Our family was blessed to be led by a man of God that we lovingly called “Poppy.” He was a brother, husband, father, and grandfather who taught us how to live a rich life with God at the helm and family at the core. Through him we learned what courage was, how to live responsibly, and mostly how to build each other up with love.

Poppy demonstrated these values while living with some of the greatest health challenges any of us could ever face. He was a warrior who never complained about the pains he endured. He treated each of us as if we were the most important person in the universe…. Because to him, we were. In fact, he treated everyone with generosity and respect. He had that kind of charisma that made you feel like you feel at ease and a part of our family.

Beyond that, Poppy was full of life and greatly enjoyed having fun. Sometimes that included a lively game of Trivial Pursuit or Spoons. Other times it was more athletic things, like playing Marco Polo in the pool with his grandchildren, playing tennis, and basketball. More relaxing times were spent fishing or taking a walk along the coast. He was always open to new adventures shared with those he loved. While our hearts long for him to be here with us today, we rejoice knowing that his health challenges are behind him and he is in the loving arms of Christ in Paradise.

When we decided to invest in a vacation home, we decided to choose a place where extended families could meet together for family bonding and fellowship time. We have tried to include enough rooms, beds, and entertainment opportunities to make this an unforgettable vacation for your family… one that you will want to repeat annually. We know Poppy would approve of this home.

Our goal is to do what Poppy always did, and that is to exceed expectations. If you have suggestions of ways to make Poppy’s Paradise even better, please let Matt know. We are always open to ways to make our home the paradise you dreamed of when you planned your trip to the Texas coast.

Poppy was the greatest man I’ve ever met. He took me under his wing when I was a young man and helped me grow into a much better man than I otherwise would have been. He also showed me that loyalty, particularly to family, is the greatest virtue, and that nothing is more important than family. And he didn’t just say it; he demonstrated it by being the best Husband, Father, Grandfather, Father-in-Law, Friend, and Mentor one could ask for.

I miss his smile and his laughter, which was always at its peak when he was surrounded by family and friends. And it’s that smile and laughter that inspired us to name this place after him. Every time family and friends gather to enjoy meaningful time together at Poppy’s Paradise, I like to imagine that he’s smiling and laughing too.