Abby’s family gathered for her father Hershel Shoffner’s passing this weekend. As you might remember from reading about her family’s reunions, there are a lot of family, and they are close.

Hershel’s funeral at the Ryan, Oklahoma, Methodist Church was packed. There were musicians who played piano and fiddle, since Hershel was a fiddler. Hershel also loved westerns, so his coffin was wheeled out of the church to “Happy Trails.” Anyone not crying by then found it irrepressible. I was honored that one of my photos, of Hershel outside his workshop barn at sunset one December, was on the cover of the funeral program. I also produced a short DVD slide show of photos I’d made of Hershel in the seven years I knew him, to Cindy Morgan’s “Most of All,” a song about losing a loved one. Everyone appreciated it.

At the grave side, I was impressed by the dignity of the U. S. Navy’s flag ceremony, and equally impressed by the lengthy, complicated Freemason’s ceremony.