Reuben Eagar, from my view- By Robert

While I’ve been in the same location as Reuben on dozens of occasions, I can probably count on one hand the times we have personally spoke to each other. Until we meet again, he perhaps won’t know the effect he had on me. Reuben is married to my wife’s Aunt. Most of my memories of him occur at family gatherings. Holly and I spent our first Thanksgiving together at his home a week after we were married. I got the feeling that while he was pleased that Holly had gotten married the jury was still out on me and that how he felt about me would be judged by my actions from then on. Over the past 8 years, he has been a shining example to me of what a good man is.
While most of us at Thanksgiving were chompin at the bit to start eating all the good food that was prepared, it was supremely important to Reuben that we go around the room and share something we were thankful for. If I remember right, all of his comments had to do with his family. Whether it was talking about his son Kolter on a mission or pride in his adopted son David, who country loves more than self, he always spoke with feeling and emotion. With joy, he spoke about his children who finally had become parents themselves after waiting so long. With deep reverence, he spoke about loved ones who had gone before us and had showed us the way to live. He spoke of the Savior and his love for Him. I could always tell the things most important to Reuben.
Reuben and I share a love for music and after the eating was over he always wanted our family to go around the piano and sing hymns. He especially loved the songs in the back meant for the men’s chorus. As Helen or Holly would play, we would all sing. Reuben is a bass and sings very well. He always wanted us to sing just one more and it never got old to me either.
Reuben raised five boys that I look up to and admire. Each of them is uniquely different from each other. The one thing that I can tell they all share is a deep love for their father. It seems at times to be borderline worship. I love Matt’s story of their hunting trip just a few years ago where their dad was patient and got the prize. I can tell they want to be like him. They are good men because Reuben is a good man.
In a world where I believe there is a shortage of good men, we have lost one of the very best that I know. Reuben is a shining example to me and others of how we should live our lives. In my view, people like Reuben only go one place when they die. I testify that Reuben’s eternal spirit went back to the God that gave him life and that loving words were exchanged. I testify that he reunited with loved ones that went before him and that he waits with joy the time he will be reunited with his family still on earth. As we remember the life of this great man, let us resolve to show by our actions that we want to live with our families forever.