It is true that Gramps (Gerald Ray--Bud--Leonard) loved each of his grandkids lots. Denise (Leonard) Collette, his daughter always felt that he was a much better grandfather than a father. I'm not sure about that because my mother (Bertha Bee Leonard McCauley) and Gerry (Leonard) Parker sure adored him.
Even though Gramps loved all his grandkids, he did have a soft spot for some. Gramps thought the world of Michael Collette, probably because he was the oldest grandchild....AND he was a boy. Since none of his own children were boys, this made Michael that much more special.
Gramps also had a very tender spot in his heart for Cari Parker, Gerry's daughter. He would always talk about her with so much admiration. She had to deal with some physical challenges, such as blindness, but in spite of those challenges, she had a happy and cheerful disposition and such determination to not let her challenges defeat her. He felt that we could all learn from her.
Gramps once chastised me for having a rotten disposition. I have never forgotten how deeply that chastisement hurt because I adored Gramps and never wanted to displease him. Tears still come to my eyes when I remember how I felt...and I often remember his words to this day when acting "bratty." Gramps became even dearer to me when Denise and my mom told me about my adoption and told me that Gramps had said that if my mom and dad didn't adopt me, he and Nanny would raise me because I wasn't leaving the family.
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