On July 21, 2002 my father, Roy Ray passed away from complication's due to Alzheimer's. Over the last few years I have had the pleasure of sharing with you some of his poetry here at Vision Impression's. Throughout my father's illness, even though at times he couldn't remember who we were, we would always see his faith in Jesus Christ still there. We would catch glimpses of his wit and humor. So much of him we lost gradually over the years, yet through the darkness of this disease, we were blessed to see that part of him that was so important to him, his faith, his love for our mother, his love for us, his children, and that humor shine through. 

Over the last 7 months we had been preparing for when that day would come, we found that there truly is no way to be prepared for loosing a loved one. The day of Dad's funeral, it was a day filled with tears and sorrow, a day filled with joy that he no longer was suffering. We all had agreed that we wanted this day to be a day of celebration of his life. We all had a different relationship with our Dad, and each of us will miss him terribly. I was blessed to have him as my father and my friend. Through out his life he left so many "pearls of wisdom" with me. 

My father showed me that through one's weakness that there was always hope. That if a person truly wanted to change their life, it was completely up to them to change that path they were on, but they had to want it!

He taught me no matter how someone had wronged or harmed you, that we had to reach deep within our hearts and learn to forgive. 

He showed through his life that all the tribulations that a relationship can bring, you hang on to that love for that person, you stand beside them, through the good and the bad. He taught me that there was nothing in this world that had more worth, than that of family. 

My father showed me the importance of never knowing a stranger, you embraced all not for what you thought they should be, but who they were. That each person we encountered, good or bad, was precious in the eyes of God. 

My dad never judged me for the times I made bad decisions, he was always there to listen, to offer any advice he could, always their to forgive and show his love, yet he stood firm on "facing the consequences".  

He taught me the importance of believing in myself, even when other's didn't share the same view. 

He showed me the honor and importance of one's fighting for their country, no matter the risk to oneself. 

Through all the lesson's he instilled in my life, he would always remind me to keep a sense of humor, never to take myself so seriously that I couldn't laugh at my own self. 

Most of all, he showed me over and over the deep never ending love he had for our Mother and us kids. For this, I am thankful that God saw fit to share my father with us. For we all truly have been blessed.

We were so blessed to be able to have Dad home with us when God came to take him home, this was made possible from the help we received from Mat-Su Hospice and the Alzheimer's Resources of Alaska. We can never thank these people for their love, support and care that they not only showed our father, but they extended to the whole family. 

I want to thank someone else here who went beyond the call and that is our mother, Helen. Mom and Dad had been married for over 57 years. The beauty of their relationship was they just didn't love each other, they "still were in love" with one another. Mom was Dad's caregiver, she devoted each and every day to making sure that he received the best of care possible. Sometimes even at the risk of her own health. She wasn't one to let other's step in and take over, she was going to be the one who oversaw Dad's care, and she did this day in and day out for over 7 years of this illness.  

I also want to thank those who have visited our site and read some of the poetry written by my father. The countless letters, that we have received over the last few years, telling how his poem's had touched their lives, or brought tears to their eyes, have been such a blessing to us. Dad never truly knew that his poetry had made it up on our site or was being shared with other's, other then those in the family. Yet I know without a doubt, if he could of read some of the letters we have received, he would of been very honored and humbled. So from my Dad, thank you!