need help writing speech for a friend that burned in a fire this morning

[donnakaren]

Hi,
I have been asked to speak at a friend's funeral. He burnt up in a fire early this morning.
I met LaVern about 5 yrs ago, when I was working outside. He was walking down the road and stopped to see if he could cut my grass. I'll never forget that day, as long as I live. He said "Ma'am, I'll cut your grass for $20.00. I looked at him kinda funny, cause I have almost 4 acres. I told him that my riding mower was broken so he couldn't cut the grass until I got the mower fixed. He said " I'll fix your mower and cut your grass for the same price".
I looked at him and told him "NO you wont do all that for $20.00." He was a little troubled, because he thought that was such a good deal. And it was, but I wasn't going to take advantage of him like that, nor anyone else.

He cut my grass and I gave him $75.00. And I fixed us both lunch.Would have gave him more, but I'm on a limited income and that's all that I had. He did a great job.

To make a long story short, after he was done, I took him home (about 2 miles down the road). He lived in a one room little shack, some of the windows were broken out, the old tim roof had holes every where. There was no running water, no bathroom, no electricity.. I was so heartbroken. I didn't know people still lived like that. I rushed home to find blankets, kersosene heater, food, battery operated tv and radio, clothes...anything that I could find that I thought he might need, I took it to him. I told him if he ever needed anything to eat to let me know and I would make sure he had a warm meal. I would never let anyone go hungry. Those are things we all take for granted.

Whenever I needed Vern, all I had to do was find him and he'd work all day as hard as he could. He would never complain about all the work he had to do, even if it was something that he didn't really want to do.

It broke my heart to hear that his life was taken, when his little one room home caught on fire this morning around 2am. He tried so desperatly to get out, but couldn't.

If anyone can help me, I'd be grateful!! I think his funeral is going to be next weds. So there's still time.

Thank you and God Bless!
Karen
Sorry for the long post...