Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wanted to say Thank You to all who posted in response to the thread below. I did not end up going to VA after all. The "Bickering" and "bone picking" had started the day my father passed on and I don't want involving in that sort of thing and wouldn't be able to witness it with my own eyes without cracking up myself. I had gotten home at 1:30 am Monday and he passed Tuesday morning. I don't like "goodbyes" and want to remember him as he was before this illness. They originally admitted him back into the hospital thinking he had phuemonia, but it turned out to be a complication of the cancer. His mind had slipped quite a bit in the few days I was with him this past weekend and I truly feel he felt at peace when he did pass. Thankfully he passed in his sleep while the doctors were in with him.

Below is what I copied and pasted from his Obituary in the Virginian pilot newspaper....

James Timothy Martin VIRGINIA BEACH
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004 © The Virginian-Pilot

James Timothy Martin, OSCS, U.S. Navy retired, 54, of the 200 block of Bethune Drive, passed away Feb. 3, 2004, in Portsmouth Naval Hospital. A native of Youngstown, Ohio, he was a member of the Fleet Reserve Branch 99, American Legion, DAV, and was a graduate of Johnson & Wales Culinary School. He was a chef for Dominion Film Productions of Suffolk, Norfolk City Jail and Farm Fresh. He is survived by two daughters, Paula Istenes of Delaware and Lisa Dodd of Florida; one son, Matthew Burton of West Virginia; six grandchildren; two brothers, Douglas Martin and Tex Martin, both of Ohio; numerous nephews and nieces; and his good friends, Carol and David Dodd of Florida. A funeral with military honors will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. in Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Lynnhaven Chapel. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 6 to 8 p.m.

His first time ever holding a snake (taken during his Christmas vacation at my house)

Playing "Skip-bo" (Taken during his Christmas vacation at my house)

Those pictures show how he will be remembered, never will he be remembered struggling to breath or as he was during those last few days!

God bless!
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Lisa
Cricket free babies!
www.beginnersbasics.com

Lisa,

I'm glad to see you are handling it as well as you are. You know you & your family have been in our prayers.
Thanks for the great pics of his visit & I agree, that is a great way to remember him.

Keep your head up.
Joel
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Joel R

Coming Soon!
www.SpikesAndScales.com

I hope you remember that smile your Dad has forever...
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www.classylizard.com

I especially like that photo of your children with your father playing Skip-Bo. He has this peaceful smile on his face that makes me smile every time I see it. Remember him like that - always smiling. I truly believe he's in a much better place now. Be thankful for the days you shared together over the Christmas holiday and for all the good times you remember.

I'm so sorry you lost your father. He was so young. My father is the same age as yours. I don't know what I would do if I lost him. I pray for you every night and think of you every time I see and hold little Tina.

God Bless.

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

Bless you & family,
All LOVED ones should be remembered in good times. The bad times should blow away in the wind. I know he will be with you always along with your good memmories.

You were in my prayers and still will be. The best of times are the memories that will live forever. You were blessed to have them.
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0.0.1 Bearded Dragons-Jessie
1.0 Geo 4yr orange munchkin
0.2 Dogs- Wendy 7yr Lab/Tori 4 yr Boxer
3.1 Kids plus Hubby

Again, so sorry for your loss. It's nice that you had some good times with him to remember there at the end.

Stay strong.
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1.0.1 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

That's all... just a big hug Sometimes that's nicer than any words.
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Kelly Affonce
DeKeaff Exotics

AIM: DekeaffGrrl

Lisa, first I'm so sorry for you loss. I lost my dad when I was 32. It was tuff. I think you're really on the right track though. Remembering you dad, like in those pictures, will give you some peace. The bickering isn't worth your energy. You have more important issues to deal with. I haven't e-mailed you about the pictures on your website for a long time. Do you remember? I have never forgotten you. Just know your in my thoughts. Hope to talk again when times are better.
Take care,
Karen