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Posted: Thursday, January 6, 2011 8:20 am
Updated: 12:51 am, Thu Jan 13, 2011.
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Feb. 9, 1931 - Jan. 3, 2011
A new black hole was created on Jan. 3, 2011, when John M. Lanham sat down for the last time in his chair to read the Wall Street Journal and have a morning cup of coffee. During his life, he did what we all should do... he lived a full, eventful and fruitful life. He sought adventure, cherished the small things, sold his treasures for a profit, and grew the best potatoes and garlic in Eugene, Ore. Our mom, his wife of 59 years, Mary R. Lanham, will miss his love, companionship, his endless appreciation of most of her cooking and his tolerance of her catalog shopping. Mea will miss their long walks and quiet mornings.
Dad was born in Ashland, Neb., in 1931, the youngest of five. The family moved to the Idaho-Washington area during the Great Depression. Those years carved him into the person he became and we all valued. He graduated from the College of Idaho in 1952, and began teaching in Riggins. After a stint in the Army in Germany, he returned to teach and coach. He entered George Washington University Medical School in 1958 and graduated in 1962. After an internship and residency in Ogden, Utah, he started a family practice in North Idaho where he treated and cared for his many patients until 1976 when he quit to milk his daughter's cow, Butter Fat, and think about his future. In November 1976, the entire family moved to Midland, Mich., when he went to work for Dow Chemical.
While with Dow, he worked as a plant physician, an assistant Corporate Medical Director, Medical Director for California, Canada, Europe, Mid-East, Africa and finally, as Corporate Medical Director. He retired to Eugene to become a purveyor of fine pre-used items.
Father, Dad, John, Grampa John, Hey You and How Much Do You Want for This... is gone. He will be so, so missed as we learn to live in a world devoid of his wisdom, his snide sense of humor, his love for mankind, his intolerance for Republicans, his love of good books, good basketball and, of course, his sourdough pancakes.
Not being one for ceremony, his ashes are to be scattered as soon as Sally Ann Lanham Esq, Seattle, Wash., Bellelizabeth Foster MD, Marshfield, Wis., Alex Earl Lanham MFA, Eugene, and David Robert Lanham DFP, Visalia, Calif., can "calmly discuss the matter in an adult way so as not to upset anyone or cause strife." (Actually Mom will make the final decision.) Flowers are not necessary. In lieu of such things, plant some daffodils or a tree, or send some money to your favorite charity that cares for the homeless.
Written by: Sally Ann Lanham
2 comments:
That was beautiful, Sally. He really was a wonderful person.
I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. You write about him beautifully here.
It's been quite a while, so I'm not sure whether or not you'll remember me; we met together with our girls at a bakery (I think it was the North Hill Bakery?). My daughter is up for her 2-year survivorship meeting...and I was thinking about you and ME and stopped by to catch up with your blog.
I wish you and your family all the best; my thoughts will be with you.
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