Honoring the Memory of my Father, Verlin Forrest Powers, for Father's Day

I often feel left out on Father's Day because I grew up without my dad most of my life. He was killed in a car wreck when I was 1 year old. He was moving us to the desert where he could breathe and where he would be close to his friends in Hollywood so he could get involved in the music of the movies. I was raised on who he was and what he stood for in his life. People didn't know how hungry I was for anything they had to say about him and what a surprise...it was all so stunningly wonderful that my heart would break even more missing his presence in my life. But he was so important to me that he influenced how I lived and always for the best.

I read an online article about 5 things a good dad does. So I decided to list the things he lived his life by that influenced me and made me proud to be his daughter. Here they are:

1. Belief in God, a practicing Christian.
2. Love of family and children, sometimes duty bound over love. He dedicated his music to love songs to fall in love to and marry around. The night he was killed, his friends begged him to stay over and rest and start in the morning. Something made him leave in the middle of the night, tired. Probably my mother talked to him on the phone and told him to come home. I do blame her. He was so warm and affectionate everyone said. She is the opposite, cold and distant.
3. Service to his country. Raised by a WWI Army vet, his dad, he was eager to serve in WWII wanting to be in the Army Air Corps. His asthma kept him out until Pearl Harbor then he was drafted into the Navy. He had learned to fly anyway on his own which really impressed me. At Treasure Island in SF, CA he had a near fatal asthma attack and was honorably discharged, his unit was heading to Iwo Jima.
4. Discipline and Education. He loved music and played most instruments specializing in tenor sax and sang tenor. He had a very popular big band in the 40's which played at a nightclub, The Frog Hop in St. Joseph, MO. All the big band names came through town and he was able to sit in with each one. He went to NYC and auditioned with Tommy Dorsey's Band and played awhile but didn't like the all night drinking. He turned down heroin and homosexuality as he was approached with each element. Lots of musicians go the drug and alcohol route but my dad was able to stay clean and quit any drinking before I was born.
He had his college degree and taught music in high school. He loved kids and wanted everyone to at least experience music and enjoy it. He had a great sense of humor and entertained people. At the club on Friday nights he was live with his band and played the top 40 in the 40's, broadcasting on a local radio show. He announced my brother's birth on the air!
5. Career. Discipline and education are intertwined with this one but he was dedicated to his work and since he decided New York wasn't his scene, he was ready for his friends in Hollywood and to contribute to the music scene in the movies. Always of course, he would have a band. He was moving us to the Arizona desert so he could breathe the air better and be close to LA when he was killed in a car wreck coming home to Colorado with a trailer for our stuff.

His short life was jam packed with treasures and gifts and wonderful people who always enjoyed his music and humor. I missed him all my life but belief in God and  being Christian has helped sustain me and I really couldn't have asked for a better dad. Thank you, Daddy!