Good Night Sweet Prince

Our dear friend Will Brown lost his battle with cancer early this morning. He is survived by his parents and loving wife, a dear sister, his wonderful so and daughter-in-law, a beautiful grand-daughter, and countless friends.

Will was a cabinet maker by trade, an incredible artist with wood. He built his home and much of the furniture inside it. It's truly a work of art. Never one for pleasure reading, the man was a tyrannical punster. No matter the subject he would always interject with an amusing and awful pun.

He loved to Rendezvous and reenact the Colonial American period. He'd don his tri-corn hat and visit with tourists and explain whatever he had an answer for. His camp was always an attraction because he built real beds, tables, and benches to use.

Will loved his family very much. He and his wife were still as smitten with each other today as they were went they met at a disco years ago. His son worked with him as a finisher at the shop. His father was often there as well. When his son married his high-school sweet-heart he gained the daughter he'd never had.

When his first grandchild came into this world in January of this year, Will seemed to fall in love all over again. The feeling from that tiny baby was mutual. She always had smile on her face when she saw him walk in the room, even after the chemotherapy took his hair and the cancer started eating away the years of toned muscle.

There are at least a dozen people my age who have called him "Uncle Willy" for years. That's where FH and I fit in. We were just two more of the "kids" and were made to feel like part of the family. So much so that we were there with Will when he celebrated his last Thanksgiving at home last week.

The world is a slightly dimmer place right now. I'm off to go let a new flood of tears have their way before I head out to meet up with everyone.