Sunday, October 19, 2008

Sad News

My Nephew

Driver in critical condition after being ejected from truck By Lou Grieco Saturday, October 18, 2008
GREENVILLE — A Darke County man was flown to Miami Valley Hospital after an early morning crash Saturday, Oct. 18.

Michael L. Custer, Jr., 43, of Greenville, was in critical condition late Saturday afternoon.

According to the Darke County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched at 3:56 a.m. to the 6000 block of U.S. 36 East. The accident occurred at a curve in the road near a country club, deputies said.

A westbound tractor trailer, owned by Chambers Leasing Company in Toledo and driven by Rexal M. Horne, Jr., collided with the pickup truck Custer was driving, deputies said.

Custer was ejected from his truck. Horne was treated at Wayne Hospital for minor injuries, deputies said.

My note, we don't know how he was ejected from his pick up truck, apparently not through the windshield, he had no cuts on his face, head or body. He was just a few miles from his home when it happened. His wife said she heard a knock at the door and thought he had forgotten something, but she knew he would let himself in through the garage. But then when she heard another knock she put on her robe and went to the door. There was a sheriff's deputy standing there and asked to come in, he told her there had been a serious accident and Michael was being care flighted to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. He told her to call someone to drive her down to Dayton. Rita asked if the deputy would have prayer with her which he did.

My Mother, sister's daughter Debbie and my other brother Harold Jr ( we call him Sonny) and myself all went down to the hospital later in the day. First phone call my Mother got from my brother Mike, Michael's Father sounded bad and my Mother didn't want to go down. Then my niece, Michael's sister Sherry called and she made everything sound better. So the four of us went down to see him.

I'm glad we did, I hope it made my Mother feel better. Around 4:00 they told us they were going to run some test, and it would take about 20 mins. About an hour and 20 mins later they came and got us and told us we could all go back to his room, and then they put us into a conference room. Two doctors and three nurses came in and it was about 6:10pm, they said he was declared legally dead at 6:00 pm and they would remove all the machines once the family saw him again. Mom said she didn't want to go back again, she had seen him twice and thought his wife, boys, parents and sister should be the ones to go back and see him one last time.

This summer Michael painted my Mother's house for her. Mom bought the paint and supplies needed to repair her front porch. He would come down on Saturdays after he got off work and also on Sundays to do the job. Mom wasn't too happy about him having to work on her house on Sundays, she doesn't like work to be done on the house on Sundays, but with Michael working full time that was about the only time he could do it. Mom always made sure she feed him something she knew he would like. He loved her homemade pot pie, which was dough cut into squares and dropped into either beef or chicken broth. Several days both of my brother's and Michael's wife also helped to paint. Mom said she felt guilty about taking up so much of his time. I've tried telling her it was something he wanted to do. And to look at it this way, she was able to have some time alone with him when he we there alone and they had their meals together.

Michael had given my Mother an estimate to do the house and Mom told him to go ahead. He finished it just a few weeks ago. When she asked for the bill to pay him, he gave her a blank invoice and she said well that doesn't tell me how much I owe you, he said well read the back. Michael was never a talker. He had written Mom a thank you note for all the care her and Dad had given him in his growing up years. And how much he appreciated that. You see Mom and Dad practically raised both him and his sister. Mom and Dad were always there when something was needed. Michael's Father was the youngest of us four kids.

It's going to be really hard on Rita his wife and my Mom. He has two sons from his first marriage, and he was a wonderful Father. But the boys lived with their Mother and her second husband and I think in the last few years they had grown farther apart as teenagers due sometimes even when living with both parents.

I don't know any of the funeral arrangements yet.

19 comments:

Melinda said...

mom I still cannot believe all this has happened....and now I am bawling all over again

Wanda said...

My heart breaks....Patty I have no words that can help...but my prayers are with his family and all of you.... How sad this old world is...how unpredictable...I'm sorry.

Loving on you....Wanda

Winifred said...

I'm really sad to hear your news.

All I can say is you're all in my thoughts and prayers.

God bless!

Reader Wil said...

I am so sorry Patty. It's awful to lose someone so close to you. I wish you all the stength you and your family need. I will be thinking of you and pray for you.

God bless you, Wil

Tomate Farcie said...

How awful! I offer my sincere condolences. Thoughts are prayers are with you and your family.

Pat - Arkansas said...

I am so sorry for your loss. From what you've told us, your nephew was a fine man, and will be sorely missed. All his family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Gigi Ann said...

I am so sorry to hear of your heartbreaking news. My deepest sympathy to you and the family.

Ann

Martin Stickland said...

Oh this is terribly sad news Patty, I am so sorry and there are not any words I can write that will do any justice and take away the pain.

Our thoughts are with you all.

So Sorry.

Martin and family

Renie Burghardt said...

Oh, Patty, I am so very sorry! My condolances to you and his entire family. May our Heavenly Father comfort you all at this time of great sorrow.

Love and Prayers,

Renie

Betsy Brock said...

So very, very sorry!

Kathleen McQueen Wright said...

God Bless you and your family!

You are all in my prayers

Libertine said...

My condolences.

raccoonlover1963/Lisa Myers said...

Hello Patty. I am so very sorry about your family's loss. I can't even imagine what I would do if I recieved that kind of news about a family member, especially my husband, who drives a semi. My prayers are with you and your family to get through this tough time.
Take care and God bless.
Lisa

Small City Scenes said...

I am SO sorry. My thoughts are with you and your family. MB

Jack and Joann said...

I'm so sorry and so is Jack. May you all find the strenght to deal with this unfortunate accident and death. Thank you for telling us about him so that we could picture what a fine and kind man he was. Peace.

Kelly Ann said...

That is so terribly sad and unfortunate. My thoughts are with you Patty. *hug*

KPPatty said...

You wrote such sweet words about your nephew. Your family is truly blessed to have had someone like him in your lives. I know he will never be far from your thoughts.

jbush said...

I just want to say how sorry i am. mike was a great man.i grew up with mike in school.i always had repect for mike.mike started warrior's for christ, and he ask me to join.which brought me closer to christ. my thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Merle said...

Dear Patty ~~ I am so very sorry to hear about your dear nephew. My deepest sympathy to his wife and family and for you and your family. What a generous man to paint your Mother's house and for his lovely account. My thoughts and prayers are with you all, my friend. How very sad for a young man to leave this world. He will be in God's care now.
Have strength to get through the next few days. Take great care, Love, Merle.