Bonetown, Arkansas. I was born in Batesville, Arkansas, but Bonetown is where my life truly began. Twenty-three (23) people lived in Bonetown, because everyones last name was Bone. At this crossroads in a remote, rural part of Arkansas not that far from the central southern Missouri stateline, life was very simple. Sage, Zion, Finley Creek, Mount Pleasant, Melbourne, and Sidney are names of towns and communities close to Bonetown that are forever marked in my memory. TODAY I HONOR THE MAN I KNOW AS DAD - Raybourne Abner Bone, better known as R. A. Dad was the middle son and had 2 brothers of either side of his age. I honor this man above all people I have ever known. When I was born, I was born and immediately pronounced as dead. My dad, by everyones account, stood by my darkening body and saw a small movement from one of my fingers. He called for the nurse and doctor, and they apparently beat my bottom and back until I started to cry. I guess spankings became my symbol of security since I got so many of them in my early 15 years! This is going to be long enough, so I am going to try and summarize this man that stands just beneath my heavenly Father in my book. 1. Dad was a dirt farmer, a general store owner, and father to three boys - Paul, Gayle and me. 2. At my age of 1 1/2, dad moved his family to Sidney to have a BIG general store. LOL. Here I rode our milk cow like a horse, hung myself in the back of a truck bed dad was repairing, road my wagon from our house to the store daily to play in the feed room, and got my tail beat regularly by my oldest brother, Paul. 3. At the age of 3, my dad at 30 ( I think) yielded to the call of God on his life to be a minister. At this point in my life I became Billy Graham, carrying around my little New Testament and quoting John 3:16 to all my friends. I was bigger and made them listen. I couldnt read, but I could quote. We moved from Sidney to Walnut Ridge for dad to go to college for the first time. Lake City, Arkansas; Floral, Arkansas; Clinton, Arkansas; and, Batesville, Arkansas would be the places where dad would pastor over the next 35 to 40 years. I really dont know the exact number. 4. Dad was not only a single staff member of these churches for most of his career. He was a chicken farmer, a tree farmer, gardener, a coon hunter, and a serious overseer of his family. 5. Dad was a story teller. I wish I could recount all of the stories Ive heard him tell 10 and 15 times (conservatively) each. (Raybourne, theyve heard that story. Words from my mom.) I could have you rolling in the floor with some of them. I begged him often times to tell me the stories of Purvis (yes, this was a real person) again and again. 6. Dad was a serious dad most of the time. Mom and I had many arguments with him about dancing. He started a high school prom alternative event when I became a Junior in high school. At the finals of our district basketball championship my junior year when I was named all-district, he stood at the end of the court glaring at me. I knew I was in trouble. When the game was over he was the first one to greet me with the words, You head straight home. I was grounded for 2 weeks. I dont remember what for. My sophomore year in college dad came to my college and told President Phelps he was taking me home because I wasnt trying hard enough. President Phelps talked him out of it. I didnt know until years later that happened. He told me when I married if he ever heard of me striking my wife, he would personally be the one to tear my head off. Ive got to stop, so I am going to summarize this with one sentence. My dad was love! To the core, head to toe, daylight to dark-30, whatever you want to think. Now, I didnt understand that until I was older. I just wish everyone could have a dad like mine. Ninety (90) percent of the problems we face in our society would be eliminated. Prisons dont replace dads. He still is a major, major influence on my daily life and decisions. Getting to honor him makes me happy on this sad day when we memoralize his granddaughter, Adrianne Bone Wilbers. Adrianne is getting love today from the heavenly Father, my DAD, and her dad and my brother, Paul. RIP! Thank you, dad. I never had to wonder if you were proud of me, but I had better stay in line or you knew what to do! I love you, DAD. I miss your hugs!
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 12:43:24 +0000
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