Dec. 28, 1987. It was a normal back to work after Christmas day, a Monday I think. It didnt stay that way long. I was sitting at my desk at Taylor Oil Company out on West Main talking to a customer/friend, Craig Bailey. All of a sudden a man walks in, stands in the doorway and shoots me twice, walks outside and shoots an employee of mine, Jim Chaffin. Jim did not make it. We found out soon that the man had shot a lady at Richard Peels office before coming to mine. After leaving he went to a connivence store and wounded two employees there and ended up at Woodline Motor Freight behind the store where he gave up. Later as police went to his home north of Dover they found he had killed his entire family. Wife, kids, grandkids, everyone. It was truly a day of grief, fear, and sorrow for those effected by this and for the whole community. Why I was spared I often wonder. I had a wife, a four year old son, and a baby girl born that July. Well Im not going to talk about him, the man, Im going to talk about Him. A few minutes went by and Dr. Young that works in the E.R. at St. Marys showed up, she was getting gas at the station up front on Main. It was a comfort. My wife was already at the hospital , working that day. They told her she needed to go down to the E.R., that I was there. That was a great comfort to have her there soon. She was truly wonderful. Many people showed up at the hospital. Too many to remember, I was glad to see their concern. Late that nite after things had settled down I woke up to find my pastor, Doug Little sitting in my room. He had cut short his vacation to come. That was a comfort. I remember my kids coming in the next day but they didnt really understand things. It was a great comfort to see them. A few days later at home my entire Sunday School class came over. That was a great comfort and joy to see them. After losing Jim I needed to find another driver. Just so happens that a man that had worked for another oil company had left there and I was able to hire him. A big relief. It snowed like 14 inches later that week and gave me time to heal and rest without worrying about work. The wonderful Williamson Janitorial boys had come by work and cleaned up the blood and mess at no charge of course. Many things happened following those days and many would call them coincidences, but they were not. The grace of God was showered down on me thru many other people, and things that happened to me that were all a great comfort to me and my family. I will be forever thankful and greatful for that. More later. I cant tell the whole thing at once.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 13:44:59 +0000
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