A Final Message From John Gallagher
May 17, 2020 14:06:02 GMT -5
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Post by kings6 on May 17, 2020 14:06:02 GMT -5
As we all know, our friend John Gallagher passed away from his battle with cancer recently. A couple of us were fortunate enough to make a trip to Jasper and spend a couple days with John, Beverly and Isaac and get to watch John work on a number of revolvers. We visited, shared meals in his home, listened to his teaching on what he did during the various steps he took in building a custom revolver and basically just enjoyed spending time with him in what we all knew in our hearts was the last time we would get to be together here on earth.
On our last evening there we went to dinner with John and Beverly and didn't talk guns but simply shared stories, lives and hearts with one another. Near the end of our time together, John sat there for a moment then looked across the table at Glenn and I and asked if we would do him a favor. Naturally we both agreed before we even heard what he wanted then John shared his request. What John asked us to do was share a message with all of you, his community of clients, customer and friends. While not word for word, the following is basically what John shared both that last night as well as what he shared with me personally over the last several months.
During the final road journey John and Beverly traveled those last 6-7 months a large number of you folks came along side and shared that journey with John. You prayed, you fund raised, you gave gifts and some even gave forgiveness for jobs that the cancer would not let John finish. John and Beverly wanted to tell you all that those acts of kindness touched them more than any one person could ever know. They were totally surprised, awed and humbled by you folks generosity and kindness as they traveled that difficult road. From folks he had never even worked for donating everything from brass to grip frames to guns and who knows what else to friends setting up places for folks to give like Hamilton Bowen and John Taffin. The kindness extended to John and his family was beyond anything they could imagine.
What John quietly shared that last night was that he wanted us let you know that he had been blessed in life in that he had the privilege of making a living doing what he loved and it had been a good life. Most importantly though, was the people he got to meet along the way and who he felt were truly friends. And he didn't mean the people that we all recognize their names from the industry like Hamilton Bowen, Thad Rybka, Ashley Emerson or John Wooters but he specifically said he wanted you all to know he meant folks like us. From the young man who entrusted him with their first custom revolver to retired old military guys like Axehandle to his doctor friend who made the effort to take John on his last deer hunt where he shot one of his biggest bucks and then had that buck mounted so John could enjoy it hanging in his den those last few weeks. I have to admit it was not easy sitting across the table that night and listening to Johns request as he sat quietly next to Beverly but we told him we would share his message with you all.
Beverly recently send me an inspirational message the other day and I asked her if I could share part of it with you. I think this last part kind of summarizes what John and Beverly felt that you all meant to them by your kindness and generosity.
"People will say of us, as they said of Peter, you also have been with Jesus, your very speech betrays you! May our lives show You, even if it means persecution, because we know we will be blessed in it, You said so. And we hunger and thirst and we shall be filled. We mourn and we shall be comforted. Let us walk in meekness and we shall inherit the earth. May we be pure in heart that we may see you! We are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world! Amen, so be it!"
John felt he was truly blessed to have had so many friends, you folks, as he traveled through his life's path. So many of you displayed a heart of love, service and generosity and truly were the light in their world.
Robb & Glenn
On our last evening there we went to dinner with John and Beverly and didn't talk guns but simply shared stories, lives and hearts with one another. Near the end of our time together, John sat there for a moment then looked across the table at Glenn and I and asked if we would do him a favor. Naturally we both agreed before we even heard what he wanted then John shared his request. What John asked us to do was share a message with all of you, his community of clients, customer and friends. While not word for word, the following is basically what John shared both that last night as well as what he shared with me personally over the last several months.
During the final road journey John and Beverly traveled those last 6-7 months a large number of you folks came along side and shared that journey with John. You prayed, you fund raised, you gave gifts and some even gave forgiveness for jobs that the cancer would not let John finish. John and Beverly wanted to tell you all that those acts of kindness touched them more than any one person could ever know. They were totally surprised, awed and humbled by you folks generosity and kindness as they traveled that difficult road. From folks he had never even worked for donating everything from brass to grip frames to guns and who knows what else to friends setting up places for folks to give like Hamilton Bowen and John Taffin. The kindness extended to John and his family was beyond anything they could imagine.
What John quietly shared that last night was that he wanted us let you know that he had been blessed in life in that he had the privilege of making a living doing what he loved and it had been a good life. Most importantly though, was the people he got to meet along the way and who he felt were truly friends. And he didn't mean the people that we all recognize their names from the industry like Hamilton Bowen, Thad Rybka, Ashley Emerson or John Wooters but he specifically said he wanted you all to know he meant folks like us. From the young man who entrusted him with their first custom revolver to retired old military guys like Axehandle to his doctor friend who made the effort to take John on his last deer hunt where he shot one of his biggest bucks and then had that buck mounted so John could enjoy it hanging in his den those last few weeks. I have to admit it was not easy sitting across the table that night and listening to Johns request as he sat quietly next to Beverly but we told him we would share his message with you all.
Beverly recently send me an inspirational message the other day and I asked her if I could share part of it with you. I think this last part kind of summarizes what John and Beverly felt that you all meant to them by your kindness and generosity.
"People will say of us, as they said of Peter, you also have been with Jesus, your very speech betrays you! May our lives show You, even if it means persecution, because we know we will be blessed in it, You said so. And we hunger and thirst and we shall be filled. We mourn and we shall be comforted. Let us walk in meekness and we shall inherit the earth. May we be pure in heart that we may see you! We are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world! Amen, so be it!"
John felt he was truly blessed to have had so many friends, you folks, as he traveled through his life's path. So many of you displayed a heart of love, service and generosity and truly were the light in their world.
Robb & Glenn
