In Acknowledgment Of Our Friend, Mawskrat

 

"I'm just passing through." –Mawskrat

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Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.... No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. –Jesus

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The news came last evening that Mawskrat has broken his terrestrial bonds and is now basking painlessly in the glory of celestial freedom. May his soul continue to be blessed on the path of goodness and light, which he is known to faithfully follow. That is where we will find and meet him again. Please join us in a celebration of Life, for death's sting can't touch us if we abide in Christ.

There is so much good to be said for this man, our dear friend. PBird and I figured last evening that we've known Mawskrat on the internet for twenty or so years. We both met him during the days of commenting on the blog Little Green Footballs, when he went by the name Hayseed. There he was known as a staunch supporter of Israel and a patriotic, conservatively-minded American, and he was always entertaining and quick-witted in the comment sections of the threads. After the fun ended for everyone on LGF, we gravitated toward BabbaZee's Outraged Spleen of Zion blog, and that became our new hangout and place to compare notes, up until a few years ago. After Babba abandoned her page, MEOW was born, and Mawskrat became a commenter here and at MOTUS, where he made many new friends.

PBird said she is remembering Mawskrat as being a kind-hearted and friendly guy with genuine Christian values, a success in his plumbing occupation, as well as a faithful and loving husband and father to his beautiful wife and their two children, and a proud grandpa to his two grandsons. She often referred to him as St. Plummah whenever he would share his expertise and help her solve her home plumbing issues. I am recognizing Mawskrat in the same way, and deeply respect him for the kindness he has shown me and others over the years. He was an all-around decent and upstanding man to his family and community, and we'll forever treasure the living spirit of camaraderie. 

Mawskrat's family roots were in rural Alabama, and he was a huge fan of University of Alabama Crimson Tide football. He started out at the bottom in the family's plumbing business, working for his dad and uncle as a trench digger and helper while he was still in school, and eventually worked his way up and achieved the status of master plumber. He was an avid live music fan, attended many, many concerts of all the big-name bands that came to Cincinnati, and had an extensive collection of ticket stubs from the countless events he attended. Mawskrat loved being outdoors, camping and backpacking in Kentucky, and gardening. It is said he would sometimes take a break and head to the barn and have a shot or a toke and listen to some music. He often shared pictures of his beautiful backyard flower and vegetable patches, and he was most proud and happy to have the help of his first grandson, Braxton. He also enjoyed collecting and using cast iron cookware, and had many different skillets and pots which he kept perfectly seasoned. Mawskrat absolutely enjoyed cooking and grilling outside, and a few of his specialties were drop biscuits, cornbread, smoked chicken, and grilled veggies. He always had a cooking story or cooking tips to share with us. Vacationing in Florida and relaxing on the beach with his wife was a pastime he truly enjoyed. He was also a season ticket holder and big fan of FC Cincinnati soccer. He liked all forms of music—rock, country, bluegrass, reggae, you name it, and probably said once what his favorite song was, but I can't remember. And last, but not least, he got a kick out of watching those cheesy Japanese monster films with Godzilla and Mothra.

Please keep Mawskrat and his family in your thoughts and prayers, and please feel free to share any comments you might have. As PBird so perfectly stated, "Our hearts met, and the fact that we never met him in the flesh matters not at all."

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And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:

but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. —1 John 2:17

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Within my heart are treasured

The loving deeds and true

Of one who's passed my vision

And gone to pathways new;

Yet all his gentle goodness

Is just as fresh to-day

As when we walked together

Along this earthly way.

His virtues are undying.

The love and light he shed

Partake of Life eternal; —

I cannot count him dead.

—Evelyn Gage Kniffin

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