I attended the funeral of a old friend today. Jess was a man a few years older than me that was a dear friend to my at a time in my life many years ago when I really needed a friend. I first met him many years ago when as a young man I wandered onto his farm while quail hunting. When I saw him coming I figured he was coming to run me off - instead he asked how I was doing and smiled and shook my hand. He than told me to go ahead and hunt-but in the future to call him first....cause he might want to go with me.
A couple of weeks later I called him. Early the next morning I arrived at his house where his wife had breakfast ready. After breakfast he picked up a old beat up Winchester single shot 28 gauge shotgun and asked if I was ready.....before I had the good sense to stop myself....I blurted out something to the effect of YOUR GOING QUAIL HUNTING WITH THAT? Jess just smiled.
He knew his land like the back of his hand and knew where the game was. It wasn't long before the dog went on point and we found our first covey of quail of the day. Just before I flushed the birds I told him to take the birds that flew to the right and I would take the ones that flew left.As the covey exploded in flight I fired a quick shot and missed and was getting ready to fire again (I was hunting with a pump 20 gauge shotgun) when I heard 2 quick shots to my right....I also missed the second shot and turned to see who else had fired the second shot to my right. Jess was smiling as the dog retrieved his two birds to him. I was amazed that anyone could load and fire a single shot shotgun so quickly and accurately.
As we continued the hunt I noticed that after he loaded the gun he also carried a extra shell between the fingers of his trigger hand. He could fire 2 shots out of that old gun as quickly and more accurately as I could with my pump shotgun....I would never have believed it but he repeated it several more times that day and countless times in future hunts.
We became great friends and hunted many times together. He was a very religious man and after many non pressure invitations....one week I agreed to attend church with him. At the beginning of the service the preacher asked if anyone had a special song they wanted to sing. Jess walked to the front of the church and picked up a old guitar and in a amazing voice sang the following old hymn.
When I'm tossed on life's sea and the waves cover me,
And the clouds won't allow the sunshine through,
Then a voice seems to say, "Child, there'll be brighter day,
Don't allow the clouds to hide sweet Heaven's view."
'Cause you've got one more valley, one more hill,
Maybe one more trial, one more tear.
One more curve in life's road, maybe one more mile to go,
You can lay down your heavy load when you get home.
2. Don't let Satan see your fears, learn to smile thru all your tears
Hold your head up high and give the world a smile.
Just be faithful all the way, it'll be worth it all some day,
'Cause it's all gonna be over after while.
CHORUS:
I began to attend the church regularly and every week he sang the same song. I guess it was his signature song. And his life was like the song....always positive and always with a smile on his face.
We shared many long hunts and long talks over the next several years and again I was amazed at the wisdom of this simple man. He opened my eyes and caused me to think of some things differently. He was one of the most amazing men I have ever met.
About 10 years ago he sold out and moved to Northern Missouri to be nearer to his children. While I never completely lost touch with him...our contact was limited to a occasional phone call and exchanging of Christmas cards etc. We always talked of getting together for a hunt ....but it never happened.
His daughter told me he died suddenly of heart failure.....with a smile on his face. His song was sang at his funeral today. It was only fitting. He crossed his last valley and climbed his last hill. He is home. I have not heard that song in years until today. Now I can't get it out of my head. Rest well my old friend.
A couple of weeks later I called him. Early the next morning I arrived at his house where his wife had breakfast ready. After breakfast he picked up a old beat up Winchester single shot 28 gauge shotgun and asked if I was ready.....before I had the good sense to stop myself....I blurted out something to the effect of YOUR GOING QUAIL HUNTING WITH THAT? Jess just smiled.
He knew his land like the back of his hand and knew where the game was. It wasn't long before the dog went on point and we found our first covey of quail of the day. Just before I flushed the birds I told him to take the birds that flew to the right and I would take the ones that flew left.As the covey exploded in flight I fired a quick shot and missed and was getting ready to fire again (I was hunting with a pump 20 gauge shotgun) when I heard 2 quick shots to my right....I also missed the second shot and turned to see who else had fired the second shot to my right. Jess was smiling as the dog retrieved his two birds to him. I was amazed that anyone could load and fire a single shot shotgun so quickly and accurately.
As we continued the hunt I noticed that after he loaded the gun he also carried a extra shell between the fingers of his trigger hand. He could fire 2 shots out of that old gun as quickly and more accurately as I could with my pump shotgun....I would never have believed it but he repeated it several more times that day and countless times in future hunts.
We became great friends and hunted many times together. He was a very religious man and after many non pressure invitations....one week I agreed to attend church with him. At the beginning of the service the preacher asked if anyone had a special song they wanted to sing. Jess walked to the front of the church and picked up a old guitar and in a amazing voice sang the following old hymn.
When I'm tossed on life's sea and the waves cover me,
And the clouds won't allow the sunshine through,
Then a voice seems to say, "Child, there'll be brighter day,
Don't allow the clouds to hide sweet Heaven's view."
'Cause you've got one more valley, one more hill,
Maybe one more trial, one more tear.
One more curve in life's road, maybe one more mile to go,
You can lay down your heavy load when you get home.
2. Don't let Satan see your fears, learn to smile thru all your tears
Hold your head up high and give the world a smile.
Just be faithful all the way, it'll be worth it all some day,
'Cause it's all gonna be over after while.
CHORUS:
I began to attend the church regularly and every week he sang the same song. I guess it was his signature song. And his life was like the song....always positive and always with a smile on his face.
We shared many long hunts and long talks over the next several years and again I was amazed at the wisdom of this simple man. He opened my eyes and caused me to think of some things differently. He was one of the most amazing men I have ever met.
About 10 years ago he sold out and moved to Northern Missouri to be nearer to his children. While I never completely lost touch with him...our contact was limited to a occasional phone call and exchanging of Christmas cards etc. We always talked of getting together for a hunt ....but it never happened.
His daughter told me he died suddenly of heart failure.....with a smile on his face. His song was sang at his funeral today. It was only fitting. He crossed his last valley and climbed his last hill. He is home. I have not heard that song in years until today. Now I can't get it out of my head. Rest well my old friend.
