“Ok. I love you Dad! Stay out of trouble please”

These were the last words I spoke to my 65 year old father, Mark Bares.

On friday April 3rd, my beloved father walked out to his truck for the last time. I’m Kellie , his only daughter and my mother, Debie, and I are still in shock.

Dad and mom spent 43 years married to each other filled with laughter, work and fun. They only had me. It was always just the three of us and felt like nothing could take us down. In ‘98 we nearly lost him but, in Dad fashion, he didn’t let that heart attack stop him. He loved to fish, cut the lawn and Star Trek. Every Sunday he made sure he got the paper and had eggs, bacon and biscuits for breakfast with his coffee. Early mornings, beating everyone to work only to also be the first one out the door when the day was over.

He worked for a couple school districts, but most notably he worked for Cy-Fair ISD where he met his long time best friend and my beloved adopted uncle Steve Fish and his wife, my aunt Jodi. There isn’t a story of these two men, tied by an invisible string, that wasn’t hilarious or included water and someone just wet. Dad wasn’t late to anything ever, no matter who he irritated in the process. However, he fiercely loved his family. He lived next door to his brother who is more like his twin than just his big brother. He would spend time in the yard with mom and pester her to join him fishing or just sitting outside and listen to music while he had his beer and cigars. He was blessed with me as his daughter but got a son in 2013 when Jeff and I married, and in that moment he also earned another best friend in his son-in-law. Fishing, cigars, garage sitting, getting in trouble with mom and me, and go kart racing are just some of the best memories they share.

His favorite little people are there: his grandbabies. Wade was born in 2012 and from the moment I found out I was pregnant, it was like I completed his world. He was the most proud Pawpaw. His little peanut, Wade Mark, was his mowing and napping buddy. “Come on Pawpaw” he would say to Dad as they would walk away. Then 2016 he his world grew bigger and his world became brighter with his little Lexi Lynn. That was it for him. His grandkids were everything he ever wanted. His love of video gaming was shared with Wade and his bond with Lexi was more than his bond with me. It was like seeing him with me as a little girl all over again. He loved them more than anything in this world. Now they are lost, like the rest of us.

“Will you take care of my family?” Was the only question he had for Jeff when Jeff asked for my hand. Those words sting deep now because we have been left with debts that feel like a mountain towering over our lake of tears.

He wasn’t supposed to go. He his retirement date was set for June. He was going to visit his in our home in Europe after retirement. Now I have come back to the states to try to tell him goodbye with my mom but it is tough.

We need help. We want to honor his wishes as much as we can but financially, there is nothing to cover it. No policies. No savings. Just kitchen table bills and more to come every day and only one last paycheck to cover it all. I am there only child and, I am realizing I cannot do this without help.

Basic groceries, utilities and rent are just some of the items we have to magically cover. On top of those we also have his final wishes of cremation and our little bbq here at the house. He always said “Don’t cry over me. Have a beer and celebrate”. That is all he wanted and that is what I want to give him while ensuring that we also honor his wish to take care of mom as well.

Every last cent will go directly to Mom and the current and pending expenses adding up. He wanted us to take care of her and that is what I am doing.

If you knew Dad in any capacity, you know he loved you. He loved everyone so much and doing this together is exactly what he wanted.

From the deep bottom of a broken little girl’s heart, thank you for anything you can do.

I love each and every one of you.

Mostly you Daddy.

Jeff and Kellie Taylor