Once the pastor took his place at the podium behind Wally's coffin, the funeral service began.
"Good morning everyone and welcome.
I'm pastor Robert Hill, and today, we are here to say our final good-byes, as well as remember and celebrate the life of Wallace Cleaver, who was better known by his family, friends, and those who knew him as Wally.
Born and raised in the town of Mayfield, Wally grew up from a decorated boy scout, to a model student, a star athlete on the track and field team, as well as a champion swimmer, diver, basketball, and football player.
Upon graduating at the top of his class, to passing the bar, and becoming a well respected lawyer, who always fought for what was right.
In between taking case, occasionally probono, Wally spent his time traveling with politicans, who he helped campaign for.
As well as a successful lawyer, Wally was a devoted family man.
Marrying his junior high school sweetheart heart Mary Ellen.
And together, they became loving parents to daughter Kelly and son Kevin, doting grandparents to Douglas (Duff), Daniel, Katie, Kevin, Jeremy, Randy and Rachael.
Even after his retirement from the law, Wally was still striving to make our community better and more inclusive, by setting up a center as well as providing services for the children and adults with disabilities.
In between that, Wally enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling with Mary Ellen, and working on classic cars.
Wally was living a happy and content life, when he was stricken with cancer three times.
And while he was able to beat prostate and later galbladder cancer, his fight with liver cancer proved to be too much for his body to take and was called home at 77 years of age.
Reunited with those love ones and friends, who had passed before him.
Mother June, Father Ward, and best friends Eddie and Clerance "Lumpy."
At this time, family and friends of Wally are more than welcome to come up and say a few words about him.
They can be heartfelt, even humorous.
If you wish to keep your stories to yourself, it is understandable," said the pastor.
The first person to go up and say a few words was Kevin, who talked about the father/son bond that he and Wally had, teaching him to play sports, fishing trips, teaching him to drive, (which made a few people laugh, when telling a story about a lesson), the advice before heading off to college, working together as lawyers, words of wisdom on his wedding day, but Kevin described how Wally, even when he retired still helped out those who needed service.
Not just family and friends, but to those who couldn't afford a lawyer.
One story, in pictcular was of how when Kevin and Jenna were in the process of adopting the twins, of how Wally fought tooth and nail to get the judge's approval for the adoption to go through.
The next person to go up was Kelly, who admitted to being a daddy's girl, and told a few cute stories about him being the den father for her juinor chipmunk troop, the uniform he had to wear, and the time the two of them baked a cake for one of her troop meetings.
Kelly's voice started to crack as she told of what a wonderful father Wally was to her and Kevin and the best grandfather ever.
Especially to her daughter Katie, who has Down Syndrome.
Beaver remembered Wally giving him the news.
There were only two times that Beaver had ever seen his always levelheaded brother get emotional.
Only two times had he ever seen Wally cry.
The first was the day he walked his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day, and the second was getting the news about his granddaughter.
Kelly then told the story of how the time, she had to care for "Duffy", and the boys, who all came down with a horrible case of the flu, Wally and Mary Ellen took Katie, who was a few months old to their home, as because of her weak immune system.
Since Mary Ellen was still working at the newspaper and he was newly retired, Wally took on the role of watching over Katie.
And while it had been sometime that he took care of a baby, but Wally fell into in an instant.
He fed, changed, took Katie for walks, doctor's appointments, the park, he even introduced her to ice cream, which she truly loved.
Others who went up to say a few words included Beaver's own son Kip, who told a hilarious story about the time uncle Wally gave him driving lessons, and ended up hitting a mailbox, by accident.
And how even though Kip was at fault, Wally took the blame, but Kip made it by giving his uncle money that he was saving up to buy his own car for the damage.
Eddie Hasskell's youngest son, who was also friends with Kelly and Oliver Eddie, AKA Bobmer told a very touching story of his how after his eldest son's diagnoses of Autisum, the local school wouldn't allow him in because of his disabilities, the family knew who to turned to.
Despite not being familiar in this type of situation, Wally fought tooth and nail to help them out.
From then on, Wally fought hard for families of children with disabilities and became heavily involved after Katie's birth.
Even after he retired from his practice, Wally still participated in and headed multiple events to raise awareness for all types of disabilities and even helped opened not just a center but an all-able playground.
Even being a classroom helper when Katie started school.
Everyone was telling great stories, and Beaver couldn't even come up with anything to say.
Not to mention he didn't have the guts to do it.
Then at that moment, another person came up to speak.
Kelly helped a young girl, who looked about 16, wearing a dark blue skirt and jacket outfit, with a bright pin in the shape of a ladybug with the traditional red and black colors.
Once she was situated, Kelly gave the young girl a hug and went back to her seat.
The girl spoke into the microphone and said, "Hi everyone.
I'm Katie and I would like to say a few words about my papa Wally.
Papa Wally was the kindest, smartest, funniest and most amazing grandpa ever.
He always found and made time for my brothers, cousins and I to play with us, read to us, help with homework, fix our broken toys and bikes, take us on car rides, to the park, a game, fishing or a favorite to all of us, getting ice cream.
Shortly after I was born, I needed an operation to fix my heart.
Papa Wally came to see me everyday, and after I came out of the hospital, my dad and brothers got sick, so while mom took care of them, Papa Wally and Garn Mary took care of me.
When mom and dad told me that papa Wally was sick, I got really upset, but papa Wally invited me to his treatments, explaining to me what the doctors were doing to make him well.
Papa Wally would let me sit with him during his chemo sessions, and he would read to me or I read to him to pass the time.
And just like he took care of me, I took care of Papa Wally.
Every day after school and even of weekends, my brothers, cousins and I would visit him and help Gran Mary around the house with chores, cooking, cleaning, and anything else they needed.
The two times that papa Wally got sick, he got better, but the third time, he didn't.
As papa Wally got sicker, he could no longer spend time with us the way he use to.
One day mom and dad sat my brothers and I down to tell us that papa Wally isn't going to get better and that he will be going to heaven soon.
I started crying and I wanted to see papa Wally, so mom and dad took me to see him.
So they took me to see Papa Wally.
When I got to his and Gran Mary's house, Papa Wally knew how upset I was so he and I had what he called Papa and "Ladybug" time.
That was his nickname for me.
Papa Wally said to me, Katie, my sweet lady bug, while it's true that will not be here much longer, always look to the sky, and you will find me.
Now that papa Wally is gone, while I am sad, I know all I have to is look to the sky.
And I do see him.
I see him in the clouds, I see him in the moon, I see him in the sun and I see him in the stars.
I love you papa Wally and I will miss you, but I know all I have to do is look to the sky and I'll see you.
Thank you everyone."