Contributed by:
Karen Groves/YourHub.com
Article Contributed on: 6/7/2009 4:21:45 PM
Ted La Montagne was the kind of guy who's not supposed to die.
He did too many good things for people.
Though his wife, Kay D'Evelyn La Montagne said his children and grandchildren were his greatest joy, if you knew him, he always led you to believe you were a person he cared about.
What made him extraordinary was that he really did.
Judging from the hundreds of people who came to say goodbye at Evergreen Lake House June 7, the entrepreneur, visionary and philanthropist was capable of sharing his love of life with many and deriving great joy in doing so.
He also shared his longtime Evergreen business, The Hardware, which for many people became a second home, of sorts.
Whether they were landing on their feet for the second or third time, blessed with special needs or were just working their first job, Ted was able to spread joy to his two personal families and the family he created at The Hardware, where, as his son Evan said, "The door was always open."
Because he was comfortable dong the right thing and because it suited him, he made it look easy.
According to former employee Natalie Lewis, patient is how she described his reaction when she revealed she wiped out the entire database.
He probably giggled inside when one of the high school students labeled all the Christmas trees as being "Fur" trees.
Friend and former employee Loie Evans said he was always willing to work around "her parenting schedule."
These people had one thing in common - Ted found something likable, something special in them - that enabled him to overlook dips in temperament, youthful ignorance and other inconvenient human traits that might get in the way of bumping up a bottom line.
His children and his brother recalled in poetry and prose his often colorful attire and sense of humor.
His second wife said he gave to everyone a love of God.
But, I think it was more basic .... he gave love.