My father has passed.

[Jcordell]

My father passed away on August 16th, 2016. At 8:00 A.M. He was getting dressed, collapsed and he was gone. He was seventy-two. No warning. He was scared of a long drawn out illness so this is what he wanted. He was a Vietnam veteran and served as a police officer for approximately twenty-four years (1970-1994). I got the call an hour after his death. I left work, we packed a few suitcases and took off. I live in western Idaho which is approximately a five hour drive from where my parents live in Eastern Idaho.

Right now very busy. Mom told me to take care of dad's gun collection and all of the various accoutrements. I spent five hours last night sorting things out and I'm still not done. I have picked out those pieces that I want; M1 carbine, M1 Garand, Winchester Model 1300 riot-gun, Mauser 98K rifle, U.S. M14 rifle - not a Springfield but a genuine M14 semi-auto only, Colt Combat Commander from 1973 with the all steel frame, S&W Model 65 - one of his service revolvers, S&W Model 4516, Beretta 92FS, S&W 686 - 4"barrel, and a S&W Model 4586 which he carried the last four years he worked as a state trooper and was presented to him when he retired. My son is going to get Dad's Colt Officers Model which he had Cylinder & Slide work on about twenty years ago and my daughter wants the Ruger 10-22. That's it. Just a plain old Ruger 22 carbine, but she associates that little plinker with grandpa I guess. So much stuff. Reloading equipment, ammo, stocks, leather gear, carrying cases, parts and pieces. Then there are all the photographs and hats and coffee cups. He even held onto the program from my high school graduation back in 1986 as well as every single school issued ID card I had from 7th grade to 12th grade. Every one. Memories are everywhere.