Ron has gone to a better place.

[Guest guest]

Dear Mike and family,

I'm so sorry to hear of your father's passing. He sounds like a truly

wonderful man who gave much to others. Thank you for sharing your daughter's

letter. It was beautiful.

Sincerely,

Cindy V.

[Guest guest]

Mike,

What a lovely letter from your daughter honoring her Grandpa! If only

everyone could have such a wonderful grandpa. Our prayers and thoughts are

with you at this time. Jean (phoenix)

[Guest guest]

Mike;

My thoughts and prayers are with your family during this time.

Terry

[Guest guest]

What a beautiful tribute to her grandfather.

I will be thinking of you and your whole family as you go through the next

few months. You are right, Ron has gone to a better place, but the rest of

you will miss him terribly. However, you were all fortunate to have had such

a fine person in your lives, and that no one can ever take away.

Love, Barbara

[Guest guest]

For you that do not know, we lost my father Wayne Ditty on

Friday January the 4th 2002. Dad was laid to rest on Sunday January

the 6th. Ron fought a hard battle to the end. Dad died quietly and

with dignity in his sleep at his home.

Ron was sick with Shy-Drager for the last 6 years. He was diagnosed

some three years ago. My mother and the family was able to care for

him at home and kept him out of a care center. The Shy-Drager chat

line has been very helpful to us. Not only with support but with

information. As a result of our connection with the group, I have

set up the first Kansas City support group which will meet on the

19th of this month. Hopefully myself and my family can be a help to

others that are dealing with this terrible disease. If you are in the

area please come to the support group meeting so we can share and

learn together.

For you that knew my Dad you will understand the letter that my

daughter wrote and sent form Japan. For you that didn't have

the privilege to know Ron, the letter speaks for its self. Thanks to

all for the many prayers and thoughts that have come our way.

May God bless you,

Mike

A letter from Ann Ditty about her grandpa:

W. Ditty, Mr. Ditty, Brother, Ronnie, Ron, Sweetie,

Dad, Grandpa.

These are some of the most beautiful words that many of us ever had

the pleasure of saying. For me, it was always just Grandpa; a much

too simple name for a truly great man.

Sometimes I should have called him Teacher, because I cannot count

the many things he taught me. First there were the life lessons:

how to whistle, how to look for arrowheads and animal tracks, how to

find water or a grave; how to care for, saddle and ride a horse, what

to do with a snake bite, basic first aid and scouting techniques, how

to make hamburger and donuts!, how to " look after " the store, how to

grow things, how to carve soap and wood; how to drive a truck, on a

gravel road, in reverse!, and most everything else you can think of.

There were also the many lessons of the heart. He taught us how to be

honest and fair. He taught us how to love each other, and sometimes

how to " just get along " . He taught us the importance of family and

fellowship. He taught us how to share a life and love with someone

like Grandma. I can still hear him say " Norma " and " Norma Jean " in a

way that made him sound like a young man in love. (It's hard to hide

things from kids, Grandpa.)

Sometimes I should have called him Hero. He is so great in my eyes.

And he saved many of us, countless times, when we were in trouble.

Sometimes he was a paramedic, other times, a word of caution or

advice, and sometimes our protector in the face of adversity or evil.

He would do anything to protect his family. Even in his death, he

only thought of us. He went so slowly, so we might have time to come

together to say what was on our minds, to say goodbye and to comfort

each other.

I can think of many other names that would have suited him: Artist,

Counselor, Storyteller, Historian, Genealogist, Community Leader, but

I just called him Grandpa.

I can still feel his big, warm chest when he hugged me. I can smell

that familiar wood and leather (with just a hint of aftershave)

smell, I feel his silky white hair and I can hear is wonderful voice.

He is not gone. He will never leave us. He gave us the gift of his

life and love. He is in my heart and every bone in my body. I will

try to remember all the lessons he taught me, so that I can be as

devoted as he would be to his great-grandchildren.

I love you, Grandpa. Thank you for all that you gave to me. I will

always keep you close by my side all the days of my life.

[Guest guest]

Mike

's letter about her grandfather made me sob. What a tribute to be loved and admired so much by the people close to you. May you memories bring you comfort.

Gert

[Guest guest]

Dear Mike

I'm so sorry to hear that you have lost your father. It is a difficult

time for families, the time to have to say good-bye. Thank you for

sharing " the letter " . It sounded very similar to the address my nephew

gave at Elmer's funeral. Grandchildren are special and those who

cherish the love and wisdom gained from grandparents are truly special

joys in life.

May you all find peace knowing Ron is now without pain and restriction.

>From the Rolling Flinthills of Kansas

Sally

[Guest guest]

Dear Mike,

one of the best of us is gone.

You and your family is in our

prayers and in our hearts.

Timo & Anne

[Guest guest]

--

Dear Mike and family,

We are very sorry for the loss of your father. We did not

know him although the letter you shared from your daughter

certainly speaks of a wonderful man. How proud along with

your great sadness you must feel of him. He certainly was

supported with a wonderful wonderful family. Which means

you all are fortunate to be sharing such loving support for each

other during this sad time. He had to be a very happy man

from what what you wrote of him. His love certainly will live

on in the hearts of all of you.

God Bless you all,

and Hanson

- In shydrager@y..., " leessummit " wrote:

> For you that do not know, we lost my father Wayne Ditty on

> Friday January the 4th 2002. Dad was laid to rest on Sunday

January

> the 6th. Ron fought a hard battle to the end. Dad died quietly and

> with dignity in his sleep at his home.

>

> Ron was sick with Shy-Drager for the last 6 years. He was

diagnosed

> some three years ago. My mother and the family was able to care

for

> him at home and kept him out of a care center. The Shy-Drager chat

> line has been very helpful to us. Not only with support but with

> information. As a result of our connection with the group, I have

> set up the first Kansas City support group which will meet on the

> 19th of this month. Hopefully myself and my family can be a help

to

> others that are dealing with this terrible disease. If you are in

the

> area please come to the support group meeting so we can share and

> learn together.

>

> For you that knew my Dad you will understand the letter that my

> daughter wrote and sent form Japan. For you that didn't have

> the privilege to know Ron, the letter speaks for its self. Thanks

to

> all for the many prayers and thoughts that have come our way.

> May God bless you,

> Mike

>

> A letter from Ann Ditty about her grandpa:

> W. Ditty, Mr. Ditty, Brother, Ronnie, Ron, Sweetie,

> Dad, Grandpa.

>

> These are some of the most beautiful words that many of us ever

had

> the pleasure of saying. For me, it was always just Grandpa; a much

> too simple name for a truly great man.

>

> Sometimes I should have called him Teacher, because I cannot count

> the many things he taught me. First there were the life lessons:

> how to whistle, how to look for arrowheads and animal tracks, how

to

> find water or a grave; how to care for, saddle and ride a horse,

what

> to do with a snake bite, basic first aid and scouting techniques,

how

> to make hamburger and donuts!, how to " look after " the store, how

to

> grow things, how to carve soap and wood; how to drive a truck, on a

> gravel road, in reverse!, and most everything else you can think

of.

> There were also the many lessons of the heart. He taught us how to

be

> honest and fair. He taught us how to love each other, and sometimes

> how to " just get along " . He taught us the importance of family and

> fellowship. He taught us how to share a life and love with someone

> like Grandma. I can still hear him say " Norma " and " Norma Jean " in

a

> way that made him sound like a young man in love. (It's hard to

hide

> things from kids, Grandpa.)

>

> Sometimes I should have called him Hero. He is so great in my eyes.

> And he saved many of us, countless times, when we were in trouble.

> Sometimes he was a paramedic, other times, a word of caution or

> advice, and sometimes our protector in the face of adversity or

evil.

> He would do anything to protect his family. Even in his death, he

> only thought of us. He went so slowly, so we might have time to

come

> together to say what was on our minds, to say goodbye and to

comfort

> each other.

>

> I can think of many other names that would have suited him: Artist,

> Counselor, Storyteller, Historian, Genealogist, Community Leader,

but

> I just called him Grandpa.

>

> I can still feel his big, warm chest when he hugged me. I can smell

> that familiar wood and leather (with just a hint of aftershave)

> smell, I feel his silky white hair and I can hear is wonderful

voice.

> He is not gone. He will never leave us. He gave us the gift of his

> life and love. He is in my heart and every bone in my body. I will

> try to remember all the lessons he taught me, so that I can be as

> devoted as he would be to his great-grandchildren.

>

> I love you, Grandpa. Thank you for all that you gave to me. I will

> always keep you close by my side all the days of my life.

[Guest guest]

Mike, so very sorry for the loss of your father. I would so LOVE to

be remembered by my grandchildren as your father was. He must have

been a wonderful person. My thoughts are with you and your family,

Valarie