A few weeks ago, my grandfather Bryan Coe Sr. passed away after a nearly two year fight with a brain tumor. He had the surgery months ago, but the tumor grew back. In truth, he never really recovered from the first surgery, spending almost all of his last months in a hospital or nursing home bed.

When the pastor of my grandparents church came by to talk to us all about him, as the pastor was new to their church he did not know my grandfather well, I sat and talked about what kind of man grandpa was. I told him, I never heard him fight somebody or try to win an argument. If the cable company screwed us out of service, if the mechanic didn't fix the car right, if someone cut us off in traffic, any little thing that some people will get upset about, he never tried to win the argument or prove that he was right and someone else was wrong. It wasn't worth it, that's what I learned from him, being "right" doesn't matter when it makes you feel hollow inside afterward.

My grandpa, heh, I was named for him in the hospital, my parents hadn't decided on a name for me yet. Just after delivering me (I was now in the nursery), my mom was resting, and my grandpa pokes his head in the door and asks if they had a name, not having anything else in mind, she tells him my name is Bryan. People tell me he didn't so much as walk out of the room as he did fly. I made him so happy in life, without even doing anything, people say I was his pride and joy.

One of the funniest things I ever saw; it's getting dark out, and I hear my grandfather downstairs whispering up to me to look out into the backyard. I do, and I see a herd of deer right in our backyard. That's not uncommon, they live in the area and trapse through everyone's yard all the time. Then I hear my grandfather giggling, and I see why. My grandmother, who had finally had enough of "those damn deer" is going out there to shoo them away. She is wearing a bright pink, frilly nightgown. She has been sleeping, so her hair is all messed up and she isn't wearing her glasses. But there she is, walking towards them, shaking her hands "shoo, shoo, shoo". The lead deer, I could swear there was a moment where he looked at the other deer as if to say "wtf, do I do guys?" So they eventually leave, my grandpa and me cracking up laughing back in the house. My grandma turns around (grandpa and me duck out of sight) and she goes back to bed.

My grandpa used to hide these little cans of "Manhattens" all over his book shelf so my grandma woudln't catch them. My grandfather's wish was to be cremated, and he will now rest in a memorial garden at his church. My aunt Doreen and I, when I came home from work and got the news that he had passed, we both had the same thought, that little box his ashes will be kept in would be a great place to hide a Manhatten.

My grandpa spoiled me, but he himself was disciplined, he grew up poor and ended up owning a house. He worked everyday, even after retiring he was helping my mom with rides to the doctor or yardwork, anything. He was one of those people who had playtime after they did work. He served in the army as part of the occupation force in Berlin, Germany in the 60's, and eventually became a postal worker for more than 20 years. He never raised a hands to his kids (though I'm told the same could not be said for his own father). He volunteered his time with youth programs at the church to help those less fortunate or simply in need of guidance. His favorite movie was "Gone with the Wind", I know it is, because every time I would come downstairs at night to raid the fridge, he was there watching it. I swear he knew that movie back to front.

One thing the pastor didn't understand, was why my grandfather wore a ring that had a human skull on it. He thought it must have been some kind of family heirloom, something pretty valuable. My grandfather got that ring at a 7-11 when the movie "The Phantom" came out years ago. It was given away when you bought a big-gulp. Grandpa used to read that comic when he was a little kid in newspapers and the movie brought back happy memories to him I guess. Well, in the last four or five years he started wearing it and never took it off.

Y'see, in the comic, the Phantom never died. He was "The ghost who walks". His enemies would kill him over and over again, and he'd just come back. They never figured out that the fatally wounded Phantom simply turned his ring and costume over to his son or grandson and they would carry on the legacy. I asked for my grandfather's ring (after losing my own from 7-11 years ago) and it now sits on my dresser, waiting for me to put it on and continue his legacy.

So...

Bryan Coe is dead.
Long live Bryan Coe.

Sorry to hear about your grandfather, Bryan. I know what you must be feelin', man. I lost my O.G. (my grandmother) in March, her and I had a very close relationship as well. I never been so unhappy. She helped me get over my dad's passing and now I feel alone in this life.

My condolences, to you and your family.

I'm sorry for your loss Bryan. My condolence to you. It's nice reading the little stories you have to tell about him though. He seemed like a good man. And you seem to be proud having his name. Hope you're alright, as much as one can be in such a situation.
Love,

Suzy

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
He seemed like a wondeful, kind man. I'm glad you had that type of influence in your life, everyone should.
*hugs, smoches*

Thanks guys, it's going to be a while I think before my family can back to any kind of status quo in our daily lives. I miss my pop-pop.

my condolences

Sorry to hear about your loss, Bryan. He sounded like a great man. :)

My condolences, to you and your family.

Condolences from me. You had the luck to have known your grandfather. I have never known my grandfathers, because they were already dead, when I was born.

I'm sorry to hear about anyone losing a loved one.It's hard I know first hand.I lost my Mother when I was just 14 years old.22 years have gone by and there's not a day that I don't think about her.

Anna

i´m sorry, too!
your grandfather war sure a great!

Chris

I'm VERY late on this, but

*hugs to Pitdroid*

And RIP Bryan Coe, Sr.!

Thanks everybody, you're the best.

I send my condolences to you and your family.

I remember when my grandpa died, you talked with me and made it a lot easier.
I admire that you're able to look back on the goodtimes the two of you shared and everything.

I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through.
I wish you all the best. <3

I remember, what was it you called him, your "voovoo"?

I think my grandpa (I called him pop-pop ;) ), I think he was the one family member I had who always had my back, and never intentionally or even unintentionally tried to hurt me.