On Wednesday Nancy, Vivian, Glen, Darren, Brian and I met at Walker Mortuary in Spanish Fork. (I don't know why Brent wasn't there) We went over the obituary, what we wanted to do for the tribute video and what pictures we wanted to use. We picked out a casket, a vault and figured out all the expenses. Glen, Darren and I split the near $7000 costs of the funeral.
The next day my dad's obituary came out in the Provo Daily Herald. His viewing was that night. In hind sight I realize now that we should've waited longer. There were so many people who didn't know about it. We should've done his viewing on Sunday night and buried him on Monday. But we didn't. Anyway, he had a full house with people coming in all night. There was a steady line for nearly 2 hours. What a tribute! We had a table with all different kinds of things on it of my dads. There was his muzzle loader gun powder horn holder. His mountain man bag and his muzzle bullet holder. There were tons of pictures of him thourghout his life. His Utah Jazz slippers, his US Navy hats, his rugs, pottery, Indian dolls and other Navajo items. We also had his cane and walking staff that his friend Don Shiffman had made him. He wanted them both to buried with him but Nancy decided to keep the staff and we put the cane in with him. They were made out of beautiful wood and had turquoise inlays. My dad wanted a closed casket. So I printed up an 8x10 picture of him and it sat on top of his casket. My sweet little Cade had a terrible time with letting grandpa go. He really loved my dad and he just cried and cried. At the end of the night we opened up his casket and let whatever family who wanted to, see him. Cade was right up, and he didn't just look, he lingered and stared and sobbed. It was heartbreaking. He would walk away and come back and cry some more. Suzette gave us the idea to have him write him a letter and draw him a picture and place it in his casket the next day to be buried with him. That night we came home and Cade sat down and thougth about what he wanted to say. He drew a picture of him and grandpa. Then he wrote a letter to him. I so badly wanted to make a copy of it but I didn't. His letter went close to this:
Dear Grandpa,
I miss you so much. I wish you were still here. I want to still talk to you. I want to go fishing with you and me and my dad and Jens. I'm sorry that you are not here to take care of grandma. But I will help take care of her. I know that I will see you again. I love you very much.
Love, Caden
PS My dad and mom love you very much too
(Jeff read the letter with me. Tears slipped down both of our faces. Jeff had him add the "ps" part)
That next night, Cade had a dream. He and grandpa, Jeff and Jens all went fishing. Everyone caught fish BUT grandpa! So then they went hunting and guess who got the first and best shot - grandpa! Cade woke up so happy. He felt great.
The next day we went to the Salem West Stake Center for his funeral. We set up a small table in the RS room with a few pictures.
We had a ton more people come through. So many of the people were people that they had served missions with. So many friends. I was so happy for him. I was pleased to meet all those that I didn't already know and happy to see those who I already did know. Darren gave the family prayer. All the boys and I went up after and mostly Glen and Brent put his cap on him. Cade placed his letters and a picture from Molly (we left her with friends) in the side of his casket down by his hands. Glens kids placed some letters in there and a letter from Alec, along with Brent's kids. Cade did so much better this day. He was able to say goodbye and he felt so much better.
We made our way into the chapel. We all filed in and I was surprised to see just how many more people were there. Lots more that I expected. The entire chapel and the overflow were filled. I gave the opening prayer, Brian spoke, Vivian read the words to A Bird Without Wings by Celtic Thunder (one of my dads favorite songs) Brittany read a letter from Alec, Mont Davis gave a tribute, Marylin Atwood sang a song called Come Home, Uncle Neldon spoke, President Roy Silcox gave closing remarks and Brent gave the closing prayer. While I was sitting there near the end I got a wafting smell of my dad / dads house. That wood burning fireplace smell. I breathed in deep and wondered where it came from. About 20 minutes later Jeff started to breath deep. He asked me if I could smell my dad. At that point I couldn't but I knew that he had been there!
We drove up to Salem City Cemetery. Nancy rode in the car with us. We followed right behind the hearse. The American Legion was already there waiting to give my dad a military funeral for his 4 years of service to the National Guard.
The teenage grandsons, Nancy's grown grandson's and cousin Steve Jensen were the pallbearers.
They folded the flag, saluted, and then presented it to Nancy. They then announced that my dads name would be placed on the wall of honor. It made me smile real big. I hadn't expected that.
Then the American Legion gave their 21 gun salute and the bugler played Taps.
The pallbearers and my brothers placed their carnations on his casket.
We went back to the church and had a lunch that had been prepared by the 1st Ward Relief Society.
I got all my first cousins who were there for our FIRST EVER picture together. We were only missing 2 of Wanda's boys, Mark and Bruce. We were missing Norma's 3 kids; Kathy, Kevin and Shelly and we missed Neldon's daughter Julie and son Craig. Craig had been there earlier but had already left.
In order of age - youngest to oldest from left to right:
Abbie - Brian - Brent - Darren - Glen - Steve - Linda - Jeff - Charlotte - Rhonda - Gloria - Michael
I'm the youngest at age 36. Michael is the oldest at age 64.
Then we lined up the grand kids in age from oldest to youngest from left to right. We are missing Adam and Alec who are both on missions. They are number 2 and 3 in age. We were also missing Miss Molly is second to youngest. She was at her friends house being babysat.
No comments:
Post a Comment