Arthur Robert Godfrey - Online Memorial Website

THIS IS A SONG THAT WAS WRITTEN FOR MY DAD BY MIKE SHAW, MY DAD'S GOOD FRIEND AND EMPLOYER.

MIKE LOVINGLY SANG THIS SONG FOR MY DAD AND ALL THOSE THAT ATTENDED HIS SERVICE - IT WAS POWERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL.

THANK YOU, MIKE.

"Line to Line" (a.k.a. "Art of Life")

Life is a journey we all must make

It’s filled with happiness pain and mistakes

No matter what path your life may take

One thing remains what difference did you make

Live line to line cradle to grave

Jesus came to serve and to save

Is your life giving back more than you take

Live line to line cradle to grave

Into others lives did you let your light shine

Did everyone say you’re a friend of mine

Did Jesus live through you and touch others lives

What we all live behind is how we lived line to line

Live line to line cradle to grave

Jesus came to serve and to save

Is your life giving back more than you take

Live line to line cradle to grave

And when your time in earth is over

And God calls you home

When you stand with the Saints gathered around God’s throne

And the Savior says my servant well done

Welcome home my child your new life has just began

Live line to line cradle to grave

Jesus came to serve and to save

Is your life giving back more than you take

Live line to line cradle to grave

©Michael Shaw 2008

This is a copy of the program from my Dad's service...

FAMILY

Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” **This was his favorite scripture and what he lived his life by.**

Having grown up in an orphanage, Art had a special desire to make family first in his life.  He was a stay at home dad for Lydia, a soccer coach for Emma and a paper route companion for James.   If you had a conversation that lasted longer than 5 minutes you probably were told some proud papa story about one or all of his kids.  His favorite Bible verse was put into practice not by preaching but by doing.  He always had a smile and usually a corny remark when with his children. They were the delight of his life. We are all better people for just knowing him, but they were the luckiest of us all to be able to call him “Dad”.  Any man can be a Father, but only a great man can be a Dad.

Not only did Art literally keep the Home Fires burning in the Godfrey household, but he showed the warmth & love for his wife and children that this song represents. This was a song the family listened to quite often.

“Home Fires” by Steve & Annie Chapman

FRIENDS

Art’s profession was a job hopper.  He often laughed about it.  But now we know that God had a plan for all the jobs that he held over the years other than a paycheck for the bills.  It was so he could use his special talent of making people feel good, lots of people.  He would come home and say he had had a good day if he had somehow cheered someone up at work that had been having a bad day.  All those jobs added up to all his friends. Instead of investing in stocks, he invested in people – and that truly made him the richest man on earth. He also was a friend to all ages.  He respected and loved to serve the elderly but also enjoyed being around young people because then he could just be his funny self.  Friends filled his life with much laughter and joy.

FRIENDS AT CHURCH

Art was raised in a Baptist Orphanage, but had a chance to attend a Friends College where he met a farm girl.  Upon meeting Becky he said, “Your dad has a farm?  Then let’s get married.”  So he embraced her lifestyle and her faith. Married for 35 ½ years, through thick or thin, they were the best of friends. Over the years he came to exemplify the true spirit of living one’s life as a Friend, believing that there is that of God in everyone.  He opened his heart to two foster girls, was a counselor at Jr. High camp, was the caretaker of Quaker Knoll, served along with Becky at the MOWA Indian mission in Alabama, and took great delight in helping care for little Jenny.  One of the highlights of his time here at Chester was cleaning the bricks for the memorial well.  He loved Chester because it was a place of laughter and community.  **He was laid to rest at Chester, right by the memorial well he was so proud of. The memorial well is pictured above. He was the first person in 50+ years to be buried in the Chester cemetery. We found so much comfort in him being at Chester.** He loved being a Friend because it allowed him to walk humbly with his God.  He often took walks down the road to have a ‘little walks and talks with God.’  He had the gift of stopping and smelling the roses.

While serving in Alabama, Art & Becky led a youth group called the “Sank Town Saints” who sang the “Love Round” song as their theme. (Nancy to help lead song – Everyone sings)

Art was involved with Quaker Knoll Church camp for many years – “Pass it On” was one of his favorite camp songs. (#491 – Everyone sings)

ENTRY FROM ART’S SPIRITUAL JOURNAL

In response to the query “How does God speak to you?”

God speaks to me when I am surrounded by people who make me laugh and forget my woes.    God speaks to me when it is feeding time on the farm or the birth of new lambs.  I feel his warmth on a sunny day and I am in awe at the sight of a sunset in the evening or the rainbow after a rain.  He has been a beacon for me off and on for many years and for this I am grateful.

Art’s father’s name was Charles Wesley Godfrey & so every time he sang a hymn written by Charles Wesley it was a little extra special to him. “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” (#56 Everyone sings)

FOOD & FELLOWSHIP

I guess when you grow up in cottage full of boys, you learn to get your food fast and you learn to delight in good food.  He thought he had the most wonderful sister-in-laws because they were great cooks.  Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday because it was about the harvest, recognizing ones blessings and of course……FOOD. 

Count Your Blessings  (#545 – Everyone sings)

He could have driven to Pilot blindfolded from the many trips to get a 2 liter of Pepsi and some cheese curls or combos, chex mix would do in a pinch.  We, the family, invite everyone to join us in the basement for some Chester style food and fellowship that Art so loved.  This isn’t just for family, it is for everyone because everyone that Art met, he loved as family.