Reed had his first heart attack while he was in the hospital visiting me when I gave birth to Braxton. He decided to quit smoking that day.
When Braxton started talking, he kept saying grandma and grandma, so we changed grandpa's name to papa. He's been known as papa ever since.
When my kids were newborns, he would often spend the whole night taking care of them so that I could get some sleep. He fed them, changed them and rocked them in the rocking chair for hours on end.
He was a pushover for his grandkids. All they had to do was say what they wanted and he promptly went out and bought it for them. Everything from ATV's and horses, to clothes and video games.
He became known by all of the kids in the neighborhood as the "sucker man". Every time he came to see his grandkids, he would stop at the 7-Eleven and pick up about 20 suckers. The kids in the neighborhood would see his truck pull up and they would swarm around him as he got out and he passed out suckers to all of them.
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He did always bring suckers lots and lots of them so when we said "papas here," Blake would jump!
ReplyDeleteI remember going to the Horse Races and Wendover a few times with Grandpa.. He would always just randomly call me to go with him spur of the moment- and most of the time I would. We would spend hours upon hours playing Texas Hold Em'..He always bragged about my gambling abilities ;) I will always cherish those long drives I got to Share with him. We will miss you Grandpa ♥♥♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteLove Always,
Kristal Workman
I remember going up to Grandma and Grandpa's for Thanksgiving or just to visit, he would always take me and my brother's out to see the horses and let us feed them. It was always good spending time with family and the memories I do have I will cherish forever. We miss and love you Grandpa
ReplyDeleteLove
Jessica Griffith
Reed's heart must be bursting with all the love for him that is exploding hourly. He gave so much to so many in a multitude of his own unique way. How amazed he must be to see this beautiful tribute to his memory created by his daughter, Aisza.
ReplyDeleteThis is truly a treasure and a comfort to me. To hear his voice that Aisza was able to capture from his cell phone and place on this page is so uniquely Reed and his wonderful humor.
To everyone who has and will post a comment. Thank you. We all need and take comfort in your sharing your thought of the moment. Please feel free to add other thoughts you may have in the future.
I thank Aisza for helping me through this. I am partially paralyzed and unable to say all that all the feelings that are inside.
Reed's enormous number of family and friends have been wonderful and have met with the his passing in so many different and personal ways that all speak with each of your personal relationship with this incredible man.
I love you all.
Proud to be Reed's wife.
To Griz
ReplyDeleteYou gave Papa such joy from the moment you were born, following you around as you learned to walk, peeing together on a rock when your were two, pacing back and forth as you competed in football, delighting at your prowess on your motorcycle over the trails with Preston's grandson. He suffered horribly when you crashed into the tree and broke your hip. With that injury you and he created yet another bond...pain and incapacity to do what you want and need to do.
He loved you more than life.
Gma
To Dumpy
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible joy you have been to Papa. You were such a fearless baby. You would take his breath away as make him leap to save you. He never recovered from the day you were helping him on the ATV as sweet precious toddler while he picked up horse poo and put it in the trailer behind the ATV. He liked the pasture to be green and clean. Then you slid up on the tank and with your tiny thumb hit the gas. Now you zoom around like a wild woman on his ATV and you made his heart pound with pride.
He spoke of his love and appreciation of your staying with him and taking care of him. Can you feel him hug you? He had amazing love for you.
Gma
To the Duke
ReplyDeleteYou started the hat demolition tradition. Taking Papas cowboy hat off, pulling off the band, dragging it all over the house, sitting on it, making Papa hold it while you filled it with toys. Then putting it back together and putting it back on Papa's head. It was a $200.00 hat and he just grinned and loved every second. He had to stop and buy those suckers for all the kids before he arrived at your house...or donuts. You made such a display over those treats, it make him giggle.
When you swung up on the roof of the house at two years, I thought he was going to have heart attack along with your Dad. What a little athlete and while Papa called you Duke...your Dad's nickname Monkey made Papa nod in agreement. You will always be special in his heart.
Gma
To Cub
ReplyDeleteHe talked about your grin and how it lit his heart over and over. He had to get out to see you and your grin. You too did the cowboy hat trick but by the time you came around, he had purchased a cowboy hat made out of iron. So although you continually took it off his head, stomped on it, sat on it, drug it around, put it on, took it off, over and over...it held up pretty good and he became famous for wearing that hat.
Best of all he teared up when you would grab your blankey and crawl up into his lap, cuddle down into his arms and go to sleep. His arm would cramp and the pain after hours went by was nearly unbearable but he would not let anyone move you. What a joy you are.
Gma
To Taylor
ReplyDeleteHow grateful your Grandpa was that your Dad let him be part of your life. Your Dad would call on the cell...game time, field number, time and Grandpa would fly to see you. When your Dad said ...going camping...Cherry Creek, south side bring ATV's and Brax and bike. He flew into gear. What great memories. What love. How proud he is of you.
At the end, he could not go in to get you a new game but he needed to be as much a part of it as he could. He loved you so much.
Granma
Crystal
ReplyDeleteYou made Grandpa laugh when you went with him to Wendover. He said you had the whole place in stitches wearing the Chef's big tall white hat. Thank you for making it so fun for him. That is a memory that is special to him.
To Dave
ReplyDeleteReed's admiration for you and how good you are to his daughter was deep. He was grateful she had found someone who was kind and good to her and Griz and Dumpy. Plus two more special souls..Duke and Cub.. that filled his heart with joy. His appreciation and love is endless.
Gma
To Kev
ReplyDeleteYour Dad cherished the years with you racing the dirt bikes. You started it and the whole family and a ton of friends bought bikes and we all had tons of fun..some broken bones and fond fond memories. But the best is Taylor. Your Dad is so dadgum proud of amazed at what a great Dad you are!
Now you are a father, you understand his unconditional love.
I will miss Reed i took care of his oxygen ever friday when i wold deliver his oxygen we would talk for a good hour he was full of life and allways talked about his family boy he's eyes light up when he talked about his grandkids he all ways mad sure i was smiling befor i left now he is looking down on us all
ReplyDeleteto the workman family my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time Reed will all ways have a place in my hart jeremy parry (valley home medical) nancy if you need any thing please call
Grampy, I'm going to miss your sweats, suspenders and cowboy hat on our Sunday ritual to the lighthouse. I love you so very much and will think about you with every day that goes by. I know we will meet again and I will be looking forward to that day. I love you Grandpa.
ReplyDeleteYour Angel, Kali
Good Bye my friend, you were a very big part of me getting involved in racing horses. I don't know if I should thank you for that or not, oh well it's been a great ride. I always enjoyed our conversations together and marveled at how you always took care of your family and making sure everything was always ok for Nancy. Thanks for always being kind to me and my family. I will think of you often. Your friend, Steve McIntyre
ReplyDeleteTo Anita
ReplyDelete"Call Anita' Reed would say to me. / See if she is up and ready to go to breakfast." You would answer all sleepy but always made it to meet your Dad. He loved listening to you catch him up on all the happenings. He was so incredibly proud of how you overcame and prevailed life's challenges. You are a wonderful example to your children.
Granma
To Lezlee and Gerrie
ReplyDeleteHow incredibly awesome friends you are. You catered to Reed, you cared for Reed, you took him to the hospital, you waited while he received his infusion, you wheeled him (although you nearly took his foot off) you fed him, you made him feel like a King. You were his special Angels who brought tears to his eyes in love and appreciation.
So many years - so many acts of kindness and love - so much to be so grateful for.
Nanc
To Laurie
ReplyDeleteYou were such a bright spot in his life. Not only did you tend so expertly over his amputation, you were a friend. Your son Magnum was special and Reed always commented on how he was such a gentleman. So respectful. So well behaved. Thank you for all you did for so long for him.
Nanc
Hi Grandpa. Well I didn't really get to spend a lot of time with you when I was a child, but these last few years I have really had a good chance to get to know you. And for that, i am grateful. You are a wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather. I am very glad you got to meet and get to know both of my children and when they are old enough to understand I will tell them about you and how wonderful you are. You had a certain way of telling people "how it is" and i love that about you. Sometimes People need to hear it. I will miss you every day grandpa until they day we meet again. I love you...
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone
ReplyDeleteThank you all for all your support, calls, flowers, and cards. You have overwhelmed me. You all have been so thoughtful and caring. Thank you so much.
I will go through pictures next week and post them on here for everyone.
Friday everyone is invited to join us for a big camp fire and Reed Workman story telling. We all have tons of stories about Reed. He was unique and memorable.
Saturday we will scatter his ashes where he spent thousands of hours riding his motorcycle and atvs. He loved the desert. He was raised in it. When he was riding and he came across a wash...oh boy that was cool. He rode that area so much, he knew every rock and every trail. Most of them, he made. Preston Gerber took Reed out there just a few months ago and Reed loved it.
So everyone...anytime you see a sagebrush, a dusty trail, dry desert country, you will probably be looking at a hint of Reed.
Nanc
My hero, my friend, my dad. We went to Cherry Creek last weekend and scattered your ashes at the pits, by a little pine tree. Dave made a little headstone with your name on it and Gary gave a heartfelt and tearful prayer. Now we all have somewhere to go when we want to say "hi". The thing that I will remember the most is your quiet presence when you entered a room and the ever present kindness in your eyes. You were always supportive, even during times I didn't deserve it. I love the way you would wink at me and say "I love you weiner" in a wispered voice, like it was some secret that you and I shared. Most of our time together over the past two years have been in hospitals or restaurants, but those times I will always carry with me. Along with all those times we stayed up all night playing "Texas Holdem", trying to get back in town before nancy went to work in the morning, so you could see her before she left. I would like to give a special thanks to nancy for always being willing to give up whatever she was doing, especially during football season, missing Terry and Howie, to meet us for breakfast all those sunday mornings. I love you dad.See you in my dreams... love Weiner
ReplyDeleteTo Aisza
ReplyDeleteReed said to me daily ...Aisza is the gift that keeps on giving. He was referring to your giving birth to four awesome grandkids. Best of all, Aisza you always include us in their lives. You let us play with them from tiny infants to teenagers... Inviting us out to your home, coming to our home with the kids. NFL games, Camping, atv riding, motorcycle, the list goes on and on with wonderful experiences with your family. Thank you. No greater gift to a couple of old grandparents.
Reed thanked me often for you. You gave him so much love. You were always there for him. You would drop everything when he called. What a joy you always were for him.
Now you have created this site for your father. It is awesome! It is powerful! I am positive he sees it and watches over you and his family daily.
Love you more than you know.
Mom
Hi Dad
ReplyDeleteToday is Father's Day...
missing you so much today.
Love you always
Anita