When dark ominous clouds roll suspiciously across the plains of northeast Colorado at the end of wheat harvest day on a July evening, you can't help but wonder, "will we cut wheat tomorrow?" Indeed, this storm proved those fears, and for some residents of Dailey, Colorado it was much more. On that night, July 5, 2000, now 20 years ago, many can still remember the smell, the sound, the eeriness of that night like it was yesterday. As with any weather storm, a tornado reminds us that we shouldn't take anything for granted; as you will read in the following story, life is.....fragile.
Although several families were severely affected by this storms path on that dreadful night now twenty years behind us, this story is about one family, Hazle and Kenneth Gordon, who lived and worked the land for more than 68 years, northwest of Dailey, Colorado. The story is written in its entirety by the Gordons daughter Sharon Weber, who currently resides on the home place with husband Paul.
We do not know for sure how Hazle and Kenneth felt that night as the storm was raging towards them? The tornado, unannounced was a force that most of us have not experienced, added to that, they were 87 years old. Many do not comprehend that they lived through such destruction. Its true, it was great! But God was greater that night. He brought them through the darkness, and into the light. There were just enough flashes of lightning for Hazle to see Kenneth and huddle together till help arrived. And, that now famous chair....that overturned chair (Kenneth underneath)..... that held up an entire collapsed wall, became the shield of protection. It saved his life? God saved his life! But it is a symbol for us today as we revisit those cherished memories of how God is working in all of us!
Life is indeed......fragile. There is always hope!
Thank you to Sharon Weber, Haxtun Colorado, for graciously sharing her story. Who knows she might share.....the rest of the story?
For more historical photos check out my page.
Thanks for the story on the Gordon farm. Very touching.