On April 13, my uncle, Ernie Hanshaw, passed away at the age of 68. He had been battling health issues for the last decade, but things took a turn for the worst during his final three months. Uncle Ernie was Dad's racing buddy during their younger years. Uncle Ernie was quiet like Dad and always seemed to follow Dad around every time we saw him. They refurbished a Chevy Nova and rebranded it as the "Chevy Too." Dad has several photos of the work and finished product and the even got an article published in a national racing magazine. About 10 years ago, Cousin Todd (Uncle Ernie's son) was able to obtain a copy of the publication, which was from the same month as his birth in June 1972. Todd also got a portrait made of the Chevy Too with the race car he currently owns.
Dad and I attended the calling hours (Mom was ill) held from 5-8 on Friday, April 17 at Boyd-Born Funeral Home in Marion. On Saturday, we went to the funeral at Fairpark Baptist Church (1st Church of God closed in October) before following the procession to the burial at Marion Cemetery (near President Warren Harding's tomb) a few sections from where Uncle Larry is buried. Afterwards, we went back to the church to have lunch before heading home.
