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10-23-2012, 05:40 PM
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My best friend passed away last Saturday.
I have rented half his house for the last 3 years. I've known him for 12 yrs.
We would ride out to the range together at dawn on
Saturday mornings and be first in line at markham park.
Shoot for a couple of hours then go to Billys tavern for Lunch ,then hit
a couple of the local shops on the way home and browse and shoot the
**** with all our friends.
I found him a Colt S.A.A. at a local shop one day , called him , and held it
in my hands until he drove over and walked in the door. Then bought it.
We swapped guns and stories and knowledge innumerable times and
hell, he taught me how to be a Republican.
He spoke of the "Social responsibility" of concealed carry to me many
years ago. And ever since then I have never been with out a gun
on my person.
He was smart, talented ,and bull headed to the nth' degree.
A master carpenter , a Mason, black powder shooter and civil war re-enactor.
A life member of the N.R.A. and openly passionate about human rights.
Did I mention bull headed?
. .. You know the kind of friend I'm talking about.
At least I hope you do. You only get one, maybe two, in a lifetime.
I could go on a bit , but I basically have not slept in 3 days and hope to
fall asleep after I write this.
Last Saturday eve. I came home from the pawn shop where I work.
I had not seen him for a day or so , and was surprised he was not in the living room
on his computer or relaxing watching a movie.
Both truck and van parked outside. Cell phone sitting on his desk.
Knock on his bedroom door. no answer. Knock knock knock knock,,,,
DAN , You O.K. ?? I hope and pray he is not in there and just visiting a neighbor.
I open the door and go in , and there he is. But he's not there anymore.
Phone calls and the E.M.S. then his close friends come,,,
then the coroner. and when they took him away I found myself
wailing like a little boy who'd just crashed his bicycle real bad.
Nothing I could do about it.
Daniel MacDonald Francis ,my best friend. R.I.P.
Let me finish this by saying this;; And please don't mind if I use uppercase.
IF YOU HAVE A PERSISTENT COUGH, OR PAIN, or SOMEthing that won't
go away , or don't FEEL RIGHT,,
For your sake and the sake of YOUR LOVED ONES, GO TO THE
DOCTOR OR HOSPITAL AND GET YOURSELF CHECKED OUT.
DON'T TREAT YOUR HEALTH SECOND OR THIRD or ANYTHING but
first.
Dan was a Leo too. Born July 1958. Two years younger than me.
PLEASE GET YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED. PLEASE?
Dog tired now and I got to go. Thanks for listening.
And God Bless you all.
Allen
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10-23-2012, 05:43 PM
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Sorry for your loss.
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10-23-2012, 05:46 PM
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allen,
so sorry to hear of your loss. may your friend, dan, rest in peace.
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10-23-2012, 05:48 PM
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Allen so sorry for your loss. Prayers sent for your best friend.
Mark
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10-23-2012, 05:52 PM
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Allen,
I'm so saddened to here this news. Hang in there buddy.
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10-23-2012, 05:54 PM
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So sorry
Allen
So sorry for your loss, but always happy to listen, wish I had the words to help........
tb
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frontsightnsqueaz
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10-23-2012, 06:05 PM
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It sounds to me like you were great friends and had fine times. That don't happen too often, as you yourself pointed out. I know what you mean by that, where you don't even have to be talking, where you pretty much know what each other are thinking. I am sad for your great loss, but am happy that you developed one of those rare relationships. Remember the good stuff for it far outweighs the bad. We are all here for a short time and it sounds like you guys made the best of it.
My prayers for you and Daniel. May God accept him into his house, and give you comfort. You have already had the blessings of a great friend. Peace be with you.
__________________
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10-23-2012, 06:06 PM
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Sorry to hear about Dan. You're right. I think we do only get one or maybe two friends like that in a lifetime. Seems to be how it works. You have my sincere sympathy. I hope he has gone to a better place, and like the good friends I have lost, I hope - and believe - we will all be united one day.
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10-23-2012, 06:07 PM
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I can only offer my condolences, which seem rather inadequate. I lost my shooting and hunting companion this past June. Same kind of deal, a nagging pain in the abdomen that eventually became unbearable, and by then the cancer had spread and it was too late. We used to shoot every weekend. Now most days I don't even want to open the gun safe.
Last edited by cbvanb; 10-24-2012 at 01:09 PM.
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10-23-2012, 06:10 PM
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Absent Comrade
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So sorry to hear that. Did he have a family?
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10-23-2012, 06:27 PM
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I lost a very close friend 9 years ago. It doesn't get easier. Prayers for you and his family
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2
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10-23-2012, 06:29 PM
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Sorry for the loss of your friend Allen. 
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Sure you did
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10-23-2012, 06:35 PM
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My sincerest condolences for the loss of your dear friend.
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10-23-2012, 06:51 PM
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My condolences. Your post makes it hard to type, the screen gets all blury.
Im sorry for your loss
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
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10-23-2012, 06:59 PM
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Very sorry for your loss. He was too young to go.
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10-23-2012, 06:59 PM
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Allen I am so sorry for your loss. Daniel is my son's name and I almost lost him last year to cancer. You are in my prayers because I know what you are going through.
Your friend..........Dick
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Dick
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10-23-2012, 06:59 PM
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Hard to realize death is the natural progression in life. He's in a better place.
My best to you sir.
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10-23-2012, 07:02 PM
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Best Friend
He'll be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.
olcop
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10-23-2012, 07:11 PM
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So sorry to hear about your best friend passing. Sounds like he was a good friend to you. May he rest in peace.
_________
James
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10-23-2012, 07:15 PM
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I, too, am sorry for your loss. Having a best friend pass can be harder that family in many cases, but I am sure he was happy to have you as a friend all these years.
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Miss My Buddy crsides!!
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10-23-2012, 07:16 PM
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Sounds like you were a great friend to him. May he RIP and may you find peace and comfort from your memories of time spent together.
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10-23-2012, 07:24 PM
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Sorry for your loss, Allen, he went too young.
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Don't kiss smiling dogs!
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10-23-2012, 07:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cbvanb
I can only offer my condolences, which seem rather inadequate. I lost my shooting and hunting companion this past June. Same kind of deal, a nagging pain in the abdomen that eventually became unbearable, and by them the cancer had spread and it was too late. We used to shoot every weekend. Now most days I don't even want to open the gun safe.
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<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I am moving to Southern Arizona and we are going to become
friends and hunting buddies. P.M. sent.  .
Dan is survived by his brother ,his Father and his mother.
Services will be this Saturday at 4 P.M. here in Hollywood Florida.
Your words and prayers are of immeasurable comfort to me today.
Blessings extended back to each and every one of you.
Allen
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10-23-2012, 07:27 PM
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I'm sorry for your loss.
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10-23-2012, 07:32 PM
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My prayers to you for your loss. I have no idea how you must feel or what you think. I just know it must be unbearable. May God comfort you.
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John 1:17
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10-23-2012, 07:50 PM
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Allen, I am so sorry for your loss. God creates special people who come into our lives and make our lives so much richer. With that enrichment comes the increased pain one day when one outlives the other.
Your friend died too soon . . . and without the proper "good bye." But, I know you count it such a blessing to have known him.
My prayers go out to you and all in your families at this sad time.
Tom
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10-23-2012, 08:04 PM
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Allen, I feel your pain and hold you in my prayers.
This year I've lost my 52 year old sister then two months later my Mom. Then in August, I lost one of those few in a lifetime friends you mention. Late yesterday, a co-worker who's the same age as you and I and who is coming off battling throat cancer sat down and we had a grand conversation. One of lifes lessons each of us has learned is that no matter how manly we think we are, we need to tell those that mean a lot to us that we love them. Never again do I want to be the last one standing and looking back with regret that I didn't tell them that. We have no choice but to take each day at a time and even though we can work through the pain, every now and then something cue's it back up just to remind us how lucky we were to have people like that in our lives. Hang in there pardner.
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10-23-2012, 08:10 PM
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I am sorry for your loss.
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10-23-2012, 08:19 PM
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Allen there are no words..... that I can say..
but maybe this will help, if even only a little bit...
I commend you, my dear Daniel to almighty God, and entrust you to your Creator. May you rest in the arms of the Lord who formed you from the dust of the earth. May holy Mary, the angels and all the saints welcome you now that you have gone forth from this life. May Christ who was crucified for you, bring you freedom and peace. May Christ who died for you admit you into his garden of paradise. May Christ, the true Shepherd, embrace you as one of his flock. May he forgive all your sins, and set you among those he has chosen. May you see your Redeemer face to face, and enjoy the vision of God forever.
Amen
Your friend
Sal
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DAV in honor of POP
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10-23-2012, 09:01 PM
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My sincere condolences. Prayers sent for you and his family. I know the pain of suddenly losing someone special. Time brings healing, but we never forget.
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10-23-2012, 09:53 PM
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Rest in Peace to a Brother Mason, a Good Man, an a Best Friend to You Allen. The world needs more, not less, men of this caliber.
I know that he would want for you to live a happy, fulfilled life still doing the things you love and practicing the lessons learned through your friendship. Please do not let him down.
So sorry for your and his families loss.
Sincerely,
Karnivore
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10-23-2012, 10:01 PM
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Allen,
At times like these words are woefully inadequate to express our sorrow for what you are experiencing.
Know that we grieve with you, even from far distances and will be beside you on Saturday, I hope you can feel us there.
I pray for his family, for you, for his brothers in arms that will carry on the battle in his stead.
May God send angels to guide his soul to that place reserved for those who stood against evil. May his rest be peaceful.
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10-23-2012, 10:01 PM
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Remember the good times and he will always be a part of you. Think of something he would enjoy doing and go do it to honor him..........Best to you and so sorry for your tremendous loss..........
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10-23-2012, 10:34 PM
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Allen,
Words are not adequate at a time like this. My prayers go out to you and your friend. I am truly sorry for the loss of this great friend.
Thoughts and prayers
Bill
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10-23-2012, 10:37 PM
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Sorry for your loss.
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10-23-2012, 11:01 PM
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So sorry for your loss, Allen. Prayers for you, your friend & his family.
Ned
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10-23-2012, 11:11 PM
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Allen,
As we discussed on the phone, you have my deepest sympathy and condolences. I didn't know Dan long or well, but the time I was over and had 10 minutes to chat, we wound up talking for an hour.
The suddenness of something like this is always a shock, and you have plenty of friends who are here for you. We can never fill the emptiness of losing Dan, but we can help you cope with it.
My thoughts and prayers are with Dan, his family and, of course, you.
Fred_P
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10-23-2012, 11:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Allen-frame
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I am moving to Southern Arizona and we are going to become
friends and hunting buddies. P.M. sent. .
Dan is survived by his brother ,his Father and his mother.
Services will be this Saturday at 4 P.M. here in Hollywood Florida.
Your words and prayers are of immeasurable comfort to me today.
Blessings extended back to each and every one of you.
Allen |
PM answered. Be strong on Saturday.
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10-23-2012, 11:17 PM
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Allen
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.
Unfortunately, there are no words I can say to ease the pain.
You and Dan are in my thoughts and prayers.
God Bless.
Stu
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10-24-2012, 12:32 AM
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Prayers for strength + a healing grieving;
and faith as may be appropriate.
I don't mean to intrude, just trying to be supportive; if this is not your way, please disregard.
Can a sparrow fall to the ground without your heavenly Father knowing ?
Occasionally I hear a song with the line "For the Lord our God, He is strong to save, from the arms of death, from the deepest grave."
Every time I hear this, I think of the pairs of shoes seen in the mud near the Titanic, & I think to myself, well that's the deepest grave, and He's got them with Him. They are not lost or forgotten.
Once a death has occurred, it is hardest on those left behind. Thank God always for the good times you shared, & for help thru these bad times. In time, feel free to live in happiness, in loving memory & appreciation to & for your friend, as he would want you to.
I know that not everyone likes it, but there is a lot of truth in the "Footprints" poem.
Finally, "La Vie est dure, mais Dieu est bon."
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10-24-2012, 12:43 AM
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Very sorry for your loss, Allen, ... and the same for his family. Good friends are hard to come by - and harder to let go of.
Jerry
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10-24-2012, 12:44 AM
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I am sorry for your loss. you have my sincere condolences.
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10-24-2012, 06:30 AM
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Allen, I'm so sorry to hear this--but you did a fine thing with your post. Most assuredly somebody will read that and take it to heart and it will make a difference in their life, which is quite a legacy for your friend.
Rest in peace, Daniel.
And a prayer of comfort for his family and you.
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10-24-2012, 07:33 AM
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Allen,
I'm sorry for your loss and touched by your relationship with a true friend. There are no words for such sorrow but it will become easier some day to think back and smile at the memories you have. May the good Lord grant you peace and stand at heavens gate welcoming your friend.
Len
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10-24-2012, 07:48 AM
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Allen, you wrote a moving tribute & you remain a true friend.
My condolences for your loss .
Regards,
John
turnerriver
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10-24-2012, 08:04 AM
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What a wonderful tribute to a friend. Very sorry for your loss. May you find the peace you need.
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10-24-2012, 08:09 AM
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so sorry for your loss Allen
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10-24-2012, 09:04 AM
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Just found this post. Very sorry to read of the death of your friend. Profound regrets. Sincerely. brucev.
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10-24-2012, 09:50 AM
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I'm sorry for you Allen. I lost an old close friend some years back, in '05. He was just 53, and had cancer. To all who read this, do not be afraid to go to the doctor! I hear some say, "I'm afraid of what he will find." Of what? Are you afraid he'll save your life? Afraid of the cost? What good is money if you're on your deathbed? Death comes to us all. Fight it all the way, and fight it early.
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10-24-2012, 11:58 AM
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May God Bless
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