We started writing the traditional obituary. The one that starts off with… Manny Lamar Festervand, 77, of La Porte, TX, passed away on July 4, 2020. He was born in Shreveport, LA on January 20, 1943 to Willie Clifton Festervand Sr. and Mildred Lorene Festervand. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sandra Leigh Festervand. His three daughters - Kimberly Ann Raper, Amy Lynne Festervand, and Tammy Festervand Trevino. His son in laws - David Lee Raper and Timothy Bobby Trevino. His grandson - Aiden Timothy Trevino. His brother - Gary Lee Festervand and his family. His sisters - Tommye Gail Doyle and her family, and Jean Jeanette Parsons and her family.
Then, we stopped and thought. Yes, that is the traditional info, but our dad was so much more. Dad decided it was time to be free on July 4, 2020 and God called him home. The perfect day to be free after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body dementia. He fought with such courage and defiance. He was a fighter and fought till the end. Then again, that was always dad.
At an early age, he took care of his brothers when their mom passed away. He loved all of his siblings. He was a Vietnam veteran. He was a hard worker and always made sure his family was taken care of. He was a plant worker who survived two plant explosions. Not one, but two. Talk about tenacity.
He was a husband who loved his wife for 45 years. The song by Brad Paisley Waitin' on a Woman comes to mind and we know he is sitting on a bench waiting. He loved all three of us girls. He was the dad who showed compassion. He loved us and had a nurturing soul. He was the dad that would "fix it". Now, when we say fix it, it may have been with duct tape, a zip tie, or screws; but it worked at least for a while that is. He was a papaw who only got to meet his grandson once in person, but he held onto him tight.
He was a gentle giant, but he could be stubborn. He was smart and had an amazing mind. He was a man of few words, but his imagination was like none other. He frequently traveled to space with dementia and boy did he go on adventures. He had more fun in his own mind than most of us have in a lifetime. He was kind and patient with a heart of gold. He was genuine. He loved the Lord and was faithful. He never complained. He had an array of animated voices to make a child smile. We will never forget his Donald Duck impression. He loved to watch action movies, westerns, Mash, Star Trek, PBS, opera, wrestling, and Telemundo. He loved listening to Elvis, oldies music, classical music, gospel music and Tennessee Ford. He loved to cook and BBQ. He drank ice tea like it was water. He loved potato chips, Coke, Snickers, chocolate, Whataburger, lemon pie and vanilla Blue Bell ice cream. We hope you are enjoying all of those things right now in heaven, dad.
Dad was a simple man. Before he became ill, he wore a white t-shirt, his yellow measuring tape suspenders, and jeans all the time. The family has chosen to let him wear that outfit one more time and it brings a smile to all of our faces. We have chosen not to have a service. Dad would not have wanted all the fuss anyways. Dad, we love you and we will miss you. Say hello to your dad, mom, stepmom Lila Jean Festervand, and your brothers Willie Clifton Festervand Jr. and John Carroll Festervand for us. Until we meet again someday, it is not a goodbye, but a see you later alligator.
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