William Moorman Batsel was born 20 January 1924 in Greenville KY. He married Constance Louise Gatlin. Her parents were Amos James Gatlin and Edna Louise Rutter. Connie died in Louisville, KY in 1969, of a stroke. Billy's second marriage was to Norma Jean Bickle. No issue. He died 13 Feb 1998 in Louisville KY, of cancer. He was buried on 17 Feb 1998 in Lexington Cemetery, Lexington KY.
Subject: Effortless sigh
Dear Ones,
My sister-in-law, Jean, called this morning to say that brother Bill is now in the process of dying of his cancer. His condition worsened beginning on Wednesday. He is in much pain, and consequently on heavy doses of pain-killer.
Jean, of course, is very distressed and grief-stricken. Bill Jr., a psychologist by profession, is there, tending to both of them and helping them. He is reading to Billy from the Episcopal prayer-book. He says Billy points heavenward. David, Billy's oldest son is on the way to Shepherdsville from New Orleans. Jean hasn't called daughter Barbie in Atlanta yet.
I talked with Billy for a moment. His breathing was labored and his speech was slurry and slow. The time he took to respond was drawn out. I was able to get through to his understanding tp let him know that I love him, among other things, and he said, twice, "My brother John, a good man."
Bill Jr. asked me for suggestions of readings for Billy's comfort. I dictated, as best I could, Steven Mitchell's translation of Psalm 121. Bill Jr. is a poet, so he appreciated the depth and beauty of this poem:
I look deep into my heart,
to the core where wisdom arises.
Wisdom comes from from the Unnameable
and unifies heaven and earth.
The Unnameable is always with you.
shining from the depths of your heart.
His peace will keep you untroubled
even in the greatest pain.
When you find him present within you,
you find truth at every moment.
He will guard you from all wrongdoing;
he will guide your feet on his path.
He will temper your youth with patience;
he will crown your old age with fulfillment.
And dying, you will leave your body
as effortlessly as a sigh.
Bill Jr. will read, has read? will read again, that poem to Billy.
The family who are there have given Billy permission to die. I am so glad that Bill Jr. is there to help him die well.
I think all of you for your prayers for Billy. Change them now to prayers that he will die well, easily, aware, but not in too much pain. No one knows exactly when that will happen, of course, but pray for it to be soon. I wish I could see him when he becomes fully aware of how much God loves him.
Pat and I are getting ready to go very soon. It may be the end of the month before we get back home.
One does the most untoward, awkward and seemingly purposless things in grieving. I was hurring up to clean the breakfast dishes, and took the time to scrub the bottom of the toaster oven (I've only done that one other time in my life). I called the travel agent, and gave her an assignment that she will have to do over, because I got it all wrong. Who knows what else will intrude on my thoughts and processes.
If you want to send a card, the address is [address withheld]
I will respond when we get back home.
Love,
John
Dear Ones,
I think of the ancient Christians who celebrated the death of a loved one as his birthday.
Thanks to your prayers and those of other dear friends and family, Bill sighed easily into the glory of his new life. He died about 10:30 last night. Though his body struggled, he was not aware of suffering for the last eight hours of his life. One of the last conscious things he did was to listen to Bill Jr.read Psalm 121. Billy repeated my name, Stephen Mitchell's name, the number of the Psalm and phrases of each line. Thanks be to God for my brother Bill, a good man.
Sing Amazing Grace and Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.
I love you as myself,
John
