My dear friend, Parley Hamblin passed away this last week. His battle with Cancer has ended. The memorial service was today, and I witnessed the love of so many friends and members of his family who gathered and filled the church to overflowing capacity. I listened to the beautiful words of love and remembrance told in the stories of the speakers. His children and grandchildren performed beautiful music together. There was not a dry eye in the house. I will miss him dearly and will always kick myself for not visiting more often or as recently as I would've liked. Let me tell you about Parley.
I have known Parley Hamblin for 12 years now. From the moment I met him, I loved him. I met the Hamblins because I dated their son for a brief time. The relationship ended quickly, but I made forever friends in Parley and his wife, Katherine. Parley is the kind of man who leaves you a better person than you were before you came into his presence. He treats as if you are the most important person in the world to him. He is genuinely interested in you and your life and wants to learn all about you. He has a very witty, dry sense of humor, and you never can tell if his stories are real or just stories. He is a wonderful storyteller, and I find myself hanging on his every word, hoping the story never ends.
Parley was a great man. He was a giant in every sense of the word. He was large in stature, he had a loud, booming, powerful voice. He was a spritual giant as well. He is probably the most faithful man I have ever met. He knows exactly where he came from, and knows exactly where he is going. He believes the Gospel is true with every fiber of his being. Hearing him speak of God is like hearing one speak of his best friend. He had a very personal relationship with the Savior.
After spending time with Parley always made me want to be a better person. He was always positive, always smiling, and always had something nice to say about me and everyone else we were speaking of. He never gossipped, never complained, and never spoke poorly of any person.
I am a better person today for having known this great man. I'll try to always keep my memories of Parley fresh in my mind by telling stories about him and by living as he did-like each day is my last. I'll try to be more positive, complain less, and only speak positive things. I will make sure my family and friends know how much I love them. I will not waste one more day on the petty things of life. I will put my energies in people, not things. And I will live a better life.
Thank you, Parley for being the example you are, and for loving me. I love you and miss you.
I have known Parley Hamblin for 12 years now. From the moment I met him, I loved him. I met the Hamblins because I dated their son for a brief time. The relationship ended quickly, but I made forever friends in Parley and his wife, Katherine. Parley is the kind of man who leaves you a better person than you were before you came into his presence. He treats as if you are the most important person in the world to him. He is genuinely interested in you and your life and wants to learn all about you. He has a very witty, dry sense of humor, and you never can tell if his stories are real or just stories. He is a wonderful storyteller, and I find myself hanging on his every word, hoping the story never ends.
Parley was a great man. He was a giant in every sense of the word. He was large in stature, he had a loud, booming, powerful voice. He was a spritual giant as well. He is probably the most faithful man I have ever met. He knows exactly where he came from, and knows exactly where he is going. He believes the Gospel is true with every fiber of his being. Hearing him speak of God is like hearing one speak of his best friend. He had a very personal relationship with the Savior.
After spending time with Parley always made me want to be a better person. He was always positive, always smiling, and always had something nice to say about me and everyone else we were speaking of. He never gossipped, never complained, and never spoke poorly of any person.
I am a better person today for having known this great man. I'll try to always keep my memories of Parley fresh in my mind by telling stories about him and by living as he did-like each day is my last. I'll try to be more positive, complain less, and only speak positive things. I will make sure my family and friends know how much I love them. I will not waste one more day on the petty things of life. I will put my energies in people, not things. And I will live a better life.
Thank you, Parley for being the example you are, and for loving me. I love you and miss you.
4 comments:
Beautiful tribute to a great man. What an example of charity. It's amazing how one man could love and influence and touch so many lives! Danette
PS. Wasn't the music excellent on Wednesday. He has a talented legacy.
I stumbled onto your blog because.
Parley was my Mission President and I wanted to know if anyone posted about his funeral. Thank you for sharing your thoughts through your blog. I loved him dearly too.
Parley was also my mission president. Thank you so much for posting about his funeral. I felt really bad that I could not attend. I hope you do not mind if we send others to read this. You very beautifully described my beloved mission president.
We are having a Halloween/costume part at my house on the 30th at 6:00pm. Please bring something for everyone to snack on. Hope to see you there!
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