Joseph Edward Bates

Cousin Joe,
I hate knowing that there won’t be another family holiday get together where your contagious laugh will fill the room, but I also find myself feeling grateful knowing that I got to hear that laugh on numerous occasions, that I got to share one of my first duck game tailgates with you, and simply got to know you.

I will never forget the positivity you brought to a room, the incredible love you expressed for Brutus and any pup before him, and will always remember that booming laugh after a quick pun or funny joke.

May you rest easy. We love you and will see you again.
-Jacob

Dear Joe-

Our broken hearts mourn the loss of YOU—your life cut short too soon. Still, so much to do with you. So many experiences and holidays lost—as our future with you—so suddenly, unexpectedly gone.

There are so many things left unsaid. So much love yet to be shared.

Still my mind struggles to comprehend that I/We will never see you again on this earth.

How can it be possible you will not be here for Christmas? Or ever again?

How? Why?

How can it be possible I/We will never again see your smile or hear your laugh? Not even just once more?

How can any of this be possible?

Only God knows why he called you home so early.

Joe, I came across this: “Your wings were ready, Our hearts were not.”

I took that to mean that your wings were ready when God called you home but our hearts were not. How could they ever be?

They say time heals all things. There is no healing from your life cut too short!

We will have good days. We will have bad days.

We hope—we pray— that over time our thoughts—our hearts-/ will more often recall our heartfelt warm memories of you.

How your gentle soul and generous heart—so giving of your love and service for others and how you brought joy to the world and those who loved you.

You may not be here with us now -physically- but you ARE HERE in our HEARTS—and YOU ALWAYS —forever always will be.

We love you. We always have. We always will.

One day we will be with you again.

Until then, my darling nephew, please know—we love you and you will always be in our prayers and in our hearts!

Love,
Aunt Nettie