R.I.P. Hollis Wayne Hurst Junior (June 14, 1961 - March 14, 2009)

It seems just like yesterday that I came into the world and I knew you had to have held me plenty of times. I was the first girl among Nick, Eric, Chris, and Jon! No one knew whether there'd be anymore girls in the immediate family and once there wasn't I knew you and I would have a special bond in which we did. I was your angel because you had no daughter so I was the daughter figure in your life (other than Jenna).

I know that I already had a dad but I knew that if anything was going to happen to my dad that you would be here for me. I never had thought that you'd be gone before my dad, or even before you could have seen me have my happy day. I don't even think that we all thought that we would have to lose you this way.

One grand memory that I remember about or bond was that whenever we'd have any get together that you and I would be near each other that I knew I'd have to find my uncle Hap to come give you a hug. When I was little I would come and run and jump and give you one big huge bear hug. Now that I am not so little I would just run and find you, once I did I was in your arms forever.

I really wish you wouldn't have left right before I could have fixed things because I feel horrible because the last feeling that I got was that you were mad at me for leaving grandma's birthday with Heather. I wish I could have stayed longer or even called you sooner to talk to you so that you knew that I understood things bout Heather then what some of the other family members felt about her.

I know most people don't know bout the Nick and Heather situation (to anyone wanting to know its a family matter and that this is just my tribute to my uncle I am doing) but I am hoping that you still love me and wasn't horrifically pissed at me before you died because I just hope and pray we didn't depart on wrong terms. Right now its hard for me to let go and grasp the fact that your dead cause I'm thinking its one huge nightmare that you'll walk through this door telling me to come and give you a hug and that I just had a nightmare...BUT ITS NOT!!!

I just want you to know that I miss you terribly and that I'll always have a piece of you in my heart!

R.I.P. Uncle Hap
Love You Already,
Your Favorite and only Niece,
Mandi Lynn