RICHARD H. McCRACKEN

Mr. McCracken would make a point of smudging my glasses with his thumb whenever he saw me. When I got contacts for Christmas when I was 16, he asked me why I wanted to suffer with eyes that hurt and would be red all the time. Never dawned on me until years later that he was probably missing our routine of smudged glasses!!??!! I miss you sir, there have been so many rough patches in life that I wish I could have gotten your Godly advice on. See you soon ~ and tell my dad I miss him too!

We are sorry we could not attend the funeral on Friday; we are more grieved to hear about Dick's passing, but rejoice that he has fought the good fight and is in Glory! Our prayers are with you all--Love from the Hopkins family--Brooke, Gayla, Peter (and family), Chloe (and family), Ruby, Gabriel, Duncan, Tirzah, and Olivia.

There are people in our lives that God puts there by design and Mr. McCracken was one of those for me. He taught junior high Sunday School when I was in that age group. His shining example of what we are in Christ was a light to my adolescent path. He influenced my walk with Jesus and for that I'll always be grateful. While we all mourn his passing it's wonderful to know that we'll see him again!

Mr. McCracken was always a humble, kind, and joyful man as I knew him as a Camp Burton staff member in the late 90s. He served on the Camp Board, but he also served us as a staff with his kindness and his prayers for all of us who were blessed to know him. The song "Thank You for Giving to the Lord" shares my sentiments exactly for a man so many of us admired. To his family members and close friends: My prayers precede your steps as you walk through this season of mourning him, but...

To the man I loved as a second father-thank you for your faithfulness to God, Margie & your family, and being an awesome example of how one walks in Christ-see you again! Margie, Cal, Mark and Becky ... love you & prayers!

My prayers are with the family at this difficult time. God Bless