Tribute to Jack Duty
Eulogy by Jill (Duty) Sellers
EULOGY for JACK RAY DUTY 12/10/1938-04/03/2017 By Jill (Duty) Sellers (daughter) Alan Jackson summed up my Dad in his song, “Small Town Southern Man.” He sings: And he bowed his head to Jesus; and he stood for Uncle Sam; and he only loved one woman; he was always proud of what he had. He said his greatest contribution is the ones he’d leave behind Raised on the ways and gentle kindness of a small town Southern man. Dad was a faithful follower of Jesus. He served his country in the army. And he only loved one woman – our mom for over fifty years of friendship and marriage. My brothers and I were definitely raised on his ways and gentle kindness. Dad didn’t do lectures; he lived by example. He believed in honesty. Once a grocery clerk in Hanford had given him too much change; he drove all the way back to the store to make it right. I remember him explaining it to me, saying he didn’t want the clerk to lose her job by taking advantage of the mistake. He believed in charity. Someone once broke into our garage and stole meat out of our freezer. He simply said, “If they had to steal to eat, they must have needed more than we do.” He believed in hard work. He certainly believed in hard work to teach life lessons. Just ask my brother about digging holes and planting trees as discipline. He was the rare person who always did what was right, even when no one was looking. He lived his life with integrity. He taught me to change a tire, change my oil, and change my attitude. I am thankful for all he taught me by the way he lived. Of course, he made it look so easy. And for him, it was; it came naturally. I’m thankful for the example he set for our boys. I am challenged to live up to his example. Maybe each of us can think of something we learned from my dad, make it part of our life, and when someone says to you, “Thanks, you didn’t have to do that.” You can say, Jack Duty taught me that. I know I will teach my boys, so that their Pop can live on in their service to others. Dad was the last elected constable in Riverdale. I have heard many stories of his service and personality at work. He was the Andy Griffith of Riverdale. He was always level-headed and law-abiding, and knew just how to encourage others to be as well. He treated all people fairly, even when arresting them. In his 30 years with the Sheriff’s Department, he only discharged his gun once – he shot the ice machine at the river in Laton. He was a patient man. He only lost his temper with tools and when his fingers were too big to get into an engine. And with me when I once cleaned his garage. He was a big man, with a big heart. He always put others first. He volunteered and served whenever a helping hand was needed. He was truly the most selfless person I’ve ever known. He took pictures of countless weddings, and always as a gift to the bride and groom. He was a family man. Through shift work and being on-call, he always found time for us kids, from sports to 4-H livestock. And later in life – from holidays to weddings to surgeries to funerals, Dad was always there with a bear hug and his enormous smile. So many of us felt the joy and comfort of his big embrace. He would laugh or cry with you. He was a romantic. He opened doors for my mom; always held hands with her; never missed an occasion to give her jewelry or flowers; and loved her with everything from hugs and kisses to service and devotion. He was a gentleman. He was always polite. He always looked people in the eye, shook hands with his right with his left holding your shoulder. Even in the recesses of Alzheimer’s, he stuck to his manners. The last verse goes: Finally death Came callin' For this small town Southern man He said it's alright 'Cause I see angels And they got me By the hand Don't you cry And don't you worry I'm blessed And I know I am 'Cause God Has a place in heaven For a small town Southern man Dad is at peace now. I like to think of him in heaven, probably watching the history channel. Although he could be pestering God for something to do or someone to help. We were all blessed by how he lived his life. Our world is a better place because of his ways and gentle kindness.
