John Earl Cadle - Remarks by Dale Tincher at Earl's Funeral - May 25, 2006
 

It is difficult to talk about Earl without talking about Gloria. Earl and Gloria had a 63-year marriage and love affair that are the kind for which everyone wishes. This wasn’t a movie, however. It was the real thing. They were a team, of one flesh. I’ll tell you more about this later, but one of Earl’s last comments was his statement to God, “I thank you God. You could never have given me a better wife. She stuck with me through good and bad times. I will always love her.

Let me say before telling you about the immediate family that my uncle Earl and Gloria took me and my brother in several times when my father was sick and my mom needed to be with my dad. They treated me like a son and I will always love them dearly. I lost my father many years ago and my mother more than two years ago. Gloria was on the phone frequently when it was the most difficult, making sure I knew that I still had a father and mother on this earth.

The measure of a man. How do we truly know a man? We can ask the people closest to a man – his family – the people who live with him during good times and bad times. I asked two of the people closest to Earl to describe him in a few sentences.

I asked Earl’s beloved daughter, Diana, to describe Earl to me. Diana said, “He was my John Wayne. I could always depend upon him. He gave unconditional love. He was always there. Even when he was appearing to be gruff about a situation, he was reaching for his wallet, car keys or anything that was needed.” I didn’t ask Diana, but I’m sure that the John Wayne reference had to do with Earl’s strength that was combined with a heart of gold. Diana inherited Earl’s strength as well as her mother’s loving manner. Diana, you are now the Jonetta Wayne of this family. We love you.

Gloria and Earl loved their son Mike immeasurably. Gloria told me that Mike said that Earl was, “as dependable as an old oak tree. He often said to Gloria, don’t worry mom, dad can fix it.” We miss and love you Mike, but we rejoice that you and Earl are together now.

Gloria told me simply and softly, with admiration and love in her eyes, “they didn’t make many like him. I could always depend upon him. He was “always” there.” Gloria, we love you with all our hearts and we are with you and will always be with you.

Think about those descriptions of Earl. Our ultimate goal should be to be Christ-like. Compare the descriptions of Earl to our beloved Christ. We can always depend upon Christ. He shows unconditional love. He is always there for us. Not many people measure up. Earl did.

Earl talked with great love and pride about Donnie and his beautiful family in San Diego. He treasured being near Don, Diana, Shelley, Tom, Katie, Corrie and Kassie and treasured the times Katie, Corrie and Kassie would come over and spend with him. However, he called her Kassie, Kathy, right Kassie? She won’t let me call her Kasandra, but she and everyone let him call her Kathy. They brightened his last years immeasurably. His eyes would truly twinkle when he talked about all of his family members.

We don’t ever want to speak for God, but some things seem to be apparent to me. Many people say that before someone passes on, their entire life flashes before them. It appears to me that God gave Earl and his family a wonderful gift. He let Earl’s life flash before him, but in slow motion and he let Earl describe it to his family. I think he did this in order to let Earl express his love once again and for his family to receive comfort and assurance. Earl began talking in a special way the day before he passed on to heaven and it was so special that Gloria quickly called the family together. Earl talked as if he was being interviewed by someone (Gloria feels it was Jesus), but he also described what he was seeing. There would be a pause as if someone was asking him questions, then he would answer about segments of his life.

Earl thanked God for, “giving him two beautiful children.” He thanked God for Gloria, as I referenced in the first paragraph. As one point, with great happiness and joy, he described being in a big house. This reminded me of Pastor Rice’s reading of Jesus saying in John 14, “in my Father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” Earl talked as if his son Mike was showing him around. He said, “This is the biggest house and I haven’t gotten to see everyone yet.” He named countless people who he was close to and asked his family to, “tell them he loved them.” It is as if Earl knew that one day all of his beloved relatives and friends who know Christ would be with in the “big house” with him.

Earl displayed his trademark sense of humor telling everyone that he was going to be looking down upon them. Did Earl display fear or uncertainty? Was his heart troubled? No, he showed no fear. His heart was not troubled about his destination. He knew Jesus was waiting for him. He looked toward the ceiling and said that he saw angels beckoning him. He was obviously ready.

In closing, Earl built a strong, solid foundation and spread love and values from West Virginia to California to Moses Lake, Washington. We have a lot to live up to, but we know the example Earl set and the life he taught us to live. We won’t be able to measure up to Earl, but let’s honor his memory by doing our best. We love you Earl.