Family Remembrance 2

I am Bruce Sutherland Don’s son.
Big Shoes to Fill
(Thank people)


My Dad left some very big shoes to fill. I want to share some memories of him from the viewpoint of his child and how I hope we can try to fill those shoes.

I remember going into the basement of my Grandmothers house as a child and looking for treasures. I found fossils and shells that my Dad had collected. I also found some rusted spurs, a bullet mold and other items. These items were given to him by the Dr. who had cared for him after his bike accident. Some of these things are on display on the memory table. My Dad’s love of collecting rocks and shells and things has been passed on to me and my children and grandchildren. I think that we will be able to fill his treasure hunting shoes.

I have many memories of my Dad as a Dr. When I was 4 or 5 he would take me early in the morning to check newborns at the Seattle hospitals, as there was no hospital on the Eastside. Many times as I waited for him the nurses would tell me that they could tell when he was there by his whistling. One of his favorite songs to whistle was colonel Boogeys march from the Bridge on the River Kwai. You will have a chance to hear this song as we eat cookies and share memories after the service.

My Dad would make house calls, his Dr.’s bag is also on display along with his medical school microscope on the memory table. I would often go on house calls with him and wait in the car. One time he came out of a patient’s home with some vegetables. He explained that the parents couldn’t afford to pay him so they gave him vegetables from their garden. That was the type of caring man that he was. Another evening he had to leave. When he got home he explained that a boy had been doing the back float in Lake Sammamish and been bitten in the butt by a muskrat and needed stitches. Stories like that I always will remember. Over the years at high school reunions many people have told me that Dad was a great Dr. for them and also their kids.
He was a kind and caring Dr. and those shoes will be hard to fill.

Dad had a love for all of God’s creation. His love of nature, the beauty of the mountains, the flowers, the animals, the san juan Islands knew no limits. Shaw Island was his Camelot. He often took us on family hikes. When he started mountain climbing he pursued it with a passion, climbing Mt. Baker, Adams, Hood, Rainer, and many others. One cold winter day I went with him to climb a mountain in the Olympics. It was snowing so hard we could hardly see, it was only when we reached the summit that we could see that our whole group had climbed the wrong mountain. Some of his climbing gear is also on display.

Dad knew that I loved seeing wild animals as a child. He and Jody took me on a two week trip to Africa a few years back to fulfill my life long dream. I know that my children and grandchildren love nature, so I think we can fill these shoes.

My Dad had a great love and respect for all human kind. For many years he carried in his wallet a saying about not judging others until we have walked a mile in their shoes.
One of his favorite readings came from “For whom the bells tolled”, a story about the bells tolling when someone dies.
“let those of us who hear the bells, pause in our footsteps, rethink our goals, and perhaps, just perhaps, find time to live each day, each hour more fully . And another quote from someone else. “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being let me do it now, We can help fill his shoes of compassion by sharing our love with others.

Family was important to Dad. My Grandfather was the only boy in his family and my Dad only had sisters. He was so excited when I had a son and so excited when my youngest son had a boy to carry on the Sutherland name. He stressed that fact that ladies were special and were to be treated specially. You were expected to open doors for them or help them carry things. The lessons that I have learned from this have been practiced and passed on. My daughter Lea will tell you that I treated her differently than my sons. This was not always to her liking. People tease me about how much I cherish my daughter in laws Katie and Jocelyn, but I do.

I have seen this love and caring for family demonstrated so strongly by Ruth and Cheryl in the loving care and attention that they gave my Dad and Jody. Others have shown care but Ruth and Cheryl’s care was exceptional. And I want to publicly thank them now. My Dad’s granddaughter Meagan and family have put hours of love and caring into the making of a video you will see shortly. The greatest demonstration of love and caring has been the love my Dad showed for Jody. Those shoes will be very very difficult to fill. I would like to ask all the family members to stand , it will take all of us working together to try to fill those shoes. OK sit down.

I will miss my Dad greatly but I will always have his legacy and these memories. Everything in this service is tied to his life, the Dr. bag, the songs, the peanut butter cookies and the love of family and friends.

He left a poem to be read to people by Ilsa Richardson

To those I love
If I should ever leave you
Whom I love
To go along the Silent Way
Grieve not,
Nor speak of me with tears,
But laugh and talk
Of me as if I were
Beside you there.
(I’d come I’d come,
could I but find a way!
But would not tears and grief
Be barriers?)
And when you hear a song,
Or see a bird
I loved, please do not let
The thought of me
Be sad…. For I am
Loving you just as
I always have…
You were so good to me!
There are so many things
I wanted still
To do…so many things to say to you…
Remember that I
Did not fear.. It was
Just leaving you
That was so hard to face…
We cannot see Beyond…
But this I know:
I loved you so..twas heaven
Here with you!