Philip Glenn LaChausse

My love and prayers go to Philip’s family. It is so sad when loved ones leave us so soon.

Phil-isms:
• Ole’ Dad is looking out for ya
• Watch ‘er Bub
• Hey Hook
• He’s kinda squirrely
• You don’t clean up half bad
• I might get a wild hair
• I’d say that gal is a little touched in the head
• Do ya hear what I’m tellin ya?

Phil moments burned into my brain:
• As he held Shane for the first time at the hospital, he said to Sheri and I, “You two did pretty good, he ain’t even cross eyed er nothin.”

• I’ll never forget the look on his face, anxiously peering through that window as we brought Shane out of the delivery room into the nursery. His compassion and concern for Sheri and Shane was written all over his face with permanent marker.

• While at the hospital and over the next week back at the house, he must of said it a hundred times… “Most newborns are ugly, but he really is a good looking baby.”

• When we were building the original part of our house Phil came down to oversee the project and keep the general contractor “Dirk” in-line. On more than one occasion Phil had a “bone to pick” with ol’ Dirk, turning red as an apple and on the fringe of internally combusting, Phil would get right up in Dirk’s face and give him a piece of his mind. Dirk was kind of a smart mouth at first, but quickly learned to back down and concede. Dirk stopped in one day when Phil was there and after he noticed Phil he just turned, weaseled his way back to his truck and left to avoid a confrontation all together. After that Dirk would call me and ask if my father in law was around before coming over.

• He loved listening to my sister sing. When I copied cds for him, he would always say “Make sure you get some of those with your sister singing, she has a beautiful voice.”

• He could never remember my neighbor’s name (Sweezy). He would always ask about him, how’s ol Squeezy doing? Or, see much of Squishy lately? Phil always made sure that I get a ring of his venison croghan bologna to Sweezy whenever he would bring a batch of it down here.

• Singing Johnny Cash karaoke with Phil at my wedding reception (one of the few things I actually remember from that reception.)

• Phil helped me with just about every phase of building our house, trimming the windows and doors, framing the interior walls, hanging the lathe and cultured stone for the new entrance, but I specifically remember him helping with the laminate flooring and log siding. Somewhere on the sub-floor under that laminate flooring and written on the sheathing behind the log siding are Phil’s observations for that day. Maybe it was sunny day or the wind was blowing, his shoulder was sore or he was feeling chipper, whatever came to his mind at that moment is documented on that plywood. Hopefully I’ll never have to replace the siding, but I know the flooring won’t last forever and I’m looking forward to the day when me and Shane get to tear up that laminate and find those words of wisdom.

• When Phil first arrived to help me with the laminate flooring, I was using an old antique wooden wood planer as a tapping block to get the flooring nice and tight. As he reluctantly watched me hit that ol’ planer with my hammer to tighten up the flooring he asked, “Where did you get that nice ol’ planer? I told him I got it from my Grandpa Tabolt. Phil said, “Well you’re lucky your grandpa isn’t here right now to see you mistreat that planer, he’d grab if from your hand and hit you up side the head with it.”

• The $10 bill Phil put in my last birthday card with strict orders that it must be used to buy a salt block. I’m not really sure why he thinks I need a salt block to get a deer.

Things that will remind me of Phil:
• Any Johnny Cash song
• Garden gnomes
• Honey in a mayonnaise jar
• Flea markets or just a plain old pile of junk sitting next to the road that is ripe for the picking
• My P.A.O. manufactured gun cabinet
• Anything made with Phil’s favorite ingredient (venison)
• Towing kids around the yard with a sled or wagon tied behind the 4-wheeler
• The Ford oval
• Sam Elliot
• Worn jeans paired with work boots, a mountain fleece shirt and a duster hat
• My disorganized garage with tools lying around on top of half finished projects
• When I can’t just sit around because I feel the urge and need to build or fix something

Things I will do to emulate Phil:
• Be highly involved in the lives of my children and grandchildren
• Make my wife #1
• Take time to enjoy nature and the great outdoors
• Read that book he got me and learn how to make venison sausage/bologna
• Build rustic furniture to be passed on down to family

Every person to whom I’ve introduced Phil remembers him and asks about him, whether it was my college friends or my neighbors down here. He sure had a way of making a lasting impression.

I would like my dear (family in law) know how much I am thinking about them during this very difficult time. I was unable to be there in person but please know my thoughts were with you all every minute of every day during Phil’s journey to heaven and before. I know he is in a better place because he is with my father. There is no work there (unless it involves fixin’ something) and only relaxation and doing the things they love. I have to say I knew Phil a few years and at first was unsure of myself around him. After a few short minutes I learned he was all talk. He loved to pick and just joke around and, of course, make sure my brother wasn’t getting hurt on any of his home improvement projects. My husband and I were able to spend some time with Phil and Karen during there visits to VA. We worked on the house together and sat around shootin’ the bull. We enjoyed and laughed so every minute we spent with him. He truly was a great man who loved god’s gifts of nature. His Honey was fantastic and I was proudly given a jar. I felt so honored to sample the original Phil Lachausse Honey. He loved his new grandson with all of his heart. You could tell by the look in his eyes. I could even see a little jealousy as I held Shane knowing Phil was waiting for some more one on one time with the new addition. I gladly handed “the boy” over to Phil and let him soak up the precious moments with that beautiful baby boy.

Phil,
You will NEVER be forgotten and have left lasting memories to so many. I know when I see them bright stars at night that you are there with my dad and making sure we are living life to the fullest. Thanks for teaching me about the great gifts of nature that god can give. WE ALL MISS YOU SO MUCH!