Great Loss

I have not written about this sooner, because it's been so devastating to my family and me.

July 11, 2017 the greatest father in the world (according to my siblings and I) was taken out of this world in a horrific way. While coming back from a birthday party for his 93 year old sister, a train that failed to blow a whistle until the point of impact crashed into my father's and stepmother's car.

They had been over this track I know, hundreds if not thousands of times. The track has no lights or gates, nor even a simple stop sign, and there is a blind curve not far from it, that is covered by trees. The time was 7:26 p.m. and the sun was directly in front of them. A witness who had just crossed the tracks in the opposite direction, turned to look and saw them both with their hands up, trying to shield the blinding sun.

My siblings and I didn't find out until the next morning, due to the sheriff department in Craighead County not calling the chaplain of Baxter County where we live.

My Uncle Kenneth called me the next morning, and asked if I had talked to my Dad lately, and I said I had the previous morning. He said" Well, I hope I'm
not jumping the gun, but there was a car vs. train crash in Bono last night with two people killed. Sis, I'm hearing it was your Dad and Jeannette".

I don't know if I even remember a lot of what happened after that. I was sure it couldn't have been them, so I got off the phone, and tried to call them on every number they had. No contact.
I then called the Jonesboro Police Dept., who told me I had to call the Sheriff's Dept., who I immediately called. I asked them about the train crash, that I had heard that it was my Dad and Stepmother, and she told me she would try to find out, and call me back. A few minutes later I had confirmation that the victims were Billy David Rush, and Mary Jeannette Rush.

Daddy and Jeannette

Devastation. Period.

I was just devastated, we all were. Our Mother had died almost 15 years earlier, and Dad was all we had left. Now we had to say goodbye, and not one of us wanted to do that.

Mama at her piano

Mama and Daddy in Dinuba, CA

It's been a long hard road the past few months. We've had to take everything out of Daddy's house, and try to find new homes for them. Clean up the house and get it ready to sell. Even though it's just a shell now, because the people who made it home for us are gone, it's still very hard to say goodbye.

                    

 

  

I haven't gone into detail. I can't. It still hurts too much. 

I'm very thankful for my husband, Siblings, and all the people who have given us so much support. I'm very thankful that God helped us all through this. 

Saying Goodbye To Home

The funeral is over, the house is sold, and now we have to learn how to live without the man who has always been there for us. He taught us to love family, be strong, be honest, keep your word, and turn the light off when you leave the room! He taught it all by example. 

I don't think any of us would have been ready to ever see him leave this world, but until we meet you on the other side... 

Goodbye Daddy