Life Is Not Forever ~ Love Is
In Celebration of the Lives of
Jason & Andrew Colvard
I wanted to share a story with you…
In October we returned ‘home’ to California where I was born and raised and where my son and grandson, Jason and Andrew, were also born, each of us in the same country hospital in rural Sonoma County. We felt a deep need and longing to gather with our family for a small memorial service to honor our ‘boys’. We had waited until we felt it was ‘safe enough’ to travel with my elderly Mother, and when there was a small window when the virus was less rampant, we flew. We gathered at my Mother’s old family farm on a warm October day to sing praises of Jason and Andrew, share stories, and take comfort with each other. My family had purchased two beautiful Ginkgoes’ that we planted side by side in the field next to my Mom’s home. There they will grow for centuries as Ginkgoes are known to do, growing from the ashes we planted in the soil and holding the memories of Jason and Andrew in their strong limbs and beautiful leaves.
The next morning, we carried their ashes, their stardust, to the old family burial plot in the Sonoma Mountain Cemetery where my Grandparents are buried. I’ve long loved this sacred space, where souls have been put to rest under the old oak forest that grows wild in the volcanic landscape. As we knelt in prayer over Jason and Andrew’s Memorial Stone, my brother placed an olive branch on the headstone. Wondering where the olive branch came from in this old oak forest, my brother pointed above; directly above us was one lone old and gnarled olive tree, a symbol of peace and renewal, growing amidst the oak forest.
That afternoon, returning home, we went out to circle the Ginkgo trees and to sing one final parting song before we all left for our homes again. As we began to sing,
“Fly like an Eagle,
Flying so high,
Circling the Universe
On wings of pure light”
Right above us, two beautiful white shoulder Hawks appeared and began to circle above and around us… singing with us in their high-pitched tones. They circled and sang above us the entire time we were singing, and as we finished the last verse, these two beautiful hawks flew off…. into the star world and the world of spirit beings.
With love and light,
Rosemary
Peace, my heart, let the time for the parting be sweet.
Let it not be a death but completeness.
Let love melt into memory and pain into songs.
Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of the wings over the nest.
Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like the flower of the night.
Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment,
and say your last words in silence.
I bow to you and hold up my lamp to light you on your way.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die…
Jason and Andrew were huge animal lovers and cared passionately for the well-being of animals.
The family had four pit bulls that lived with them and many feral cats that they adopted and cared for. Their four dogs, Beau, Cita, Gremlin, and Buddy, were taken to the Oconee County Animal Control who did an outstanding job of caring for them, and finding loving homes for each of them. They were soon adopted out to loving families. The kitties were fostered out in several homes and were cared for by Campus Cats, a non-profit organization that cares for homeless cats.
In Memory of Jason and Andrew, we invite you to make a donation to the Friends of Oconee County Animal Shelter or to your local animal shelter.
Donations can be made via mail or online. Please include a memo stating:
In memory of Jason and Andrew
Donate via mail:
Local Dog & Cat Shelter
Oconee County Animal Service
1171 Branch Road
Bishop, GA 30621
Campus Cats
P.O. Box 902
Watkinsville, GA 30677
[email protected]
Update: Beau, Buddy, Cita, and Gremlin have all been adopted by wonderful, caring families!
Stories keep the memories alive and bring the departed spirits back to life. If you have a story that you’d like to share about Jason or Andrew, please share it here.
“Thank you for the stories; they are manna to the heart. And thank you for your love and support this past year. We felt it deeply. It was only because of the love and support of family and friends that we were able to bear what was truly unbearable”
Jason ~ my friend, colleague, inspiration and challenger! You were like the brother I have never had! You inspired me daily, drove me crazy and shared your sense of humor, bringing me to deep belly laughs!
Your passion for sharing your mother’s work with the plants was deep and I hold so much respect for your work and dedication to family!
Jason, I speak your name daily and hold you deeply in my heart. I miss you my friend!
Andrew, you sweet boy, with the most gentle spirit ~ I miss your smile – that radiance which shines so bright and lights up a room! Your eagerness to help and please was deep. I enjoyed working with you and miss you deeply~
Dear Rosemary, Robert and family,
I am keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers daily; praying for peace, strength and comfort.
I am grateful to have known Jason and Andrew and wish them peace and love as they travel on their Spirit journeys.
The first time I met Jason was a time when he was visiting at Sage Mountain, I was quite intrigued to know and figure out this handsome, wirey guy with an artistic sleeve of tattoos (long before tattoos were so common in our neck of the woods.) Once I got to know him I found he was a great mixture of wildness and gentleness combined.
Unlike Rosemary and Jasmine who light up a gathering and like to be in the “thick of things”, Jason and Andrew always seemed to be content to be more on the sidelines, offering their help and expertise when needed.
Bright lights in their own way with their computer and technology brilliance, their love of animals, and their kind hearts, they were a pleasure to know.
Andrew had lots of energy and he and Gracie had fun playing and hanging out together at gatherings at Sage Mountain and paddling together on the Lake Averill at the camp. We are grateful for the good times and hold them in our hearts.
For now and always
May your sorrow be softened
by the presence of caring friends,
nature’s tranquility,
and your own inner peace and strength.
May the healing power of good memories
visit all of you in quiet moments
and nourish your souls.
I am grateful to have known both Jason and Andrew and sense they are at peace as they travel on beyond the veil. Blessings of love and peace to all of you and them!
Jason was five years old when I met him and possibly the most beautiful child I had ever seen. Eyes enormous twin pools of sweetness and trust, blonde curls tumbling down his shoulders. The first night that he stayed overnight at our house, I read a story to him before bed and afterwards he told me how when he went to bed at night, his bed rose in the air and took him anywhere that he wished to go, like a magic carpet. Another time we were at the Russian River on an idyllic summer’s day, gazing out over the water and he softly intoned, “God is in our hearts.”
So many times the children played together at the old Armstrong Ranch, Jason, Rainer and Graham, their shining heads bent together as they built forts on Fife Creek and tramped through the muddy woods. Jason Muck-Luck, he was then. The children would call out to other, running through the woods, slipping in and out of dappled sun and shade, and Jason was always the leader. The younger children adored him.
He grew into a fine young man- he was so cool! He would come into my shop and lean his skate board up against the wall, always with a pretty girl in tow. Later he took loving pride in being a father himself, as he joined the Moneymaker family, such very good people.
After Rainer passed away, Jason came to see me, always true, kind and loving. His eyes looked exactly the same. He was a good man and I am a better person for having known him.
I know that the moment his soul leapt to freedom from his body, that Rainer and Graham and other loved ones were there, waiting for him and Andrew. Together they are making miracles for all of us here. If I listen closely in the garden, I will hear them, laughter and voices floating over the warm herbs in the sun. Love is all there is.
Dearest Rosemary and family,
I don’t have the words to say how incredibly sorry I am for your loss. I met Andrew at Sage Mountain when I was young, and I feel so grateful to have known and spent time with him over the years. He was funny, smart, and made the best most unexpected connections between things. I have wonderful memories of adventures together in the woods and times playing in the gardens. Kayaking, exploring the edges of the lake and hearing so many loons. Hanging out and laughing in the hot tub at Sage during programs. Canoeing out one night and just floating around talking about funny things, fantasy stories, and beautiful places. Hiking in the woods with Andrew and Rosemary and finding a perfect swimming spot. There was a large rock next to the water, perfect for jumping in—I wasn’t so sure but Andrew jumped in first, getting me to join in the fun. I looked forward to knowing I would see him at herbal conferences and events every year and get to catch up. He was such a thoughtful and sweet human being. I didn’t know Jason well, but knew him to be a brilliant and kind person, and a very loving father to Andrew.
I am so sorry for this terrible loss, you are all in my heart and prayers. So much love, Gracie