Michael Gary Tull 1946 - 1986

Today would be my father's 62nd birthday. It's hard to believe that he has been gone for almost 22 years. This picture was the last picture I took with my father. It is Easter in 1986 (I was 15) and I remember he was not feeling well. He is only 40 years old in this picture but the diabetes aged his body so quickly that he looks like he could be my grandfather!



This is a picture of the first "daddy-daughter dinner" at church. I was 10 and so excited for the evening. I remember how much I loved being with my father and how much I loved that everyone else at our table loved being with my father. He was a very funny man and all of my friends adored him.
Children especially gravitated towards him. I remember one Sunday morning a little girl ran up to my father and jumped in his arms and I had NO idea who she was and what she was doing in my father's lap. He hugged and kissed her like she was his own and this little girl giggled and was thrilled to have his attention. He was so kind and gentle and LOVED LOVED LOVED children.

This was another "daddy-daughter date". This one was particularly fun because we danced. My father was a GREAT dancer. He and my mother could be found dancing in the kitchen or living room on almost any given day. He loved music and it was a big part of our lives. When he started getting very sick he said his biggest fear is that he would not be able to dance with his daughters at their weddings.

This was Halloween 1985. He was not feeling well but wanted to be a part of the festivities. My father was very goofy and was always doing something to make us laugh. Always. It was so fun to be at my home and my friends loved to hang out with my father. He was so generous and very wise. He had this amazing intuition about others and understood things about people without being told. I often wonder how different my life would be if he were still here and the guidance and advice he would give me.

I had an experience soon after he passed away that taught me how to cultivate my relationship with God so that I would never feel like I was without help or a father figure. I learned at a very young age to rely on God and to recognize how he speaks to me and I feel very blessed to have this close relationship with God. I learned to turn to Him for EVERYTHING - because I had to. I am so grateful that my earthly father taught me how to pray and to expect to get answers and to trust in God and His wisdom. I cannot wait to reunite with my father, to again be in his presence, and to dance with him once more.

My father passed away in November 1986. I was having a slumber party for my 16th birthday and my friends awoke at 5:30 am to the ambulances and fire trucks etc. I don't think they will ever forget that morning. Within 20 minutes my entire ward (it seemed) was at our house. It truly was amazing how loved my father was.

The night he passed away, all of my brothers and sisters wanted to sleep in our family room but for some reason I wanted to be alone and I wrote this poem. (remember....I was just 16)

"Daddy"

Only sixteen years I had with you,

Everything is very new.

The years I had, I will always treasure,

for they brought me so much pleasure.

You are not here,

but your spirit is near.

You are watching over everyone,

sharing in on all of our fun.

You see the things we do each day,

"at home, at work, at school, at play".

Even though you left us quick,

our memories of you will always stick,

of your sharing,

and of your caring,

of all the things you did for us,

and how you did them without a fuss.

Daddy, you know you're one of a kind,

the type of person that is hard to find.

You were such a great influence on me,

and not to mention the family.

When I was sick, you'd never fail,

to bring me home some ginger ale.

You were always there when I needed you,

becaus somehow you always knew

when something was wrong,

you would sing a silly song.

You'd make me laugh when I wanted to cry,

you'd cheer me up when I wanted to die.

The examples you set,

I will never forget,

because you are,

"My Shinging Star".

The fond memories that I hold,

are the stories that will be told,

to my children when they are small,

of the BEST daddy of all!

I feel very lucky Dad....

to have the sixteen years I've had.