Page 20 - August 2024 Issue Web.pdf

Remembering Jim Phelps to write more about it. I’m sorry now that I didn’t, while he
was around to read it. Which takes me to one of life’s tragic
lessons, one I never quite seem to learn: Bryan Gadow didn’t
by Bryan Gadow
stop and listen near enough to what Jim Phelps had to say.

I’ve missed many a funeral in my life, including another With him he took an encyclopedia, filled with factoids about

important one just recently. It brings to mind one of my John Deere lawn mowers, old filling stations, people I never
favorite old one-liners, “if you don’t go to other people’s met, places I’ve never seen, and about life itself. I had the
funerals, they won’t come to yours!” Based on my track great chance to absorb so much, and let it slip away.
record, the celebration of my days here on earth may indeed
At the beginning of August, I’ll be trouncing around the fi eld
be a lonely affair. Certainly, it’s not that I don’t care. I have

out at the Thresherman’s Show, except this time I won’t see
sometimes spent days, even weeks, thinking of the dearly

Jim off in the distance standing under a tent with Jill and
departed, and considering what I would say about them if
chatting with friends. It’s going to hurt.

given the chance. Such is the case here. This time, however,
I shall not hold my words within. With you, I shall share I think, in the end, that my friend knew something
them. important: it really doesn’t matter how many pickup trucks
you sell in the fourth quarter of the year. That won’t advance

As a kid I yearned to be special. Is that unique? Others were
you to anywhere you really need to be. More crucial is, what
the fastest, the coolest, the best swimmer. I sought out any
did you do with the fourth quarter of your life? My friend
opportunity to be noteworthy, including: My Daddy knows
wanted to serve others, to help his community, and to make
the sales manager at Levi Chevrolet, Jim Phelps! You can
things better for his neighbors and family. The man I knew?

see his name in the paper; his wife is one of the teachers at
He gave it his all. Gonna miss you, Jim.
Preston School, and Daddy is on a first-name basis with him!

Adulthood taught me, among many other things, that maybe
this wasn’t all that special...but that Jim was.
Residential & Commercial
I was never in his top-twenty of friends, I know. But each
of our conversations was worthwhile. Always, he gave me Construction Cleaning
a lot of credit for some little bit of help I gave him when Window Cleaning
he chose to run for Register of Wills. We shared a love for
Preston, Maryland and its history, and he encouraged me
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Jim Phelps with his wife Jill and surrounded by his family. 800-482-8009 • 443-867-7330 • 443-867-7331
James “Jim” Lee Phelps, December 24, 1953 - June 16, 2024.
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