attended the funeral and the
district were covered voluntarily by another district personnel and all
their
overtime has been donated to the Steve Henderson Memorial Fund at any
Heritage Bank in Washington.
I've heard from places all over the world from people donating teddy
bears to their local fire depts. in Steve's honor.
Steve was a very loved, very honored firefighter. His casket was
brought
to the cemetery on Engine 34 - his engine for 20 years - with his driver
driving him one last time. The show of all the respect and admiration for
everyone's "Hero" was astounding. He was a wonderful husband and father,
too.
Our four teenaged daughters got up in front of 2,200 people and talked
about their Daddy. His best friend and driver, Pat, the Chief, the Pastor,
and Fire Commissioner spoke. They showed two videos - one of the family set
to "Wind Beneath My Wings" and one of the fire service set to "He's Not
Heavy, He's My Brother." There were five bagpipers (traditional at fire and
police funerals), they had Steve's Harley in front of the church along with
hundreds of donated teddy bears decorating the huge sanctuary.
They talked about how Steve was named National Firefighter of the Year
in
1986 for the Teddy Bear Program and how Governor Booth Gardner proclaimed
Steve Henderson Day in the State of Washington April 10, 1987. He was given
so many awards and honors during his life and everyone loved him.
We miss him so much. My daughters are lost without their Daddy. He was
only 50 and this was so sudden. The autopsy said heart attack.
Anyway....before I go on more, thank you for asking. I am looking for
work now - I'm the breadwinner now! Steve was on LEOFF2 which means he only
would get the big life insurance if he was killed on duty. Since he wasn't,
we're getting $15,000 and $8,000 goes to the funeral expenses. I'm hoping
that Steve Henderson Memorial Fund helps us! I heard there was $900 in it
so
far!! Our mortgage is $1,800 a month and we have no savings, so we'll have
to sell the house and move. Our car (Steve was working on it when he died)
is toast so we'll need another car, too. Steve's brother is buying his
Harley so we'll get $5,000 for that so I can get another car for that. I
have to have a reliable car!!
So, keep praying - LOT-O-DECISIONS to be made. I've been home raising
and homeschooling kids for 21 years and I need to get a job to support my
family, so I think that's the main prayer request!!
Thanks for asking and caring.
Love, Lynnie
Thank you for your encouraging words. This is such a weird time. Each
morning I think he's still going to be coming in the door after his shift
(he
was gone for 24 hrs. every third day, you see). The tears still slow pretty
freely around here. My husband was such a wonderful man. He loved his
family above all but God. He really did. My four daughters have lost the
most wonderful example of what a husband and father should be. I'm sorry
I'm
puddling again.
As for the job part, I've been substituting at a Christian high school
in
Tacoma (45 mins away) but need a full time job. I can't be certified in WA
State until I take a "student teaching course" but I don't think I want to
teach a classroom, anyway. Subbing and teaching (or should I say CROWD
CONTROL) is very stressful, even at a Christian school!!! My field is more
counseling, but that doesn't pay enough.
Just pray and God will guide, I know he will!! Here's the bank address
for the Memorial Fund. So far they tell me they have $900 in the account!!
Pretty cool - but it's HALF of ONE mortgage payment!!
I've got to sell this house and buy down, but I can't until I have a
job.
We are on such time constraints, I can't tell you. I think we can only
survive one more month (November) on the money that was given to us by the
family and fire dept. So...I've GOT to get a job!!!
Our medical benefits end Nov. 1st as well and I have to pay COBRA to
keep
on the policy - $300 a month. I can't NOT have any medical coverage for us,
(and I have to continue the policy at the fire dept. because NO ONE else
will
take me - I've had breast cancer twice and Stage IV bone cancer involvement
in 19 places, with a bone marrow transplant in 1991 - successful, praise the
Lord!!) So you see, no one else will cover me - maybe even not a job - so I
have to keep that policy in effect. Sorry, I'm venting again....
Thank you, dear friends, for your prayers and uplifting encouragement.
God WILL provide. I have to remember that. He will come through. I don't
blame Him for wanting Steve to come home to Him. It was His will. None of
my daughters are bitter, either, thank the Lord. They are just so sad. We
all are. We miss our Daddy.
The Steve Henderson Memorial Fund
Heritage Bank
Indian Summer Branch
5800 Rainier Loop SE
Lacey, WA 98503
Love, Lynnie
husband died suddenly a little bit ago and these are some of the things she
has said about his passing and their situation. I pass this on because maybe
some of you out there can help. Whether it is to donate to the fund that has
been set up for this family or maybe just a bear to the program mentioned
below in this fellow's name or more prayers, they sound like they could use
plenty of those. I do hope no one feels this is spam, I have gotten to know
this lady on the list we are on and I really feel for her in her loss.
Blessings to you all.
Mary (Starfreedom)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you one and all for your concern and prayers. Yes, things are
quite crazy around here. The Memorial Service was so unbelievable. There
were 2,200 people in attendance and 50 fire engines/ladder rigs/medic vans,
etc., in the procession. Steve was a very well loved 20 year lieutenant
firefighter and received national acclaim for his inception of the teddy
bear
program, which is now worldwide in scope. (Giving teddies to children in
fire/trauma/accident/health crises.)
The three major Seattle news stations covered the service and procession
and there were articles in the Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia newspapers as
well as news clips on the weekend news last week.
The fire dept. bought Steve a Class A uniform in which to be buried and
all the pallbearers plus the one carrying his bunker gear through the
ceremonies all also purchased Class A uniforms for the event. The fire
dept.
provided four 10-person limosines and four brand new vans just to haul
around
the immediate family!!! (Steve was one of 14 children and they all came with
their spouses and children and grandchildren!!)
The procession was over five miles long from start to finish and we
drove
around ten miles to the cemetery from the service. Police were stationed at
every intersection directing traffic. All badges in the county- fire and
police - are all crossed in black and every fire dept. in the state has half
mast flags.
The entire district fire service personnel attended the funeral and the
district were covered voluntarily by another district personnel and all
their
overtime has been donated to the Steve Henderson Memorial Fund at any
Heritage Bank in Washington.
I've heard from places all over the world from people donating teddy
bears to their local fire depts. in Steve's honor.
Steve was a very loved, very honored firefighter. His casket was
brought
to the cemetery on Engine 34 - his engine for 20 years - with his driver
driving him one last time. The show of all the respect and admiration for
everyone's "Hero" was astounding. He was a wonderful husband and father,
too.
Our four teenaged daughters got up in front of 2,200 people and talked
about their Daddy. His best friend and driver, Pat, the Chief, the Pastor,
and Fire Commissioner spoke. They showed two videos - one of the family set
to "Wind Beneath My Wings" and one of the fire service set to "He's Not
Heavy, He's My Brother." There were five bagpipers (traditional at fire and
police funerals), they had Steve's Harley in front of the church along with
hundreds of donated teddy bears decorating the huge sanctuary.
They talked about how Steve was named National Firefighter of the Year
in
1986 for the Teddy Bear Program and how Governor Booth Gardner proclaimed
Steve Henderson Day in the State of Washington April 10, 1987. He was given
so many awards and honors during his life and everyone loved him.
We miss him so much. My daughters are lost without their Daddy. He was
only 50 and this was so sudden. The autopsy said heart attack.
Anyway....before I go on more, thank you for asking. I am looking for
work now - I'm the breadwinner now! Steve was on LEOFF2 which means he only
would get the big life insurance if he was killed on duty. Since he wasn't,
we're getting $15,000 and $8,000 goes to the funeral expenses. I'm hoping
that Steve Henderson Memorial Fund helps us! I heard there was $900 in it
so
far!! Our mortgage is $1,800 a month and we have no savings, so we'll have
to sell the house and move. Our car (Steve was working on it when he died)
is toast so we'll need another car, too. Steve's brother is buying his
Harley so we'll get $5,000 for that so I can get another car for that. I
have to have a reliable car!!
So, keep praying - LOT-O-DECISIONS to be made. I've been home raising
and homeschooling kids for 21 years and I need to get a job to support my
family, so I think that's the main prayer request!!
Thanks for asking and caring.
Love, Lynnie
Thank you for your encouraging words. This is such a weird time. Each
morning I think he's still going to be coming in the door after his shift
(he
was gone for 24 hrs. every third day, you see). The tears still slow pretty
freely around here. My husband was such a wonderful man. He loved his
family above all but God. He really did. My four daughters have lost the
most wonderful example of what a husband and father should be. I'm sorry
I'm
puddling again.
As for the job part, I've been substituting at a Christian high school
in
Tacoma (45 mins away) but need a full time job. I can't be certified in WA
State until I take a "student teaching course" but I don't think I want to
teach a classroom, anyway. Subbing and teaching (or should I say CROWD
CONTROL) is very stressful, even at a Christian school!!! My field is more
counseling, but that doesn't pay enough.
Just pray and God will guide, I know he will!! Here's the bank address
for the Memorial Fund. So far they tell me they have $900 in the account!!
Pretty cool - but it's HALF of ONE mortgage payment!!
I've got to sell this house and buy down, but I can't until I have a
job.
We are on such time constraints, I can't tell you. I think we can only
survive one more month (November) on the money that was given to us by the
family and fire dept. So...I've GOT to get a job!!!
Our medical benefits end Nov. 1st as well and I have to pay COBRA to
keep
on the policy - $300 a month. I can't NOT have any medical coverage for us,
(and I have to continue the policy at the fire dept. because NO ONE else
will
take me - I've had breast cancer twice and Stage IV bone cancer involvement
in 19 places, with a bone marrow transplant in 1991 - successful, praise the
Lord!!) So you see, no one else will cover me - maybe even not a job - so I
have to keep that policy in effect. Sorry, I'm venting again....
Thank you, dear friends, for your prayers and uplifting encouragement.
God WILL provide. I have to remember that. He will come through. I don't
blame Him for wanting Steve to come home to Him. It was His will. None of
my daughters are bitter, either, thank the Lord. They are just so sad. We
all are. We miss our Daddy.
The Steve Henderson Memorial Fund
Heritage Bank
Indian Summer Branch
5800 Rainier Loop SE
Lacey, WA 98503
Love, Lynnie