Give me Frivolty or Give me Death

A friend who heard me speak a few years ago, emailed an obituary to me. I checked it out and it is legitimate (there’s a link to Fox News below where you can hear his family read whole thing – I edited a bit for space). This man, Michael Holcomb, was an MVP – my theme for the post Super Bowl week. He was an MVP with his family, his friends, and the countless people he no doubt touched in his life. I have always thought that I would like to have people laugh in some way when I kick the bucket (which I have no plans to do until I am well over 100!). This made me smile and made we wish I had known him. It seems like he lead a life worth living and he obviously was very rich.

CLEMMONS – Michael Royal Holcomb of 4312 Riverside Drive, Clemmons, and 4440 Nassau Court, Little River, S.C., died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007.

I was born Jan. 10, 1949, in Christiansburg, Va. My partner in life and best friend, Pamela Weavil Holcomb, survives me and at this point, I would like to list the million or so ways I love her, but in case you didn’t know, they charge for these things! Being tight, and with a lot to say, I’ll just quote a song that asks, “Will the love I gave her in the past, be enough to last, if tomorrow never comes?” Well, tomorrow didn’t come, and Pam knows! God gave us two sons, Michael Cain and Marc Christopher, both now living in Advance. We could not have asked for better children. Each son found his perfect wife. Thank you girls for your love for Pam and me, and for being wonderful mates for our boys and moms to those “babies.” These kids, along with Lauren and Alex, are the light of my life, flowering a family tree that was the strength of my day. I was so blessed and I can only hope you are as lucky as I – word of advice, never miss a chance to hug or kiss or tell your family how much you love ‘em. It matters because there will come a time when you can’t! Accomplishments… I graduated from Davie High School in 1967, didn’t learn enough, had a lot of fun. I was way too smart for those teachers, and because of my less than enthusiastic scholastic effort, I became a member of the USAF, reluctantly loading bombs in Vietnam. To the 58,000 brothers that didn’t make it back, I sincerely thank you for your ultimate sacrifice. I loved the arts, but I’m really thankful I never had to go to an opera. Really! Went to a ballet once, thought I’d never fall asleep.

I earned N.C. plumbing license No. 7156-P, but I also was a salesman that loved the “pursuit.” I was a passionate (fan of) Reagan, Panthers, Fife, Skynyrd, Dr. J, Newhart, Stones, Ali, Flair, Davey, Pryor, Butkus, Lee, Orr, Gibson, Irvan, Harry Chapin, Heels, Stooges and a Cardinals fan. I did the civic thing, president of this club, secretary of that one, coach of several teams. Thankless work for whoever does it, but I loved that part of my life. I made dozens of friends, most of them chest high, and it always warmed my heart when they called me coach, even into their adulthood. I was a member of the Advance Masonic Lodge No. 710, and I was a very proud member of this church, Centenary United Methodist Church. I believe in God Almighty, His Son, Jesus Christ, and I publicly witness my love for them above all others, and ask forgiveness of my sins. I wish you would, too. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, and because of that, I have no fear of my death. If you can imagine a place better than Clemmons, I’m going there! I was told there would be a memorial service conducted at 3 p.m. today, Jan. 31, at Centenary United Methodist Church. Let’s use that time to celebrate the fun moments we shared – no tissue. Keep your thoughts light and happy and leave with memories that have you smiling; that would mean a lot to me. It is my wish to be cremated and my ashes either sold on eBay or placed in the Atlantic Ocean by a special group of very unlikely friends. That brings me to thanking you, my friends. Thank you all for your love throughout my life; it is amazing the effect you have told me that I had on your lives, some of it even positive. To those churches that didn’t even know me, and the hundreds of people in those churches who prayed for me, I thank you so much. I was proof that prayer works.

I request no memorials, especially flowers, never learned to appreciate funeral décor, and don’t send flowers to the house. Pam will kill them, she is not a botanist. And with that money you might have spent, give it to my church, or take your family to dinner and cherish that time, or take mine, trust me, they’ll let you pay! I believe my purpose in life was to help friends cope with a bad moment – to brighten your day with my silliness, boundless charm and uncanny wit – if I ever made you laugh or smile, that was no accident. I always tried to make everyone a little happier, often at my own expense, and if I did it for you, I was successful. Actually it was a great run! I wanted to live long enough to be considered as one who has wisdom, or to be on Willard Scott’s TV show, or just own a Buick, but I didn’t make it.

That’s a bummer, but oh well, getting expensive, big ending: I love my boys. Mike, you are my absolute hero, the things you’ve accomplished in your life kept me in awe; and Marc, I always loved being with you, just being with you, maybe it was because we were so much alike. Thank you both for your love; and Pam, I never looked at myself as that good of a catch, yet you loved me dearly, you could not have given me more. I adore you! You are my “sunshine”, always, still, and forever.

So many people to thank – WFU, the people at the Cancer Treatment Center, everyone on Ninth Floor North Tower, BMT Unit – all of you were so nice to Mike, and he loved you all. Dr. Molnar for believing in him and helping him fight the good fight. Most of all – Dr. Kahl – you kept your promise his heart was there till the very end – you were his good friend.

Click below or copy to your browser to hear read the entire text of the obituary he wrote read by his wife and sons:

http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=2262417

Email your obituary to me and start living like your worthy of it (I might just do the same!)

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com