|
Farewell Sundown – We'll Miss You
We said our last farewells to our friend Sundown at High Noon on American Independence Day, because that was when his funeral took place - 12 noon on
Monday 4th July 2005.
The rain was teeming down; quite unlike the weather on the day he died, June 27th, when the bright sunshine had seemed heartless.
A large crowd was standing outside the crematorium chapel to greet him for the last time; many dressed as Confederate soldiers, Southern belles,
cowboys and cowgirls. The guard of soldiers lifted their sabres as the hearse drew up and then the coffin, the top masked by an array of flowers and bearing Sundown's hat, was carried into the chapel.
Barbara, the family and the guests followed him into the building to the strains of 'Amazing Grace', and it soon became apparent that for some it
would be standing room only, as so many had come to pay their respects.
The lady clergyman had not known Sundown but she gave an upbeat résumé of his life, stressing his sense of humour, his love for Barbara and the
family, (especially granddaughter Daisy!), his interest in people and his passion for America and all things Western.
The scripture reading was taken from St John chapter 14 where Jesus tells his friends that he is going to heaven to prepare a place for them, and
instead of a hymn we listened to a CD of Elvis singing 'Take My Hand Precious Lord.'
As the curtains closed and Sundown's coffin disappeared from view we heard the tune of 'The Yellow Rose of Texas.'
Finally we filed out of the chapel to the words of 'He's An Old Hippie.'
We all gathered again at the Acton Court Hotel where a nice buffet had been laid on. After the meal the soldiers and cowboys, under the guidance of
Hoss, acted out a little ceremony in which the Confederate flag was folded and presented to Barbara along with a little wooden plaque reading,
'R.I.P Sundown 1943 – 2005 aka Major General Gilbert Moxley Sorrel CSA.'
as I went around the room I came upon a lot of old friends from Fort Stanley as well as members of the High Peak CWC, and of course the founders of
our club, Buckshot and Dallas.
Everyone had a story to tell about Sundown, about his sense of humour, and also how he had helped people with their dancing, or their shooting, or
their handling of the flags in the trilogy.
Despite the sad reason for our being there we had a good afternoon thanks to the dignity of Barbara, the friendliness of the family, the unity we felt
as members of the Country and Western fraternity, and our shared memories of Sundown.
I'm going to end with my own Sundown story.
After we'd made him Chairman of our post-Buckshot club I said to Sundown, as he had seemed a little reluctant,
"Well, you've got presence."
He looked at me with the merest hint of a twinkle in his eye and snarled,
"Presents? I'm not buying them presents!"
Rest in peace Sundown. We won't forget you.
Mrs Rusty & Rusty
|
