Daily rituals those last few days:
Watching the birds and how they could fly;
Keeping an eye on his pickup through the haze;
Watching "Red River" and listening to Nakai.

John Wayne marathons all night and all day,
"The Country" and all those Las Vegas memories,
Reminiscing about the good 'ole days,
Fam'ly photos hiding stark realties.

With music from the "Rainbow World,"
Our memories became twirled
Between the strange paths of then and now,
And down country roads to see Bob's cows.

Iced tea and cornbread with buttermilk and a sweet onion:
Dying rituals with daughters Donna Lynn and Karen.
Crutcher wanted to stay home with the love of everyone:
He was in dying, as in living, a phenomenon.

"Red River" was the epitome
Of his life, a metaphor.
He lived his life, no apologies,
In his own way, a warrior.

Cowboys' handkerchiefs replaced by his sweet Emily~
Bob Crutcher was very proud of all his family:
Cousins, all the relatives, the Texas Crutcher Clan.
But there was so much more that we didn't see
'Til the end of this Tough Texan Gamblin' Man.

Tough Texan, he noticed flower bouquets,
Said "Thank-yous," as he was passing away.
Tough Texan, gazing at the birds each day,
His sights were on something so far away.

Suddenly, "Ben? Ben Gilbert, I know you!"
Bob, was he dreaming?  Who was that he knew?
The younger relations, they wondered who
"Ben" was, who was that Bob was talking to?

"The Boys" would soon be together again:
No one could remember how long it'd been,
A life time long ago, they were all friends.
Ben Gilbert and Adolphus came to guide,
To help Bob pass on to the other side.

Souls surrounded by the love of family,
"Hanging Tough" he drew his last courageous breath,
Keeping in death, as in life, his dignity,
\Still with a sense of humor, even in death.

Daddy! Daddy! I still called you Daddy!
Not caring who might hear my crying words.
Reverberating cries for my Daddy
Emergence into Nakai's Rainbow World.

I loved you and missed you more than words could say,
From when I was your "Baby Girl," your Karen Renee.
I always remembered how we would steal away:
Sunrise fishing expeditions at the break of day.

The Crutcher family, we all stood together,
We were privileged to have known
Bob Crutcher, a man of such character.
We were proud of him too: our family's own.

All the Crutchers in pain and grieving our loss,
"Oh Hell!" what the Baptist neighbors might say,
We threw a party for Bob, and all across
McKinney we echoed all the next day.

Cousins made a "county run." Crazy Crutchers!
On tables we danced, and we played dominoes,
"B.S.ing" in the kitchen, sisters and brothers
Toasting Bob, headed for the sky's casinos.

We partied as we remembered, into the night.
Daddy's spirit ceremoniously did appear
At first day break after the wake, at first daylight:
Bird rituals those last few days, a mockingbird so near.

Traveling to the big casino in sky,
Bob Crutcher's journey: probably still flipping dimes.
As the Crutchers saluted and said their good-byes,
Ritual rainbows were crystalined for all time.

Love,

Karen Renee