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REMEMBERING A COWBOY
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WILLIAM DALE JULY 18, 1979 - JULY 28, 1997
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WILLIAM DALE
Dale was born in Tucson, Arizona. He was the fourth of four boys. His eldest brother was William David, born in April 1968. He and Dale were especially close while David lived at home. David was taken with this little brother who seemed to follow his every move.
Dale's other brothers were William Daniel and William Dean, born December 1976. Of course, they were twins. They also seemed to have a special bond with Dale. They were more like triplets than twins and a single. They did everything together and what one had the other had to have also. They were great buddies. Ane continued to be so as they grew older.
Dale loved Tucson. He loved the weather, the open skies and the animals. He fell in love with horses at an early age.
He attended various schools in the area and had many friends. He went on vacations with his family to the beach, the lake, the mountains, and to visit many friends and relatives.
Dale was in two weddings by the time he was six years old. The first was his cousin Rebecca's and the second was his brother David's wedding.
By the time we had moved to Texas, Dale was becoming a very well behaved, very grown up young man. He was able to think for himself, deal with others and help in all kinds of situations. He was also a bit preoccupied with the army. He really did think it was the place for him. He made many friends with people who were in the army and he studied about all of the facets of army life.
However, the west still had a hold on him and he did not forget about the horses and the simple life of a farm. He was an artist and he drew many pictures of farms and horses and many different animals. He also tried a new look. The cowboy hat and boots seemed to be the new look for him. He was happy when folks called him cowboy. He dreamed of a ranch with a thousand long-horned cattle to roam around and for him to take care of.
In 1995 we all moved to Kentucky. Dale was 15 years old. He was not very happy at first. Dean had gotten married, and just he and Daniel were left at home with Mom and Dad.
This was not cowboy country! At least that's what he thought. Very soon he had his own horse and all the cattle that he would ever want to round up. He learned to take good care of the cattle and the horses and to give shots and rope and do everything a cowboy would want to do. He loved his quarter horse, Gal. He had become very happy here in Kentucky.
His best friend, after moving to Kentucky, was his cousin S. They spent many happy hours together on Sunday afternoons. They especially liked to visit two lovely sisters.
Dale had many other friends.
On Dale's 18th birthday, he bought himself a beautiful, slick, black pick-up truck. This was just nine days before his accident.
All through his short life, Dale loved the Lord. He drove 120 miles one way to attend the church of his choice, The Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana. You could not have told him to stay home...he loved the Lord and he loved the Message. After church, on Sunday, July 27, 1997, he drove towards home. At 20 minutes past midnight he hit a semi-tractor trailer head-on. He was taken instantly. His Lord had called him home. We who are left do not know why he had to go, but the Lord knows best.
All is well.
We miss you, Dale.
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A FRIEND FOR A DAY
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I met a friend and we talked awhile
I liked him from the start
He was young and kind and gentle inside,
And truly a cowboy at heart.
I listened as he spoke with passion
Of trucks and horses, and then
I joked light heartledly as I was placed at ease
Beside my new-found friend.
As we passed the day we did not know
The time was drawing nigh
When we would part forever, without a chance
To say our final good-bye.
If only that day could have lasted longer,
So much was left unspoken.
If the day could have lingered for a few more hours
Our hearts might not have been broken.
On a darkened night on a lonely road,
My new friend was swept away.
But I remember the young cowboy as he laughted and talked
And how he was my friend for a day.
by Ken Hill 7-28-97
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CHRISTIANS FALL ASLEEP
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A child is born in a world so distraught,
But to worship the Lord the child is taught,
To keep God's commandments through thick and throught thin,
To cherish the Word and discard the sin.
As the child grows older the parents can see
He believes in the Lord and accepts His decree.
The parents are proud and thank the Lord;
He chose this little child on him the annointing is poured.
One day the parents enter the child's room,
They believe He took their baby away much too soon.
He was only starting life in a world so giant,
His footsteps were hardly heard, forever to stay silent,
But his passing had at least been quick,
He had felt no pain or terror and had never been sick.
The parents cry tears of a loss too terrific,
But they remember His Word that is so prolific,
All through the day and the night the Lord will keep,
Christians don't die, they fall asleep.
Throughout history His blessing has been made known,
Whether a child, an adolesent, or a man full grown,
There is no need to mourn or to cry and weep,
For even when Stephen was stoned, he was rocked to sleep.
by Jennifer Sanger 1997
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