By using a simple message board, he brought together hundreds if not thousands of people under a common cause. The love of Dauphin Island Alabama. His creation was invaluable before, during, and after hurricanes and other obstacles that raked Dauphin Island over the years. But the normal usage of his message board was for all his D.I. Lovers Family to have a place to chat and interact. He was not a censor, but he was a mediator. He never condemned, was always supportive, always gentle, and just loved to let people be themselves, even when his views differed from theirs. The mere mention of Dauphin Island or any of it's characters would bring a wide grin to his face, and when he was here visiting, he was a giddy as a school girl. Aside from his family and his Lord, Dauphin Island was what he loved the most.  None of us can yet grasp just how much he is going to be missed.

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April 18, 2006

Marcus sent me a disk of many of Fats' photos. This is just one of those.

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March 24, 2006

Called to Glory

Spread my ashes by the sea,
Just off the watery shore.
Let them float upon the waves,
And over the sandy floor.

Let children play upon me,
And laugh and smile all day.
While the sun shines down upon me
On this island place I stay.

So this is where I’ll be my friends,
Stop and see me any time.
We’ll have a chat and walk awhile
And discuss the changing times.

For here is where I’m happy,
And happy forever more.
Just ashes by the sea,
Just off the watery shore.

BF 03/25/06

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                      A ll of the many who knew you
                      R emember you fondly today
                      K infolk and friends are gathered
                      A t this Island you loved, to say
                      N ice, so nice it was being your friend-
                      S o sad that you could not stay
                      A mong all of us who love you --
                      S o--singing your praises, we pray-

                      F or you Fats, who brought us together
                      A nd Oh, how grateful we are, so
                      T o you Fats, we bid a loving farewell--
                      S ee you later!---as heaven's next star--

                                                                                        Love, DD

                                                                                        April 5, 2006

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April 6, 2006

My photos of the Fats Memorial Cruise.

Approaching our anchorage->

Marcus donates A spent round from Fats 21 gun salute-> Fats receives a good conduct medal->

Many fondly touch their old friend as the help him settle into his new domain->

I could almost hear Fats saying, "Ahhh- a jar is no place to be"->  

Several shots of the weatherd and beaten old lighthouse

The ride back to the island->

A snack after it all, including leftovers from the cruise, and some yellowfin tuna susshi->

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April 6, 2006

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Hearing the surf, toasting Fats, and just remembering. I think we could hear him laughing.

Markbob, Bruce, Ralph, & Vince-> Oh hell, one more->

The Fats Fanclub

<-Marilyn & Anna <-Marilyn, Carrollbob, & Cathy