Lazy Daze Owners' Group

IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

August 25, 2021, 04:15:34 pm

On August 15th, 2021, our co-moderator, Judie Ashford, sadly lost her beloved husband, Gary Villere, after a long battle with Multiple Myeloma.  Happily, he outlived every negative prediction by eleven years.  Gary was an avid hiker, bicyclist, nature lover, and RV'er for over fifty years.  He and Judie enjoyed many years of travel starting in the 70’s with a VW Campmobile; a VW Westfalia; Gertie, an ’85 Lazy Daze; a Newmar Mountain Aire motorhome; a Sportsmobile custom camper van; and finally an ’05 Lazy Daze Rear Bath.

Please share your condolences with Judie, and wish Gary happy trails.

Chris

Re: IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

Reply #2 – August 25, 2021, 05:08:14 pm

So extremely sorry for your loss. I can only imagine the years of good memories you have to hold on to.

Re: IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

Reply #4 – August 25, 2021, 06:15:07 pm

Gary was a great guy with a lot of interests, a former NASA engineer. It's a shame to lose him.

Re: IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

Reply #6 – August 25, 2021, 07:54:17 pm

The following message has helped me in these sad and painful times of our life. 

“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”

Re: IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

Reply #8 – August 25, 2021, 09:13:09 pm

May you fine the peace you need with loved ones during your time of sorrow.

Re: IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

Reply #10 – August 25, 2021, 09:29:23 pm

I'm so very sorry for the loss of your beloved "NOLA Boy" as you referred to him in your blog.  When I didn't see a post since the first part of August, I feared the worst. 

Your husband was indeed a "fighter," and your love for him was evident - especially as he loved your cooking.  Please rest in the knowledge of your love for each other and the life you made together...

Bless you and may "NOLA Boy" rest in peace...

Re: IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

Reply #12 – August 26, 2021, 12:40:41 pm

Judie please accept my condolences for your loss. While we don't know each other, we are siblings in the Lazy Daze family and share your sorrow.

Peace,
Steve K.

Re: IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

Reply #14 – August 26, 2021, 02:21:16 pm

Judie,

We have never met but I’ve read your thoughtful and wise comments on their forum for years.  My heart is with you, I am so sorry for your loss.
Jules Anderson

Re: IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

Reply #16 – August 27, 2021, 10:40:42 am

Judie,

At this time of your great loss, my heart aches with sorrow. This world of ours is large and there are many souls we will not have the opportunity to meet and share our lives. 

Heaven is vast and all souls rejoice with their increased closeness to God. There our dearly departed share with one another the lives they lived and the love given to one another while on earth. Your love with Gary rings throughout heaven and blesses us all.

Thank you.

Kent

Re: IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

Reply #18 – August 31, 2021, 08:18:12 pm

Judie, my deepest condolences. We have yet to meet but I think we have many common travel experiences. Gary will be greatly missed in the LDO family.

Re: IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

Reply #20 – September 02, 2021, 01:06:40 pm

Judie,

  I'm so sorry to hear about Gary. He was such a fighter and reading your blog posts it's clear how much you were there for him during his battle. May your memories of him bring you peace and carry you through until you meet again.

 Blessings,
 Ron and Sue Young

Re: IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

Reply #22 – September 02, 2021, 06:16:30 pm

Our deepest sincerity for your loss Judie.  How wonderful you both lived life to your fullest.  I cherish my endeavors going forward.
Our time is limited. Live it.  We are all on the downside of this wonderful life.  You have  been blessed.  Love to you.  Robin

Re: IN MEMORIAM: Gary Villere

Reply #24 – September 07, 2021, 07:29:28 pm

Many thanks to everyone for their kind words, both public and private.  To say I am disconsolate would be an understatement.  I know others have been in the same position, but this is the most difficult thing I have ever faced. 

I'm not handling this as well as I thought I would be able to having had fifteen years to prepare for it.  My world came crashing down around me within two weeks.  Yes, he had been deteriorating over the last couple of years, but this acceleration was unexpected.  One week in the hospital and one at home on hospice was all we had. 

Unfortunately the brain is apparently the first to go, so our communication during those last two weeks was scanty, although we had talked about this phase many times over the years.  I kept waiting for him to sit up and ask for French toast and bacon!  But the best I could get would be to ask him for a kiss and he would pucker up for me.

There seems to always be a song rattling around in my head, sometimes for weeks at a time, and now it is Nat King Cole's version of "Let There Be Love".  The line that brought this on was "someone to bless me whenever I sneeze".  I was always well blessed after such an event, and the silence now is deafening.

The hole in my heart and the well of tears have been mitigated some by the steadfast friends who have kept my fingers busy with messages and good conversations.  And for that, I am very grateful.

I am undecided about how to move forward.  I need only one motorhome, but there seem to be three of them taking up space in my life now.  Do I even want to travel on my own?  I always thought I would, but now I am not so sure.  These are weird times because of COVID, and I don't see a clear path.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would be most grateful to benefit from the collective wisdom of our Lazy Daze family.

Here is the rest of what Mr. Cole had to say:

Let There Be Love
Song by Nat King Cole, George Shearing

Let there be you, let there be me
Let there be oysters under the sea
Let there be wind and occasional rain
Chilli con carne and sparkling champagne
Let there be birds to sing in the trees
Someone to bless me, whenever I sneeze
Let there be cuckoos, a lark and a dove
But first of all please, let there be love
Let there be cuckoos, a lark and a dove
But first of all please, let there be love
Umm, love, ooh, love, let there be love


   Virtual hugs,

   Judie