\                                                            FARWELL TO ETTA 

Etta Shade Powell Hunter

Born 13 March 1941 (in the Kingdom of Fife) Scotland

Passed 08 May 2021 in Redcliffe, Queensland 

Neil, Jock & Etta

My name is Neil McKinlay. I retired from full time army chaplaincy January, 2020, and will retire from part time army chaplaincy at the end of June 2021. I think it was in 2012 that I became chaplain, or padre, as we’re better known, to the Rats of Tobruk[1] here in Brisbane. It was then that I met Etta and Jock for the first time. All of us being Scottish, we had an immediate common bond. We became friends.

We’re here to remember Etta who has departed from us, as well to seek comfort from God’s Word for us who remain behind. We’re here to celebrate Etta’s life and share fond memories of her.

There’s a verse of Scripture that says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” If you know Jock and Etta, you’ll know of the love they had one for the other. And who here thinks that Jock would not have given his life to save Etta? Jock loved Etta. And Etta loved Jock.

Jock showed me a box full of airmail letters from way back around 1962 when he and Etta were just courting, I think. He showed me one letter in particular, written in his own handsome handwriting to his beautiful bride. I blushed when I read some of it, and just skimmed over the rest, because I felt as if I was intruding, eavesdropping on Jock and Etta’s private intimacy.

Rats of Tobruk Memorial Service

Jock loved Etta as a husband ought to love his wife, just as the Scripture says we’re to, “Husbands, love your wives.” We saw this love, this powerful bond, this active love that Jock had for Etta right up to the very end. Endless love!

In the wedding vows we may hear these words, “I, Jock Hunter, take thee, Etta Powell, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge myself to you.”

I’m sure Jock and Etta had times of being richer and poorer as they travelled around with Jock in his role as part of the RAF, and then migrating to, and establishing themselves with a family in, Australia. However, it was in sickness that their marriage really flourished. Sacrificial love!

Neil, Dot, & Etta

The Scripture says that marriage is a picture of the Husband, Jesus Christ, and His bride, the church. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” Jesus gave His physical life for His bride, i.e., all who believe in Him as their Saviour. That is what the church is. It is not so much the brick building, but those who meet in the brick building to honour the Man who lived and died for them, and was raised again on the third day.

All believers have the hope of the future resurrection. That’s the time when we get our bodies back, just like Jesus did after three days in the grave. Unlike our present bodies, which are subject to sickness and death, our Resurrection bodies will be healthy and will last forever.

Jock cared for Etta in her sickness, which began around 2010 when Etta started to show early signs of her dementia. Jock would selflessly take his bride with him everywhere, even as she grew progressively worse. He fed her. He bathed her. He clothed her. He carried her. Yes, he loved her, truly loved her.

Dot, Neil, Jock & Etta

I asked Jock what was one of Etta’s favourite things to say to him. “Stop yer tickling, Jock!” was what he said she’d always say to him. “Stop yer tickling, Jock!” is a line from an old Harry Lauder[2] song from 1908 or something. It is a song that is full of laughter and joy, full of fond memories about the time when a young couple was courting.

It reminded me of a verse of Scripture that says, “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth” Proverbs 5:18. Yes, “rejoice with the wife of your youth.” I’d like to finish my wee part in this celebration of Etta’s life by reading the first verse and chorus of “Stop yer tickling, Jock!” Let us rejoice by imagining that it’s Jock and Etta in their youth, back when they were first courting:

Oh! I’m courting a farmer’s dochter,

She’s one of the nicest ever seen.

Her cheeks they are a rosy red,

And her age is just sweet seventeen.

When I throw my arms around her neck

And try to steal a kiss,

Oh, she’ll wriggle and giggle

And twist and twiggle,

And then you’ll hear her shouting this –

“Will ye stop yer tickling, Jock!

Oh, stop yer tickling, Jock!

Dinna mak’ me laugh so hearty,

Or you’ll make me choke.

Oh! I wish you’d stop yer nonsense,

Just look at all the folk.

Will ye stop yer tickling,

Tickle-ickle-ickling,

Stop yer tickling, Jock!”

 

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[1] The Rats of Tobruk were soldiers of the Australian-led Allied garrison that held the Libyan port of Tobruk against the Afrika Corps, during the Siege of Tobruk in World War II. The siege started on 11 April 1941 and was relieved on 10 December. The port continued to be held by the Allies until its surrender on 21 June 1942. Wikipedia

[2] Harry Lauder (1870-1950) was a Scottish singer and comedian popular in both music hall and vaudeville theatre traditions.