Deputy Kelly James Fredinburg

Thank you to every single person who takes the time to come here and remember my father. He was such an incredible human and while it breaks my heart to read of the way his death broke the hearts of so many, it also warms my heart to know so many people still love and cherish him. My favorite posts are the ones where you guys share funny stories or remember him for his tenacious go get 'em attitude. If you knew my dad well, the sheer thought of him will leave you with a smile, a giggle, a heart full of overwhelming love, and a tear in your eye. I am thankful to each of you who remember, share stories, continue to love and honor this wonderful man I was lucky enough to call my father.

To my Father, I am 30 years old now and can see this world with a new perspective yet I still remember everything you taught me. I am bold, I am courageous, I do not fear and I welcome the unknown. I laugh hard and can pull a damn good prank. I work each and every day to embody the best parts of you because without you, there would be no me. For the love and life you gave me I will forever be thankful.

It's Christmas time now and the memories have come flooding in. I welcome each and every one of them because even though with each memory I am left with the heartache of knowing you are no longer here, the warmth that fills my entire being, and the smile that comes without fail, are worth every thought of you.

A poem I wrote for you ~

When a cardinal appears
They say an angel is near
But my angel left long ago,
And I don’t understand
How this crazy world turns
So I hope you’re my cardinal,
When the skies are gray and the leaves have fallen, that’s when I think of you most
And on my back porch a cardinal appears
Oh I hope your my cardinal,
I try not to hold too tight to you dear
Because you need your wings to fly,
You left long ago and I’m trying to grow
But I hope you’re my cardinal,
The tears that I cry aren’t for the day that you died but the years gone by without you,
I hope that you know you are never alone
One day I’ll be a cardinal too,
And together we’ll fly into the sky
Rejoicing and singing our song,
Red wings bright bringing peace
through you're flight
Oh I hope you're my cardinal.

Merry Christmas, Dad. You are missed not just today, but every day.

Miranda Fredinburg
Daughter

December 18, 2024