remembering papaw

In Loving Memory of My Papaw
James "Jim" Monroe Bagwell
February 9, 1931 - July 29, 2010

my papaw (my mom's dad) went to be with jesus last thursday nite. 6 years ago he had a stroke, and he had really gone downhill the past 2 years, and especially the past few months. a week ago he was diagnosed with pneumonia, and hospice gave him 2 weeks to live. we are so thankful he didn't suffer long. he passed away with family at his side, and as my dad played "turn your eyes upon jesus" on his harmonica, papaw breathed his last breath here on earth. it brings us such comfort to know he is now in heaven... walking with jesus. he is reunited with many family members, and his body is now perfect. papaw was a great man of honor and strength. he was loving and full of life, he was a man of conviction and determination. he had a great sense of humor. he was loved by many, and will be missed by all who knew him. he meant so much to so many different people. he was an incredible husband to my nana for 54 years. WOW, 54 years! a very loving dad to his 5 children, the best papaw in the world to his 12 grandchildren and so sweet to his 4 great-grandchildren. i have such great memories of my papaw. our family was so blessed to have him in our lives. i want to share some things i remember from way back in the day! (these pictures were taken on monday, july 26, just 4 days before he passed. i wanted to make sure i had some pictures of papaw and the boys. they were so sweet to him and i am so thankful i took a few pics.)

i don't even know where to start. most of my memories from papaw were at his old house in mt. olive. he and nana built that house and raised their children there. i remember... * sorting and rolling coins that were in the coffee cans in papaw's closet. he'd always let us keep a little bit of it :) * playing games on the old computer in the office in his room * having to be quiet because papaw often worked late nites, so he loved to sleep in late * eating his cashews * reading where's goldbug books * sitting on the back porch * playing hide n seek and getting in trouble for playing in nana's sewing area downstairs * always playing yatzee * the old organs/guitars in the piano room * christmases with presents overflowing under the tree * reading books in the loft (usually national geographics and condensed readers digest- ha!) * taking walks and hiking in the woods, creeks, and indian caves * the old dog darlin * nana always cooking, cheese sauce on toast was def a favorite, and still is! * christmas caroling to the neighbors * going to hamburger heaven one time and they got my order wrong... i didn't eat there again for about 15 years :) * picking veggies from the garden * papaw coming to my softball games. he would always cheer super loud and yell GO LOU LOU- it would embarrass me! he always called me jamie lou lou and shannon shanny lou :) now we call lucas lulu and i love that... even if it is a girly nickname * he would make funny faces at the dinner table... us kids would laugh and he'd get us in trouble. all.the.time =) * singing the "mcdonald's is my kind of place, they feed me rattlesnakes" song! * nana and papaw always had breyers real vanilla icecream with the black speckles in it! * we took several beach trips to gulf shores... he'd spoil us rotten! * them coming to my indoor track meets at the horse barn in priceville * papaw loaned me money to buy my very first car, and taught me the importance of saving to pay him back * the ponds he built outside the old house * the swing in the yard * the big huge black mailbox- 5353 bluffview road * nana made my wedding gown and papaw saw those first few fittings made out of a bedsheet *


those are several memories of papaw, before he had his stroke. i will never forget the day i got the call that he had a stroke. i was working at southtrust bank in trussvile, and mom called and was so upset i could barely understand her. little did we know how that morning would change our lives forever. next i want to share some memories from after the stroke.

* visiting papaw in the hospital and he was flirting with the nurses ;) * hearing about a dream he had where he saw jesus and felt warm rain- that was god's grace. papaw rededicated his life to the lord in the hospital. amen! * visiting him in the nursing home and sneaking him french fries and milkshakes * helping him in therapy a few days, and watching him learn to walk again * cheering him on for all his rehab accomplishments * seeing him on my wedding day, only a month after his stroke. it was so special having him there. i will never forget that. he and nana were so stinkin' sweet * going to church with him at the trussville nursing home. he'd raise his hands and sing the "praise god" verse of amazing grace. it was so precious * me, nate, shannon and josh singing "sing alleluia" at his baptism at our church. another awesome memory * he and nana moving into their new house in argo * anytime someone asked papaw how he was, clear as day he would say from his wheelchair "i'm blessed." he never complained about the hand he was delt. amazing! * sharing christmas brunch together the past 5 years... since he and nana added onto mom and dad's house, we see nana and papaw so much.. it truly is such a blessing to be so close to my grandparents * hearing trace and lucas run into nana and papaw's house yelling "na-naaa, pap-pawwwwwwwwwwwwww." i can hear sweet little lucas saying that and it just brings tears to my eyes * the boys would always go see papaw and pat his leg, kiss his head, and tickle his toes * on the monday these pics were taken, when i told trace to give papaw a kiss, papaw was responsive and he held his chin up. it was so sweet. of course i cried... that's the last time i saw papaw *

we have been praying for papaw with the kids for a while. we told them he was very sick and would be going to heaven soon to see jesus. so after he passed away, we explained to the kids that papaw was in heaven, and they wouldn't see him again at nana's house. so when caden went over there, he looked for papaw in the bed and said something like "nope, he's totally not here. he must be in heaven!" :) oh the faith of a child. and when we told trace papaw had gone to heaven, he said " aww, is nana in heaven too? i wanna go to heaven." and lucas walked into nana and papaw's room and kept saying "pap-paaaaw. pap-pawwww" looking for him. it was so sweet! then when we went to visitation sat nite, we weren't planning on letting the kids see papaw's body. but they wanted to, so we let them. and he looked so good. i am so glad to have a lasting memory of him looking so good... in his shamrock tie and alabama hat! :) since trace had been told papaw was in heaven when he saw papaw's body in the casket, he said "yep, there he is. there's heaven! " :) we explained that was so not heaven! you can tell trace is still too young to understand exactly what is going on, but we are doing our best to explain it, and praying it opens doors for his salvation soon.

the service today for papaw was so sweet. several of us were crying so hard while trying to sing it is well. wow, it sure is hard to sing when you are crying. but it was so sweet. nana has taken such good care of papaw the past 6 years. she has sacrificed so much for him, so have my parents and many others. i know it wasn't always easy, but i also know they will never regret a minute of it. papaw was so loved. and the memories people shared of papaw at the services today were amazing. what an incredible man he was. it was almost unbearably hot for the graveside service, and there was a little hiccup in the folding of the flag. wow. papaw was irish, and a lady played the bagpipes. it was really pretty. but we seriously were dripping sweat while we were out there. but hey, papaw loved to be outside and enjoy god's creation... so it's fitting that we sweated a little while laying him to rest! at his request, he was buried in the back of the cemetary, near the railroad tracks! his daddy was a railroader. i will think of him every time i hear/see a train go by.

during the last few days, i have been so overwhelmed by the love from our family, friends, and especially our church family. for anyone who has prayed for us, brought food, called, left fb messages, visited, helped with the services, anything... THANK YOU. from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for everything. we have truly felt god's love and peace during this time of sorrow. we are comforted by the fact that one day- there will be a day, with no more tears. no more pain, no more fears... thank you jesus!

papaw, we will miss you so very much. we will think about you often, and as uncle tim said today... when we think of you papaw, we will do it joyfully with a smile on our face and a song in our hearts. we love you papaw.