March 20, 2023 | Everyone at Shorty Pants Marina on Lake of the Ozarks knew and loved William "Papa Bill" Cecil Abney, but there was no bond quite like the one Papa Bill shared with Oscar, the black-and-white Boston terrier.
The two met at the marina where Papa Bill worked and soon fell into a routine: Papa Bill would pick Oscar up each morning on his way to the dock. In fact, they were so inseparable that nearly everyone in town figured Oscar belonged to Papa Bill – but they were simply the best of friends.
Papa Bill and his family, including his daughter, Christina Bahe, and granddaughter, Camryn Bahe, spent countless summers together at the lake, making memories of eating popsicles and fishing off the dock, and Oscar was never far. When Bill passed away unexpectedly in 2019, everyone was lost – Oscar, included.
After Papa Bill’s celebration of life, the brightest red cardinal appeared in Christina and Camryn’s yard – and didn’t leave for days. For many, cardinals are a sign that a loved one who's passed is near, and this “heaven-sent messenger,” as Christina writes, brought her family comfort in the days and weeks that followed.
This sweet reminder, paired with the inseparable bond that Papa Bill shared with Oscar, inspired Christina, a third-grade teacher at Jordan Creek Elementary, to author a children’s book in her father’s honor. “Papa Bill and Oscar,” expertly illustrated by Camryn, a Valley High School senior and accomplished artist, is a heartwarming walk down memory lane that explores finding joy amid loss.
The book is also a practical resource for parents and families to guide dialogue and engage children in conversations about loss; Christina included several discussion prompts at the conclusion of the story to assist in this.
Most importantly, the project allowed Christina and Camryn to work through the grief of losing Papa Bill while also honoring his memory and sharing the story of the man “who radiated kindness to everyone he knew.”
“Papa Bill and Oscar,” published by Christian Faith Publishing, is available at book stores across the Des Moines metro and online.