Brian G. Bentley

Little Boy Blue
by Eugene Field (1850-1895)

The little toy dog is covered with dust,
    But sturdy and staunch he stands;
The little toy soldier is red with rust,
    And his musket molds in his hands.
Time was when the little toy dog was new
    And the soldier was passing fair;
And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue
    Kissed them and put them there.

“Now, don’t you go till I come,” he said,
    “And don’t you make any noise!”
So, toddling off to his trundle-bed,
    He dreamed of the pretty toys;
And as he was dreaming, an angel song
    Awakened our Little Boy Blue —
Oh! the years are many, the years are long,
    But the little toy friends are true!

Aye, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand,
    Each in the same old place —
Awaiting the touch of a little hand,
    And the smile of a little face;
And they wonder, as waiting these long years through
    In the dust of that little chair,
What has become of our Little Boy Blue
    Since he kissed them and put them there.

Dear Brian,

        Though you left us as a young man, in our hearts you will always be young. You were our son, our grandson, our nephew, our “Little Boy Blue,” You made us laugh and love as we watched you grow. You were full of wonder and amazement. You quizzed us all, asking your Dad, “Can sharks eat cars?” Asking your Uncle Mike if he would take you to Q-zar, and then lamenting “Mama is the only one who loves me, ‘cause she takes me to Q-zar.””

        Today we are left with a hole in our hearts and wondering why we are having to deal with this so soon. Through all the times of your life, there was one constant: you were always, loved by your Dad, your Mom, your grandparents, Caitlin, Caleb, Jonathon, and your babysitter, Ruth. We would love to hear you say one more time, when asked whose baby you were, “I’m ‘Wuffusis [Ruth’s] Baby.”

        We are wondering, as the poet, Eugene Field, so touchingly described, “What has become of our Little Boy Blue since he kissed his toys goodnight and was awakened by an angel’s song, We look forward to seeing you again in the land of cloudless day, where there is no night, no pain, no fears, and, above all, no evil. 

        Goodbye for now, our Little Boy Blue!

Brian Gregory Bentley, 29, was born in Huntsville, Alabama, on August 27, 1989, and passed away on Friday, July 12, 2019.  He is survived by his mother, Janet H. Bentley; father, Greg Bentley and wife Misty; uncle and aunt, Mike and Janie Bentley; sister, Caitlin Bentley; grandparents, Jack and Lynn Bentley; grandmothers Janet N. Bentley (Nanny); and Dora Hourany (Grandma); great-aunt, and uncle, Debra and Jeff Goggans; beloved nephew, Caleb Oakes; beloved brother Jonathon Payne; great-uncle, Mark Bentley, great-aunt, Carol Bentley Reason; and great-aunt and uncle, Jimmy and Ann Bentley and family; and many cousins.

The Family requests in lieu of flowers memorials be made to your favorite charity in memory of Brian.