In Memory

The pastor that married Tammy and I passed away this week after a long struggle with cancer. He was my friend of more than 30 years. He was a missionary to Nigeria, Taiwan, and Liberia in his lifetime. He was pastor of several churches and Principal of a Christian school as well.

I wrote this for him:

As He Goes Home

All over the world he has walked
He carried the Word of God with him
It was his shield and buckler
It was his undying strength

Throughout the states
Across the ocean
To the fields of Africa
This word and his faith sustained him

He carried the Truth
He carried God’s spirit
He carried his own smile
And his bright vision

He took it to friends
He took it to strangers
Which were merely friends
Not yet made

He was surrounded by faith
He was circled by love
All of which was partially
A reflection of the love within him

By this shall all men know
And we knew
Because he refused
Not to share his fortune

When he got it inside
Those many years ago
It constantly spilled out
And affected us all

Even when the cancer
Tried so hard
To dampen his light
It shined the more

His strength in his frailty
His faith in austerity
His love in the darkness
His hope in hopelessness

Still, in his weakest
He carried us
Today he carries us with him
As he goes home

Thanks for the love

In memory
Addison “Pete” Keaton, Jr.

March 27, 2008
Ron Simpson, Jr