My heart is heavy today.

My Uncle Ricky passed away unexpectedly on Friday afternoon. He leaves behind a wonderful marriage and two grown daughters.

His close friends and family are still reeling from the tragedy. Uncle Ricky was stung by a yellow jacket while mowing the grass. Before he could get his epipen activated, he died. To say his passing was a shock would be an enormous understatement.

Please pray for my family, especially my aunt and cousins. They have a long, painful, road ahead.

His family described him best in his obituary:
"Rick, and lovingly remembered also as "Ricky," gave every second of his entire life to others and never asked for anything in return. He was a wonderful father to his two daughters, Summer and Jill, and was the whole world to his wife, Sylvia, and they were very best friends. Rick touched the lives of everyone he met with his kindness and compassion, and each person cherished any time they spent with him. Sylvia and Rick were lovingly married for 34 years and they devoted their entire lives to each other and their two girls. Rick was the best and most loyal family man we knew, as nothing and no one could take him away from his family, but God. As a Christian, Rick loved the Lord and enjoyed worshiping with his Sunday School class at MeadowBrook Baptist Church. Rick was a simple man with a big heart and he enjoyed the simple things in life. He loved to fish and if Rick wasn't fishing, then he was doing something for someone else who needed help, or he was boating or traveling with his family. There is no doubt that he's with the Lord and looking over us still. Rick will be terribly missed and always in our hearts and memories. He has a solid place in our hearts that will never be replaced. Thank you, Ricky, for the countless acts of service that you did for us and so many, and for the love you brought to our lives."