Expressions of love

Dear friends, colleagues and Cougar family,

When feelings deep within the human spirit reach out to answer someone else’s needs with gestures of encouragement, caring, love and tenderhearted deeds, they reach far beyond the moment. Our family has received your many gifts of kindness and we want you to know that we will be forever grateful.

The words “Thank you” seem so inadequate for all you have done. The last few months have been the most difficult that our family and I have experienced. Elson’s death has been an unbearable and extremely heartbreaking experience for us.

During this time, our family and I have received a phenomenal outpouring of love, support, acts of kindness and prayers. I do not have the words to express the gratitude and appreciation we wish to express to each of you. We have heard and seen you. We have received your many expressions of kindness and we are so very thankful for all you have done.

Thank you for sharing your many expressions of love and support during Elson’s illness. He knew you were there praying and encouraging him. He knew you loved, cared and respected him. He transitioned from this world knowing he was appreciated and admired. Because of you he knew he had made a difference. Thank you for sharing all of that with him before he left us.

Please accept this letter of our appreciation. I know that an open letter may seem somewhat impersonal. That is not my intent. Our family wants you to know we have only been able to get through this devastating time because you have shown us great compassion, love and support. The comfort you have brought us is more than you could ever know. I know that if Elson were here personal thank-you notes would have been sent already. Please know I am most sincerely grateful to each of you.

Thank you for all the ways you have given so much to our family and me. May God bless you forever for all you have so thoughtfully done.

Carmento Floyd and the Floyd family

Pullman

(Editor’s note: Elson S. Floyd, Washington State University’s 10th president, died June 20 of complications from colon cancer. WSU will hold a memorial service beginning at 3 p.m., Wednesday, in Beasley Coliseum on the Pullman campus.)