He was always sure of wanted he wanted, even in death, and one of his requests was that he not have a minister or lay person speak at his service, so given that request my brother and I have been given the honor and blessing of telling you about our Dad. And so as my Heavenly Father promises in Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
As I have been writing my thoughts of my Dad over the last few days – yesterday I realized that all the things I have been thinking were relayed to me in one way or another by the many friends and family that came to pay they respects.
The legacy that this wonderful man is leaving behind leaves me in awe just as in life in he so many times left me in awe.
He was larger than life – no matter who he was with or where he was once you met Jim Northey you remembered him. His smile and laugh were so genuine. Another thing I heard so many times yesterday “I’ll never forget that smile”, it was what drew people to him. His wit and charm and his ability to tell jokes and stories that made you think he was talking about himself until the end when you realized it was a joke and you would just crack-up laughing.
I was and always will be amazed by his many talents, no matter what he set his mind to he accomplished. My brother is like him in many ways when it comes to being artistic, musical, crafty, etc., I on the hand cannot draw stick people or carry a tune but I believe inherited one true gift from my Dad and that is to love people and he was a lover of people. He was most happy when surrounded by many.
They say we are all born in the roles that we are to play in life – I was born to be in the shadow of two Jim Northey’s, my Dad and my Brother. This is the role that growing up I wasn’t so happy with but as an adult have come to cherish as I have learned over the years I may be in their shadow but to the both of them I am at the top of their list and loved by them as no others could love me. Although today, my brother decided he would let me go first for a change.
My brother and I only lived with my Dad for a brief time and I remember when it came time for him to make what was probably one of the hardest decisions he probably ever made, he asked us if we couldn’t live with him where would we want to live. My brother without hesitation replied Grandma Silverthorn’s, Grandma Silverthorn’s, I on the other hand suggested that we live with the Queen of England because my father made me to believe that I was truly a princess which is what he called me most of the time.
I remember asking my mother why she named me such a snotty sounded name like Tamara Aileen at which she replied “your Dad named you”. Funny thing is I can never remember him using my given name when he spoke to me. It was always princess, pumpkin, doll baby, sis and his most favorite of late, babe.
People have asked over the years how I could have such a great relationship with a man that did not raise us. My answer was and always will be, “He gave us the greatest gift of all, a stable home where we were loved and cared for beyond belief.”
My father tried to excel at everything he did in life and his way of excelling as a father was to realize that he was not able to take care of us on a day to day basis in person but never once was he not there when we needed him – a phone call was all it took. Never once did he give up his responsibility of being our Dad.
It was very hard the past couple of years watching this evil disease slowly drain the life out of his body but not once did he complain, he didn’t understand it but he never complained.
Just before he was diagnosed I truly believe he got together, after all these years, with his soul-mate and I want to take this time publicly to thank Susie for all the love and care she gave to him. She was a godsend to us and we will never be able to repay her for all she did. My father once told me that he wished he had meant her fifty years ago, at which of course, I replied “then you wouldn’t have Jim and me.” So again Susie thank you so much and we love you.
Jim Northey was a great man who’s death has left a void in many lives but he also left us a great legacy and I know by the number of people that are here today, were here yesterday and the many lives he touched his legacy will live on. And so I close with this – I love you Daddy and you will never be gone in spirit or in my heart and I thank you Lord Jesus for giving me the best Dad ever.
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