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We all miss you, but we are consoled by memories of our time together and the positive impact you had on every life you touched.
On this site, we'll share pictures and memories and do our best to keep the best part of you alive.
Reflections and Eulogies
Someone told me when my heart broke, "I'm sorry about your father." But Marshall Gilbert
isn't "father" to me. He's my daddy. He's the man I call first in crisis or triumph. He's the one who calls
me every week to make me laugh at his random outbursts, remind me to watch his favorite show, or make a recommendation on
yet another B-movie. We would argue about topics from sports and movies to politics. Inevitably, we had to agree to
disagree. I'm really going to miss those conversations or receiving his standard message on my voice mail: "Stephanie,
this is your dad calling. I'll call you back later." I miss you, Daddy. And selfishly, I keep thinking of
all the things I'll never have since you're gone. When I get married, my daddy will be watching from a distance instead
of walking me down the aisle. When I have his grandchildren, he'll be smiling down from heaven instead of bouncing them
on his knee. But I guess God needs him more. He knew how hard Dad worked on this earth, and He called him home
to rest. And over these last few days, I'm sure we've all remembered my dad with sad laughter and painful tears.
He always had a smile on his face and a laugh in his voice. He could joke about anything, and he would help loved ones
in any way he could. He was a man with little complaint, especially about himself. He would never have made a
big fuss about himself and would wonder why we are. And he is a man we will all miss because of these great qualities.
By looking at this room, it's obvious my daddy impacted a lot of people. None of us could have expected
this, and most of us are still shocked. He always planned to live to 100, so half his life still lay ahead of him.
But here we are, remembering the man we loved and regretting not having one more day to share with him. Daddy called
me Friday night and left a message when I didn't hear the phone. I thought I could call him Saturday or Sunday and deleted
the message. I would give anything to have that moment back, to have called him immediately just to tell him I love
him. I'm so sorry that I thought my life was too important to
remember what's really important. I have no doubts
how much my daddy loves me. I hope he knows how much I will always love him.
Written by: Stephanie Gilbert, from the memorial service on 3/15/05
When I think about my dad, I guess what I miss the most is his phone calls. He was calling at least every
other day just to see what I was up to or how the grandkids were. He would always find some way to make me laugh over
something, whether it be his random ranting about politics or just to remind me to watch his favorite show, "Survivor."
He didn't complain much about anything. He was always there to support me even when it was hard to. The day he
left us my heart simply broke. Nothing can ever take his place in this world. He wasn't just a dad, he was a son,
a brother, a grandfather, an uncle, and a friend. Losing my dad didn't just effect me, it effected all those who
knew and loved him. He may be gone but he will never be forgotten. The short time he was here he touched each
of our lives in different ways. For me, it was just by knowing I could rely on him whenever I needed him. I didn't
get to say good-bye, but I know he still remains with us, watching over. I only hope that I can be the type of person
he was to my children, and show them the love and support he always gave me. Love never ends.
Written by: Jennifer Bridges
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