Oren Lamar Sheldon

Kimberly wrote:
Grandad was a notable presence in my life. He showed up for me when nobody else would. He did everything in his power to make sure I was taken care of and most importantly, he was a big goofball. I hope to share in this space my most fond memories and that they provide comfort and smiles as they do to me.

My best memories of Grandad revolve around all our silly little adventures across the street to Hickory park and around the neighborhood. To the very top of the rocket ship slide we would go, giggling the whole way when I looked down to see grandads head poke through to the next level. We would then proceed to shake the whole thing, kids inside or not. Let's not forget the rusty wheelbarrow rides around the whole house, and through the backyard dodging the piles of dirt that never seemed to find a home. Another favorite activity of Grandad's was his infamous floor naps, which I'm sure gave Grammie heart attacks on multiple occasions. "Nobody ever fell off the floor" he reasoned.

Grandad was usually gifted a new button-up shirt from my mom and I on his birthday. The main criteria being a chest pocket in which he would store his mechanical pencil and his "Yellow Berry" or his "brains." Grandad's yellowberry went on to record splits at all of my track meets and cross-country races. The notes were translated into a post-race recap which I would receive by email the next day: a statistical analysis of my pace and position amongst the pack. While I rarely made out cheers down on the track, I'll always remember his voice in the bleachers yelling "Go Kimberly!!" He certainly gave my mom a run for her money. Any mention of myself in the paper was clipped out and proudly displayed. He was my biggest fan in not only my athletic endeavors, but across the board.

Grandad's post-it notes scavenger hunts will never be out done. Every Easter, my journey would begin by him handing me a mug of water to "warm up in the microwave." From there I would be racing all over he house, from the attic to the garage and across the street to the park. Strategically places candies along the way kept me fueled. If we weren't outside getting into shenanigans, we were staying busy with card games and taking a stab at the tin of magic tricks in the den. He lit up when we talked of our ancestors, sharing with me his diligent research in the form of photos, stories, and an extensive family tree binder. I've always admired this passion of his.

When I left California I was always excited to receive mail from Grandad. Comics and newspaper clippings were a frequented form of communication between us. He followed my journey in Alaska and onward, with passion and the most genuine awe of anyone.

I find solace in this memory bank. We lost a dear soul here on this Earth but now he cheers, laughs, and cries with us from the best seat in the house. I love you more than you ever knew, Grandad.

Kimberly

Gayle wrote: 
To say My Uncle Punky was "one of a kind", seems underwhelming for the Husband, Father, Grandad, Uncle, Human- that he was.  Gracious to a fault, with a brilliant mind and a quick wit, he always had a punchline no matter how many times you had heard it.  Once my girls were born, Uncle Punky was aptly re-named "GOUP," our "Great Old Uncle Punky."  He was the master at newspaper clippings, comics and articles pertaining to whatever circumstances were surrounding your life- and he must have had fast pass at the post office for all the mailings he made.  Being an engineer could not have been suited better for him- as we all have been bestowed perfectly sized, cut, manipulated cardboard mailings (with peanuts of course) for items/gifts that he sent over the years- never a square inch to be left over.  Sheri told me one time he sent a vacuum- that box should be in the Smithsonian for ingenuity.  

GOUP was such a family man and we all felt his love and devotion and care throughout the years.  His brother (my father, David) has been gone for over 53 years now, and my Uncle Punky- NEVER forgot nor did he not include me in his life- he has been a permanent and welcomed fixture My ENTIRE LIFE.  My heart will be forever indebted to him for the impact he left on me.

Uncle Punky and I were the only ones interested in living to be 105- beating out his mother/my grandma :).  I guess he has passed that torch down to me now, and i will do my best to reach that goal, just so when I see him again he will have a thought out analysis of my accomplishment.   God must have needed his charismatic personality and genius engineership to grace Heaven and bless others not of this world... I am sure he was welcomed with big arms and grand smiles and quite possibly a party in his honor.  To say he will be greatly missed, is an understatement- he was not a diamond in the rough- but a true GEM always and forever. 

Gayle (and Haleigh and Kaitlyn) xoxo 

Christopher wrote: 
Oren “Grandad” Sheldon
    As I sit here writing this, I am filled with so many emotions that its hard to describe. The numbness has gone away but the sadness and heaviness are overwhelmingly there. Grandad was the healthiest person I knew. He beat cancer once all ready. Although cancer is what took another one of my hero’s lives. Grandad was an amazing man who I know loved his family with his whole heart. 

    As I think back, I am reminded on how much of a support system Grandad was for us. Kimberly, your biggest fan so much, he went to Hawaii to watch you run. Every time I was a part of a team, Granddad would ask me how was (insert team) doing. If we were not doing well, he always gave a suggestion of “Try Harder” to me. Also, academically, He was our biggest teacher. If we could not figure out a problems answer, Granddad would help us figure out the answer and not just give it to us. He loved and supported his step children as if they were his own kids.  He was our biggest support, fan, and teacher that we had. Another thing I remember about Granddad was, He made life fun and interesting to say the least. When I was little, visiting from Indiana for the summer, Granddad asked me to help him with a project in the back yard. My job, from Granddad, was to dig a hole in the ground so he can move dirt back into the hole. My logic was that if I did a hole in the ground, I am just producing more dirt and if I do not dig the hole then there was not going to be the dirt that I produce to fill the hole. He eventually found ways to fill flower beds with that dirt that needed to be put into the ground. It became a life long running joke with me and him. I also remember when I would come out for the summer, we would travel north to see Nana Sue, I would always ask him where are we? His response was simply this, “We are right here” as he points down. Not what I was looking for as an answer, I eventually learned that he was not wrong either. The last few fun things I remember about Grandad was when he sneezed, he would always follow with a saying “YABACHICABO.” Later on, I learned it was German for bless you or me. He then would so “Gormps” which is thank you. Lastly, and I do not know why, his favorite number, at least for me was the number 7. 

    I am now going to direct this to my amazing family. I know with out a shadow of a doubt that Grandad is in heaven with Jesus and God. I want to be they’re with him one day singing praises to God and Jesus. I also know that; he is pain free of cancer and any other pains because it says it in the Bible. Revelation 21:4 says 
 
    He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.
You see why I want to be up with him is because I will be pain free and be with family that has gone onto glory before me. I just challenge you to find Jesus and love him unconditionally.  I know Granddad will be waiting with open arms for us, just like Jesus.

Chris