Philip Daniel Hays

Dad,

I love you, I thank you, and I miss you.

You were a great son, brother, husband, grandfather — and a truly great father.

Because of God's eternal promises in the Bible, and Christ's finished work on the cross, I know you are well. I look forward to our next meeting someday, and to our conversations again. I can only imagine they'll be full of laughter, learning, and the wisdom you always impart. By then, maybe I'll have some of your wisdom — and maybe I'll even be able to win a game of chess against you.

I didn't deserve the blessing of such a great father, yet you selflessly and continually gave me that loving gift for decades.

I hope I was a good son to you, and I hope to some degree I made you proud. Dad, I will always be proud to be your son.

You gave many gifts freely, especially within our family. The legacy of those gifts will endure. So, yes, we'll be okay, Dad, but it's devastating to lose your presence here.

We love you, we thank you, and we miss you.

An ongoing tribute from a grateful and devoted son,

Stephen
September 2025