Elza Fay Eskridge (1928-2015)

Papa Fay was the embodiment of everything gentle, patient, and kind. He was a man full of joy, always carrying a smile that reached his eyes—even until the very end. Living in a house with a wife and four daughters might have made him a bit quieter than some, but when he spoke, we listened. We knew his words carried weight.

He was a man who never stopped moving. Whether serving in the Army, working on the railroad, or selling real estate, he was a hard worker who taught us all the value of preparing for the future.

Beyond his career, he was a staple of the community. He knew practically everyone in town. If Grandma sent him to the store for a few groceries, we knew not to expect him back quickly; he’d be too busy visiting with neighbors in the aisles. It was a long-running family joke. My dad said it best: Papa Fay is likely only just inside the gates of Heaven because he’s so busy catching up with everyone he meets.

He never had a mean word to say about anyone or anything. He lived out his faith openly and was respected by all who knew him.

Having lived just down the street from him and Grandma for eleven years, my life was shaped by his presence. He was the one who picked me up from school when my parents were at work, and he was in the front row for every school play and musical.

He loved being wherever his kids and grandkids were and took such joy in all of us. 

 

Papa Fay always had wisdom to share. He was one of the wisest men I have ever known. 

He was so supportive of me and all of my dreams, especially those concerning missions. He and my grandmother have spent their entire lives serving others in the name of Jesus, and I am so thankful for the example. He showed me what it means to be selfless through his daily life.

He was active in his community, especially in the Kiwanis Club. Each year during Rodeo weekend, he could be found serving coffee and visiting with people at the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, usually doing more visiting than pouring coffee 😉

He taught me early on that serving others was a great way to spend your life. He showed the value of serving others in his marriage – he loved my grandmother so much and showed it constantly. They were married for over 60 years, and, even though he couldn’t express it well toward the end, it was obvious that he loved her.

Fay Eskridge was an amazing man, and I am so proud to be his granddaughter.

    

He loved Brennan, too. At our 50th annual Madole Family Reunion in 2011 (the last one he was able to attend), I remember him telling my aunt he wanted to sit next to “her husband” – Brennan. He didn’t always remember his name, but he knew he was my husband and he loved him.

      

So many memories of him from Family Reunions…this was in Trinidad, CA in 2009:

  

And McCloud, CA in 2008:

   

He was a man of love, and we loved him deeply.

The hardest part of Papa Fay’s story was the long shadow of Alzheimer’s. Diagnosed in 2005, the disease slowly took him from us over many years. Our last big trip together was to Alaska in 2009. He was still the Papa Fay we knew then—helping fix fences and holding steady conversations.

The years that followed were rough as we watched him slip away. In many ways, we grieved him long before he physically left us. Seeing him as a shell of his former self was heartbreaking, which is why there was a sense of relief when he finally went home to be with Jesus. I find so much peace knowing he is whole, healthy, and coherent again, surrounded by the brothers, sisters, and parents who went before him.

And, should God not heal Tori on this earth, Papa Fay will be waiting for her with open arms. He loved our little girl even though he may not have known who she was or whose she was.

I am so thankful that we brought Tori out in November. We had some very special moments with her and Papa Fay where he called her “Sweetie Pie” and even held her for about an hour. We captured that on video and in photos.

I am so thankful we brought her out in April because he was still doing okay then compared to when we saw him yesterday.

Most of all, I am so thankful that we will spend an eternity with him. He instilled within me a love for God through his life, his words, and his actions, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without the impact of Papa Fay. 

Thank you for leaving such a legacy. Can’t wait to see you again ❤️