Because of some sad, recent family events I have been inspired to write a eulogy for my sweetheart so he can hear all the lovely things I feel about him while he is still in my arms.

 

The first thing I noticed about Daniel was his smile! He has a great smile. The first time I met him I knew he was the man I would marry. But I set that thought aside while we took our time to get to know each other. It took nearly a year for Daniel to propose to me. Now that I know him better I know that this is about how Daniel does everything. It took him about as long to research the first DVD player he purchased and our latest phones. Daniel is thoughtful, intelligent, and hard working. He is good with his hands, and loves to solve puzzles.  We never go very long without someone calling him on the phone asking him to come fix some computer problem or mend some appliance or what have you. I was proud of him recently when he finally through away one of the old Commodore Monitors he still had. But, only because I broke it. Daniel is always up for adventure and is ever willing to pack up our little circus and take us with him. A while back he took a job that took us all over Washington and Oregon for nearly two weeks of driving and hotel stays. The kids had a blast! Daniel worked himself nearly to death moving tons of steel displays out of cell phone stores.

Some of you may not know that one of his favorite jobs was the house he built at Nesika Beach, Oregon with his father and grandfather. His grandfather, Oral Bell died before the house reached completion and Daniel was glad to have had that one last chance to work construction with four generations of family! ( Anna helped too)

Daniel spent much of his childhood roaming the hills and river in Gold Hill, Oregon. He still has strong friendships with the kids he hung out with. Once he picked me up from the airport and took me with Ryan Brown to hike the hill behind Ryan’s house. It was a fun day. If I remember right he even packed me a lunch complete with warm yogurt.  I had been visiting family back in Missouri, and telling them all about this tall handsome stranger I was in love with. While I was there he e-mailed me several times.

After we had been dating a few months he took me to Barnes and Noble to ask if it was okay with me if he took a job in Colorado. It was the hardest thing I ever did to say yes and let him go hoping he would come back to me soon. We developed a code: 459 that I could send him on his pager to let him know I loved him. When he finally finished the job and came home, he was ring shopping. That was December but I didn’t know. He finally asked me on February 13th 1999 after breakfast with his family. I was completely surprised. Daniel is an excellent secret keeper.

What fallowed were years of the usual newlywed struggles, new parenthood, job changes, moving into our own home, starting our own business, and more and more kids. The days were not all sunny, and a few times the car, the washer and drier, the dishwasher, the oven and I all broke down. But, we never quit, and Daniel never gave up on me. Daniel is not a quitter! I will forever be grateful that God managed to find me the one good man who could put up with all my crazy!

 Daniel I love you!

 Your wife:

 Georgie Lynn Bell