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Sandy (Thayer) Ford
January 3, 2024
My earliest memories of Uncle William are from when I was a little girl living in Limerick, Maine. I never got to spend time in his boat out on the ocean as my older siblings did, but I always looked forward to them coming back sunburned and excitedl, sharing their tales of the day while Uncle William just sat back and grinned his crooked grin. He was always so kind and interested. He asked questions and always seemed to remember names and the details of things that were important or even just of interest . This meant a lot to the sixth of 8 children. It only occurs to me, just now, how well he could relate to that position and that perhaps it is a little part of how God shaped him into the man he was.
That same selfless interest remained in later years when he and Jean came to our wedding, a particularly hard choice as it was the anniversary of Jean and her former husband`s wedding, and, in 1991, so soon after his death. I was always mindful of how kind it was of both of them. Then, as we had children and visited (not nearly often enough) at the lake, in Sanford,Uncle William would ask about each one, especially eager to hear about the health of our daughter, Ivy but also interested in our colicky Holly who´s echoing infant screams across the lake were soothed away by a peaceful nap in the hammock. (I´m certain he was patiently grinning through all of that, too.)
I always loved seeing how much my mom enjoyed his kindness towards her when they would visit, and I especially loved that her own crooked grin would reestablish itself for a few days afterwards. Some people pick up an accent from their past, but my mom would always pick up that grin. His voice was also distinct and is firmly etched in my mind.
I know that Uncle William´s life was marked with some excruciating trials and grief. No one would have guessed it. I´m grateful to have known him, even the small slice of his life that I enjoyed. I´m grateful and happy for those of you who knew him so much better than I and gathered so much more from the gift of his life. And I am grateful for his beautiful example of endurance, perseverance, patience, kindness, and gentle strength. He was a wonderful brother to my mom and a fun, kind and generous uncle to all of us. I can only imagine how much you will miss him.
I will be praying for a particularly special day today filled with the joy and encouragement of many happy memories shared, and for God`s peace and comfort, to be shared and known.
Much love to you all,
Sandy (Thayer) Ford
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