I had the pleasure to meet Mr. Deem once. Although I felt like I already knew him through the stories told to me by my sweet friend Brandi, his beloved granddaughter. She and other family members affectionately called him Poppy. She told me he absolutely LOVED popcorn, and that's how he got the name Poppy. On the night I got to meet him we were all at the movie theater. He was with his daughter Janet and I with my daughter and Brandi. We gave our very large popcorn to " Poppy " on our way out. He was delighted. I felt like I was in the presence of someone very special. He was such a sweet man. The love he had for his family just radiated from him. I hope someday that my grandkids speak of me the way his granddaughter speaks about her Poppy and Grandma who are now reunited in heaven.
Sending love to the family ❤ Rhonda Day

There are not enough words to describe how how much i will miss my poppy. He lived his life with so much joy and so much passion snd love for god and He is someone that everyone should strive to be like. he was patient and kind and so funny. He loved music and could fix anything. He was the first person anybody in the family would call if anything was broken or if anything went wrong. He always had the right words to say in any situation. I wish he was here right now because he would definitely say the exact thing we would all need to hear. Poppy took pictures of everything.. he always had a camera and i guess i’m a lot like him in that way. He always told the best stories about his old days in the navy and growing up on his farm in West Virginia. even though i’ve heard them about a million times, i loved listening to him and asking him questions. He loved music and singing….I practically have lived with him since i was a kid and would always hear him singing all over the house at all times. Him and my grandma would always sing in church together and im so grateful to have so many memories, videos, and recordings of them singing. The most important thing about poppy is that he brought so many people to the lord. He was an assistant pastor and him and my grandma led youth group. They helped so many people in so many ways. The reason why i am so close to god is because of him and my grandma… he taught me so much about the bible and was constantly studying it and would always help answer any question i had. When my grandma passed, he was devastated and so was my family. it brings me so much peace and joy knowing that they are together again. “ dear & dearie” is what they would always call each other. Looking back, theres not a moment my grandparents weren’t there for me. Every school play,graduation,softball practice, through all the good times and the bad times they were there for me and now even though both my grandparents are gone, they are still with me and always will be. Poppy, i will miss sitting and watching movies with you, eating wendys chilli& chocolate frostys, and all of the moments in between. I love you so much poppy, i will miss you every day until i see you again.