Vassar Clements

ARTIST

1928 - 2005

AUGUST 16, 2005

Dear Friends,

On August 16th 2005 at 7:20 am Nashville time, the angels in heaven stopped singing for a moment, as they heard the most beautiful music approaching from a distance - the high lonesome sound of Vassar Clements' fiddle.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of this truly wonderful and beautiful man whose purpose in life on Earth was in spreading love and happiness to people, both through his music and through his generosity and light of spirit.

Vassar indeed has touched the lives of so many of us, and we can all count ourselves as blessed to have been witness to the musical genius and kind-hearted nature of this great yet humble man.

It is a great testament to a life when those whose paths you crossed hold you up as an example on how to treat others. Vassar's guestbook is that testament and shows how incredibly loved and admired Vassar was on this Earth by both those who knew him personally and those who knew him only through his music.

I would like to thank Vassar's daughter Midge and son-in-law George on behalf of all of us that loved Vassar for the great love and care they have shown him since the passing of his wife Millie just over seven years ago. Selfless and devoted, they not only took care of Vassar emotionally and physically, but also jumped in and learned the music business so Vassar could continue to play for all of us around the country.

I picture Vassar and Millie in heaven, reunited in the love they shared that transcends all things, him playing while she dances.

Thank You Vassar - God Bless You. Rest In Peace.

From: http://www.vassarclements.com

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JUNE 18, 2006
FATHER’S DAY
“PRECIOUS MEMORIES”
JUNE 18, 2006

MY ONE AND ONLY PAPA. THIS BEING THE FIRST FATHER’S DAY SINCE YOUR DEATH ON AUGUST 16, 2005, IT DIDN’T SEEM QUITE RIGHT TO ME NOT TO STILL GIVE YOU A CARD. SINCE YOU ARE NOT HERE IN THE PHYSICAL SENSE, BUT “EVERYDAY” IN MY THOUGHTS I WANTED TO STILL SHARE SOME OF MY PRECIOUS MEMORIES.

PAPA, YOU KNOW AFTER MOM’S DEATH I CONSIDERED YOU TO BE MY LIFE LINE THROUGH MOM AS YOU SAID I WAS TO YOU. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE THOSE SAD AND DARK DAY’S, YOU BOTH ARE EVER SO CLOSE TO ME EACH DAY.

EARLIER TODAY AS I WENT TO THE CEMETERY TO PLACE YOUR FATHER’S DAY FLOWER’S ON YOUR HEADSTONE ALL SORTS OF THOUGHTS AND PRECIOUS MEMORIES KEPT GOING THROUGH MY HEAD. THERE ARE SO MANY.

I THOUGHT OF THE CHARLES CHIP FRANCHISE ROUTE YOU AND MOM HAD IN TALLAHASSEE, FLA AND HOW AT THAT TIME WHEN COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CALL CUSTOMERS TO SEE IF THEY WANTED TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR YOUR DELIVERY. MY REWARD AT THE END OF THE WEEK WAS IF THERE WAS A SCHOOL DANCE, I COULD BE SURE THAT YOU WOULD TAKE AND PICK ME UP FROM THE DANCE SINCE I WAS IN THE 7TH OR 8TH GRADE.

THERE WAS ALSO ALL THE MOTOWN MUSIC I LISTENED AND DANCED TO. YOU WOULD MAKE SOME HUMORUS COMMENTS OF MY CHOICE OF MUSIC AT THAT TIME, THEN MAKE FUN OF MY DANCING AS WELL. ESPECIALLY THE “PONY.” I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT IF IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR CHUBBY CHECKER ON AMERICAN BANDSTAND TO TEACH ME, THEN IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.

WHEN WE MOVED TO NASHVILLE, TN I WAS THEN A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL. WE FIRST LIVED ON BELL GRIMES LANE MY FIRST SEMESTER AND I WENT TO MAPLEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. THEN, LATER WE MOVED TO HERMITAGE HILLS ON BONNALYNN DRIVE IN HERMITAGE, TN WHERE I WENT TO DUPONT HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN THE HIGH SCHOOL BURNED DOWN I REMEMBER HOW YOU WOULD WATCH “ALL MY CHILDREN” SOAP OPERA AND BRING ME UP TO DATE ON WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE SUPPER TABLE THAT NIGHT. OF COURSE THAT WAS WHEN YOU WERE HOME AND NOT OUT ON THE ROAD TRAVELING.

THE WORDS ENDEARING, STRENGTH, WEAKNESS, COURAGE, RESPECT AND LOVE COME TO MIND WHEN I THINK OF YOU. ALSO, I VISUALIZE THAT KODAK SMILE, HUMOR, SLUDGE COFFEE, CHEESE, LATE NIGHTS, NOT AN EARLY RISER. I ALWAYS ENJOYED KIDDING YOU THAT I DIDN’T LIKE YOUR SINGING UNLESS YOU WERE HARMONIZING WITH SOMEONE. YOUR HUMOROUS COMEBACK WOULD BE THAT’S ALRIGHT, I DON’T LIKE YOUR SINGING EITHER.

I’VE THOUGHT MANY TIMES OF THE CD YOU DID WITH STEPHANE GRAPPELLI “TOGETHER AT LAST.” IT MADE ME THINK OF THE IMPACT YOU’VE HAD “IN MY LIFE” AND ALSO BEING “YOUNG AT HEART,” BOTH YOU AND MOM. YOU WERE THERE WHEN LARRY AND I MARRIED IN 1969. YOU WERE THERE WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 1970. ON DECEMBER 24TH, 1973 YOU WERE THERE WHEN CHRIS WAS BORN. WHEN GEORGE AND I MARRIED IN 1982 WE HAD YOUR BLESSING, FOR WE WENT TO THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. YOU AND MOM WERE THERE WHEN CHRIS GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 1992, ALSO THERE AT JAIME’S GRADUATION IN 1995 AND THEN AT JACKIE’S GRADUATION IN 1996. I WAS AND AM SO BLESSED THAT I CAN REFLECT ON THOSE MEMORIES AND MUCH MORE.

PAPA, YESTERDAY, TODAY AND ALL OF THE TOMORROW’S YOU’RE REMEMBERED. I ADORE AND LOVE YOU TO THE END OF THE EARTH. IT’S SAD BUT ALSO A HAPPY CELEBRATION AND A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO YOU ON “FATHER’S DAY.” GOD LET YOU BE ON THIS EARTH FOR 77 YEARS AND YOU “IN MY LIFE” SINCE I WAS 11 YEARS OLD. THANK YOU!

I QUOTE YOUR FAVORITE SAYING “DAD-BIME-IT.”

WITH MUCH LOVE AND DEVOTION,
MIDGE