REMEMBERING
Paul Forest Greene
December 30, 1912 - July 3, 2007
On July 3rd . . . my mother's 89th birthday . . . my father left this earth . . . leaving his frail body and entered glory. That morning, when we suspected that his time on earth was drawing to a close, mother leaned over and kissed him and told him that it would be so wonderful that he got to be with Jesus on her birthday. Tim, Mother and I were all together as his breathing got more difficult; he had seemed almost semi -conscious since the night before. There was a knock at the door and it was a Fed Ex package for mom's birthday. The package contained a CD that my nephew Rick Greene (Mike's oldest son) had made. It was a recording of him singing some of my dad's favorite songs. Tim put in on the CD player and turned it up so dad could hear it. The first song was "There's just something about that name". "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there's just something about that name." About the third "Jesus", dad opened his eyes wide. He was struggling to breath but we were able to look in his eyes and tell him we love him and what a wonderful thing that we would one day meet him in heaven. The second song was dad's favorite " 'Til the Storm Passes By" . . . and then "Amazing Grace". We sang it together for him with tears streaming down our cheeks and during "Amazing Grace", my dad went to Glory. He is rejoicing with my brother Mike and his great grand-daughter Lindsey and all of his family members that knew Christ and went on before Him. They are all in Heaven, praising God together.
A FAMILY TRIBUTE
Paul Forest Greene was born on December, 30, 1912 in Tyler, TX to Albert O. and Ada Graham Greene. He grew up on a farm in rural OK and had five sisters and one brother. He graduated in 1936 from North Eastern State Teachers College where he majored in Math and P.E. and went on to receive his Masters degree in School Administration from Oklahoma University. As an athlete he lettered in football, baseball and track and was twice named as all-state quarterback. He went to the semi-finals of the National Intercollegiate Wrestling Tournament.
Paul married the love of his life, Mildred Hayden, on March 27, 1937. They enjoyed 70 years of marriage. His son Michael Paul was born in 1941 followed by Mary Susan in 1944. His third child, Timothy Hayden completed the family in 1948. After teaching and coaching in Oklahoma he moved his family to Texas. There he was an Assistant Principal for a number of years at Benjamin Franklin Jr. High School and then at Thomas Jefferson High school. He then went on to become the Principal of Lagow Elementary School from 1970-1978. His years of service were marked by high dedication and loyalty to the children and staff who came under his direction.
Uppermost in his life was his love for his family and his Savior Jesus Christ. He faithfully dedicated himself to serving Him. His life was richly blessed with the 13 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren that God gave him. He was a great example to all of us by the love and tenderness he showed his wife and children. He was a diligent man who taught us all how to work hard as well as play hard. He showed us the importance of giving your all whether it was getting an important job done, growing the biggest tomatoes, or catching the biggest fish! He was strong and determined to the very end when Christ lovingly called him home for some much needed, well-deserved rest.
This Halloween the place where my mother lives had a special luncheon. The dining room was decorated in Fall colors with pumpkins, fall leaves and a few ghosts and goblins. The residents were encouraged to come in costume. I decided this was an event that needed to be shared so Kirsten and her children and I picked up my mother-in-law, Catherine and drove to Dallas. The children wore the costumes they were going to wear that night at a party at our church. Emily was "little Red Riding Hood", Alex was an FBI agent, Cassidy was an angel and Zachary was a knight.
Brian, Kirsten & children
Nathan, Pam & children
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