Lewis McKibben—"Dad," "Grandpa Lewie," or just "Grampa"—is remembered most for hard work, rather interesting collections, our family's Lazy Lagoon (which was far from a lazy place for Grandpa Lewie!) and kickin' back a couple bucks no matter what the circumstances to his favorite grandkids—all of 'em!

Kathy, Duane and Aaron Carey and Sue McKibben all fondly remember driving country roads with LR, for different and soothingly fun reasons. Kathy would walk railroad tracks, searching for the next date nail for one of LR's interesting collections and, most definitely a prized memory and image!; she would scale old telephones poles to retrieve colored-glass insulators. Duane remembers assisting with roof estimates and house measurements for the insurance company, then down-home breakfast at some small town café—making Saturday breakfast a favorite for both of them. Aaron knows the change he and Grandpa totaled cashing in cans found in country ditches didn't even cover the gas, but the importance was time with Aaron and he with Grandpa. Sue and LR would drive hours to photograph deer—such a late-in-life hobby made LR truly happy and the digital photo frame on his old, wooden desk at the office is packed with such deer and wildlife photos. Elayne, even though she's a great-grand-kid, still was blessed with the well-known chats at the office and Grandpa pulling her aside to bestow two dollars just "to get Elayne and Grandma Kathy a shake each." Such a small memory let Elayne know Grandpa really cared and always knew just how to teach a little one about the real value of a dollar!

Lindsay and Melissa both remember dining out with Grandpa, whether for buffet or crab legs. Melissa also recalls the slipping of a couple bucks every time Grandpa was around, surely with specific instructions. Lindsay always knew "no little kids menu" for her when she went to Red Lobster with Grandpa and Mom, Kathy…just because Grandpa said!

Grandpa always knew what the family needed, even if the Irish Protestant in us keeps us all from saying so at times. Such a case of his generosity was when Steven and Marcia were first married and LR showed up to take "Marcie"—a personal nickname for her from him—to "get some fresh cucumbers." They pulled up to an appliance store to purchase a much needed washer and dryer. Marcia also personally remembers relief when the first words after Grandpa's bypass were "boy is my butt tired!"

The legacy of the Lazy Lagoon is remembered by us all. The fish were well fed by Grampa and his keen eye was the demise to many-a-low-hanging branch and any pot-hole. A favorite memory of Mark and Maggi is LR's joy in planting trees and providing refuge piles for birds and bunnies with those darned low-hanging branches. LR never forgot to gift the deer with salt blocks or put out corn for the squirrels. As a matter of fact, Christmas just isn't Christmas unless Mark makes a squirrel feeder or two!

Grandpa's well-spent and hardworking days at the lake always ended with visits to each family scattered about but only a car honk or quick swim away. Maggi and Sarah remember their father, Mark, always saying, "Oh, there's Dad, get Grandpa Lewie a pop!" LR would feed the fish (which is the BEST to watch 'em go crazy, no matter one's age!) with Craig and put the lil guy to work before sitting on the tailgate to enjoy—you guessed it—a well-deserved, end-of-a-hard-day-working-to-make-the-Lazy-Lagoon-as-lovely-as-it-is soda. What a wonderful place to share and embrace LR's hard work and caring for the wildlife.