Our dad, Eddie C. Mayhall, joined our mom today, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020 -- he simply did not know how to live without her. He passed in the home he built with his children at his side as he wanted.
Dad will rest beside mom, where he always wanted to be, at the Temple Hill Church Cemetery. We will say our goodbyes to him Wednesday, December 2 at 11 a.m.; we invite family and friends to join us. Jerry Parr will officiate as they both requested.
Mom and Dad were married 60 years. They would have made 61 years Christmas Day, a lifetime together. They loved to travel and camp. They shared adventures in Alaska, Arizona, Maine, and Mexico among others. They were separated by our mom Betty's loss Oct. 22, 37 days ago. Dad wanted nothing more than to be with her again. We know that they are happy and together again but we are stunned and unable to comprehend losing them both so quickly together. We can only take comfort in the thought that their worlds have righted again.
We would like you to know that our dad was a kind, funny, patient and charming man. He was a proud Air Force Veteran serving on fighter jet crews in Italy, Spain, Greece and the Azores. He was selected for an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2018 and was elated to have his only son escort him. He made us look at the pictures a thousand times -- we wish we could do that again now. He told the funniest stories of growing up in the depression as one of seven children. He made us laugh daily and was a great spinner of yarns. We wish you could have experienced that.
Dad was a 32nd degree Mason with the Raleigh Masonic Lodge. Masonic Rites and Air Force Honors will be observed during services.
Our mom, Betty Mayhall, was the love of his life and neither ever doubted that. Their children are Tracy (Darrell) Walter, Vicki Mayhall and son Eddie E. Mayhall. Like mom though, dad thought the grandkids were much more fun and fabulous. They are Adam Walter and son Tylan, DJ (Chris) Banks and Jaron, Parker and Trigg Banks, Molly, Daisy and Deuce Mayhall and mother Krista Wallace, Ahry and Eason Comer and mother Holly Comer.
Dad was born at home in Shawneetown on June 11, 1938, one of seven children to Albert Warren Douglas Mayhall and Ethel Phoebe Shuffle-Barger. His siblings were Albert Mayhall Jr., Almer Otto Mayhall, Lucian James Mayhall, Jean Hammond and Joyce Wiseman, who all preceded him in death. His sister Gloria (Don) Stacey survives him.
Dad had a long career, first at Bell Helicopter after leaving the military and later moving into heavy construction for Gus K. Newberg Construction. Mostly though, he was a fabulous dad and a great pappy. He leaves a huge hole in our hearts.
How do you say goodbye to the man who taught you to always do the right thing, who told you to brush it off, you'd be fine, who showed you how to do everything you know to do, who always said family matters, who always said I love you? We don't know that answer but we know this: we were blessed to be raised by him. We love him, we miss him already, we were proud of him. But we also know that their hearts could not bear to be apart any longer. We picture them together again and that thought comforts us. Dad missed her terribly.
Now they will spend Christmas together. Now they can be together for their anniversary.
In lieu of flowers we ask you to please consider donating to the Temple Hill Cemetery, c/o Dale Faulkner, 82 Temple Hill Road, Golconda, Illinois 62938.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Aikins-Farmer-Loftus-McManus Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.aikinsfarmer-millerfh.com
