Hunting with Mike

Happy St. Patrick”s Day to all you that are Irish, and also to those who wish they were!  This is one of the few old pictures we have of my grandfather Gorden “Kelly” Greer.  A true Irishman if ever there was one.  He’s holding my brother Randy, and that’s my Aunt “Dode” with two of her boys Tom (standing) and Greg.  This picture was taken on Spring St. in Sault Ste. Marie Canada.  My grandmother Irene (Kelly’s wife) died 16 years prior to this picture being taken.  My grandfather never remarried, and had to have alot of help in order to raise his six children.  He was well known, and much loved around the Soo, and a bit of an “Irish Character” to boot!

On St. Patrick’s day Kelly would dye his snow white hair green, along with his full white beard.  One year he visited us here in Monroe, and I remember that “way cool” green hair and beard.  Also on Orangeman’s day he would dye everything orange, which was a bit more controversial than St. Patty’s green!  Kelly was of the Protestant persuasion, and didn’t mind flying his colors, so to speak.  One year during our Monroe County fair week grandpa Kelly was in full “white” regalia!  I remember all the little kids thinking he was Santa Clause, and how excited they would get, when he stopped to ask them “if they were being good for their parents?”  To top it off he usually had a Irish briar bowl pipe clamped between his teeth, and always had an impish grin on his face.

My Grandpa Kelly never possessed earthly riches, but he was a “RICH” man!  He never wrote a book or earned a degree, but he was wise beyond belief!  He wasn’t a CEO, nor did he command multitudes of people, but he was loved and admired by all who knew him!  No town, nor building, nor street was ever named after him, but he was a hero to his family and friends.  He lived in a very small apartment at the Y.M.C.A. but always considered himself “blessed”, and reached out to the “less fortunate” by any way he could.  He was know to give away more than a few silver dollars to help out an acquaintance, friend, or family member.

Oh how much this “crazy” world needs you now Grandpa Kelly.  In fact it needs an infusion of men the likes of Gordon “Kelly” Greer.  I wish I would of had the opportunity to be around you more often growing up, but your daughter (my mother) is caring on your legacy of hope, caring, and sharing with those around her.  You might say she’s the last of the “Mohican’s” this bonnie lass Betty Louise Greer.  So on this day set apart, for those that live their lives in order to “bless others, I honor you and your heritage of love and caring.

Mike

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 16th, 2008 at 7:03 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.