Pictures of my Daddy

And Life Goes On

Well we did it.   Mom and I took off Tuesday morning and we went to the cabin for a need time of quiet and solitude.  At first she didn't want to go AT ALL.  Dave kept telling her " Mom you have to get back on that horse".   We took some cantelopes to Bob and Naomi, Ross, Murph and the Webers.  We got several visits from the neighbors and played cards with Lou and Charlie.  We spent most of the time just mom and I in the cabin watching chick flicks.  She decided to drive to the ponds on Wednesday night.  This was so much more difficult for me than I had thought!  The tears just kept spilling out my eyes, I just couldn't stop them.   I have been trying very hard to be strong for mom.   She on the other hand is doing so well.  I am amazed at her strength through this.  She has mentioned that she feels so comforted and loved.  Of course we all know where this strength comes from and I am so grateful that she is being so comforted.  She has shed a few tears here and there but on the whole she is doing very well.  She didn't sleep very well at the cabin, and Wednesday night she woke up at about 2 and couldn't sleep so she got up and went to the living room and read for a couple of hours.  She said as she sat there she felt as there was a warm blanket covering her and she just felt so peaceful.  I am so thankful to a kind and loving Father in Heaven for providing the Holy Ghost to comfort and bless at times like this.

We are really enjoying each others company.  I feel so blessed to be able to be here and take care of her as my dad would want me to.   I had been thinking about all the time that my brothers got to spend with dad and I love hearing all their stories and in a way I am envious of them for all the time they had with him, feeling a little sorry for myself.  But the thought hit me yesterday that just as I am envious of their time, I think they in turn might have similar thoughts when our precious mom is gone.  I am so lucky that I am the only daughter and this responsibility is mine alone, I love it!   I wouldn't want to have to share with another sister what my daddy has asked of me.. 

Mike and Dan have both been over many times and Dave calls every night to check on our mom.  They are wonderful brothers.  I love and appreciate them more than they will ever know.  Although this has been a very difficult time for us I have loved every moment being with them.  they are a great source of strength for me and I know they are for mom. 

The day after the funeral all three of them and my Harold went out to clean up dad's shop and to make room for dads Harley.  Mom wanted it out of the garage.  I know it was really hard on them.  Mom appreciated it so much. 

I have missed Harold, I have had moments where I longed for him to just hold me while I cry.  But I am glad he is home for Aubrie especially and the rest of the kids.

And time just marches on.  Tonight will be 2 weeks since my dad left this earth.  Mom was saying yesterday, "what have I done in 2 weeks, it is going by so fast".  I know she longs to be with him. 

Uncle Ray stopped by last night and visited with us.  He is such a special man.  I love him!  He said he would check up on mom alot, and I know he will. 

I am so thankful for a loving dad, such a wonderful man! I am finding out just how much more special he was.  Mike stopped last night also and was telling about the neighbor and how she (Michelle Hall)  was taking this so hard and How Much she loved dad and what an impact he made in her life because he was so accepting of she and her husband.  She is getting ready to go back to the temple now because of dad.  He touched many many many people who we are finding out more and more all the time.

My Talk

 

First of all we wish to express our gratitude to you all for being here , for loving our dad for giving him your friendship and giving us your love and support in this difficult time in our lives.

President Evans stopped by Saturday and shared his spirit and advice with us.  He told us to be sensitive and watch for moments that Dad might be close that we might feel him and be taught by him.   He warned that it may not be anything big,  to be watching for even smallest thing .  That night after I thought mom was asleep I snuck into the computer room because thoughts were POURING into my brain and I sat at the computer until almost 2 in the morning typing out my thoughts, closing and opening up that document 3 more times.  I finally shut the computer down and slipped back onto my daddy’s side of the bed  beside OUR mommy  (Dave is still learning how to share)  somewhere between 2 and 3 in the morning my feet were freezing.  And in my mind I was telling dad how much I was missing him and thinking how cold my feet were.  And after about 10 minutes of wishing  Harold was there to warm them up for me I felt a radiating heat starting at my feet.  Now one significant  thing my siblings and I have in common that I learned about at the funeral home Saturday is our mutual love our daddys hands.  As I layed there so unable to sleep I thought of my dad’s hands and instantly it felt as if he had taken  my feet in his hands and warmed me to the core.  I felt enveloped in his love and the love of a Loving Father in Heaven who loves my dad more than any of us ever will..  Then about 5  Sunday morning I awoke first lisitening for moms steady breathing ( don’t you leave us quite yet)  I again slipped into the computer room to hopefully remember the remainder of the thoughts that continued pouring into my head to type out the rest.  I turned on the computer adjusted my eyes to the light and looked for D on the keyboard to type “Dads Life Sketch into the document search.  And I couldn’t find it!  I looked again and couldn’t see it , I mentally thought of my fingers on the keys trying to find that darn D and it wasn’t there!  I felt anxious thinking I have to have that D to finish this thing WHERE IS IT???  And looked some more and still couldn’t find it feeling almost panicked .  I maybe looked for that D key for 30 to 40 seconds.  I KNOW ITS THERE  why cant I see it??????  So I slowed down and started to look at each key ok, there is E, R, T S, F X,C V  Where is that blasted D  the light from the light above was shining on the keys as well so I leaned forward looking straight down onto the key board and AHHHH instant relief, there it was,  and then I started laughing .  You have to understand my mom is from the old school where you have to beat your typewriter up in order to get the little leaver with the letters on it to fly up and hit the paper and she is still back in 1950 when it comes to her keyboard,  she has banged on those keys so hard and so much that she has worn the letters off.  As the relief flowed though me my thoughts instantly went to dad, he’s here I know he is I just can’t see him, but I had  felt him a few hours earlier in  night warming up my feet.  

 I am going to give you the cliff note version of dads life story so I can firstly abide by what he would want to make this short and sweet and second to get on with moms wishes that we each talk about our dad.

I am not going to go into every moment of dads life but I think it is ironic that glimpses of his life are manifest in this very room in moments he touched everyone here.

  Starting with his birth to Wallace and Mildred Crossley he became the baby brother to his doting sister Ruby when he was born on July 29 1932 in Nounan.  They were all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.   He started his life during a difficult time, grandpa and his brothers worked HARD back then but as dad grew up and began to work alongside his dad, valuable lessons were taught and instilled into this adoreable little boy who would grow up to be a perfect man in the eyes of his daughter.  He learned a amazing work ethic from his dad and from his angel mother he gleaned traits that would benefit his wife and children later in life, unselfishness, righteousness, compassion, love, service, sacrifice, humility, intregity, steadfastness, some would say downright stubborness.  He became a great man.  He attended schools in Nounan, Bennington, Emmett, Eagle and graduated from Hagerman.    He met my mom in 1951  and they fell in love and were married in 1952.  Mom, a staunch Baptist vowed she would convert this good man.  Anticipating the birth of their first baby, Michael Lynn, they were met with the first of the Lords trials and Michael was stillborn.  The Dr told mom and dad they would not be able to have any more children.  During this time the Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints visited them and she eventually accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and was baptised.  Two years after they  lost their baby,  Michael Ray was born.  Soon after mom and dad were sealed for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1957. Two years after Mike’s birth , David Wayne was born, then along came Daniel Lynn and finally myself.   

Dad worked a lot, among which was owning 2 of his own body and fender and mechanic shops.  He got the farmers fever when he found a little 100 acre piece of property in Middleton and we moved from Boise to Middleton  in 1970 where he instilled many wonderful values into the lives and hearts of his family including hard work.   But there was always laughter!  We never lacked in love or laughter!

He has faithfully  served in so many capacities through his life some of which are Bishopric, Ward Clerk, High Council, Scoutmaster, ward rep for the church orchard.   They were blessed to be able to fulfill a mission in 1990 together in the Pennysilvania Wilkes Barre mission where dad worked tirelessly microfilming, a very difficult but rewarding time for my parents.  

They have a ton of grandkiddies even more great grandkiddies and he adores everyone!!He died at the side of his great love, his pride and joy, his cherished wife , our mom on August 25^th. 

Dad loves to laugh, loves to play cards, loves to tease, loves to play cards, loves to work, loves to play cards, loved his beloved mountains, fishing, the cabins especially when the kids were there to share it with him, but most of all Dad LOVES HIS FAMILY and the Lord.  He has been a shining example to so many people, he didn’t think he was much of a man.  He was wrong.                                                        

I think we got our talks mixed up, this one should have been Dan’s and the entire congregation would be in tears laughing so hard.

My dad, where to begin?  There was never a dull moment in our house and we never wanted for laughter or love or discipline as needed, well we didn’t want the discipline, dad was firm !   And that love and laughter only increased as we have become adults and had our own families.

There is an unspoken truth about our dad, if he liked you he teased you,  HE LIKED A LOT OF PEOPLE!      At times he was merciless and that got him into trouble with mom quite often, at least once a day.  Seems dad was always getting the look from mom.  Actually if I think about it there were lots of those looks.  We veterans of dad’s teasing learned to give it back almost as good as it was given, Right LOU?

Dad had nicknames for us kids and that trickled down to our children as well.  I will share my kids and you can ask the boys later for the rest if you want.  Jennifer was Mud Ball,  Jessica was Dirt Bag, Melissa was Silent Lint Ball,  Aubrie was Aber Daber, Curtis was Dirty Curty,  and Clinton was Linty Clinty.  But when he said those words they were meant with as much love as if he had called them honey or sweetheart endearing grandchildren to grandfather!   In the long run they learned from the master of teasing and he became Grandpa Longnose to them.

We have had a long standing game of who loves who the most for as long as I can remember in our family.  But today I concede to dad, but I also find that there is a Grand Prize winner, and that is our Kind Eternal Father in Heaven for loving us enough to give us the best husband for our mother, the absolute best  father anyone could ever have  and grandfather.
Our dad was my perfect example next to our Savior.  Honesty, Integrity charity, kindness, compassion, Hard working, gentle, firm, long suffering and many many more but  above all HUMBLE.  

Dad is the most charitable person I know.  Numberless  times he has given and shared what he had, even when he didn’t have much to share and usually done anonymously.  My humble daddy didn’t want any recognition, he wanted NO part of the spotlight he loved to serve because he loved the Lord and his brothers and sister.  

After receiving the call from Dan this scripture popped into my head it explains him perfectly.

2 Timothy 4:  7-8 

7: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

 8: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.                                                          

We have received so many tender mercies from a kind and loving Father in Heaven in these past months, that became final blessings for dad before his grand reunion with our Savior, his parents a son and granddaughter, I am sure the line is endless.  Each of us four siblings got to spent 1 out of the past 4  consequitive  weeks with mom and dad at the cabin.   Precious time we all were inspired to take not knowing our remaining time would be so short.    We all cherish our last week with dad!

We had a very special 60 Wedding Anniversary Party for mom and dad in June in which

biggest share of their family was there.   I am So grateful we made that happen before it was too late.

The thing I will miss the most is hearing my dad pray.  Dad had a close and personal relationship with the Savior  that manifest itself every time he prayed.   It was truly a spiritual experience for me to hear his sweet and humble communion with his Father.  His absolute expression of love to Father in Heaven and Jesus,  His heartfelt plea to Father to bless his precious Patty to keep her safe and well, his children, grandchildren, Bishop Dan and good people that we know and love and appreciate.    His gratitude for the bishop, ward members, home and cabin area.  His often expressed  love and longing for those who have gone on before us.  The beautiful mountains, clean air to breath.  His prayers were  a sermon to me and they ring sweet in my ears and in my memory.

Dad was born of goodly parents, and we in turn are born of Goodly Parents.  He wasn’t a public speaker and I didn’t hear my dad verbally bear his testimony often but he bore it in his actions everyday.    If only I can live up to his example.  I honor, love, adore, worship, and miss him beyond expression!

Happy Birthday mom we all share in your gift, DAD. 

I testify that Fathers Plan of Salvation is a prefect plan, He wouldn’t leave us here with so much love for one person not to allow that to extend beyond the grave.  I know that we can be reunited with our humble and righteous dad, and that that is his greatest desire for his kiddies and grandkiddies.  That this is  all made possible by and through  a loving Saviors atoning sacrifice and the gift of the priesthood keys that bind us together for eternity and that it is available to all . I love my savior Jesus Christ.   My gratitude to him for His gift is too great to express in words.  I thank him from my soul for my dad.   I know that things happen in His time and in His way, God Lives, Jesus is the Christ , families can be together forever.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Dads Funeral

Dad passed away August 25th 2012.  He passed about 2:00 am.  Mom woke up and saw the light in the bathroom on so she called out to him and didn't get an answer so she started to get up and turned around and saw him laying on his side on the bed and she walked around the bed and knew by looking that he was gone.  She called Dan and he and Sherie came to the house to be with her.  Dan called me about 2:30.  We immediatly got up and started packing, left and we were there by 8.  We stopped by to tell Jes and she grabbed clothes and came along with us.  I was so shocked to learn of my daddys death.  I thought my dad would live forever here.  I am so grateful for my testimony and knowledge that we will see him again.  The first thing that I thought is that he is surely having an amazing reunion with his parents, Michael Lynn, Jennifer and so many more!  The scripture also came into my head that we put on the back of his service folder.  "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."  It explains my daddy so well.
I love him and miss him so much.
Mom asked us 4 kids to each speak at the funeral.  It was hard but we are all happy to have had that opportunity.

My daddy leaves the earth

We got the call at 2:30 in the morning and packed and headed to moms.  We got there at 8 and were met by Mike, Dan, Mom and the Webers and Riches were there also.  I ran into the bedroom and smelled his pillow and just sobbed.  I learned with Jennifers death that their smell lingers on their pillow and clothing for some time.  I looked in  his closet and found the shirt that I loved seeing him in and put it on.  I just wanted to feel him so I wrapped myself in his cloths.   Dave called and was also on his way.  We were so glad, we just didn't feel complete without him.  He got there about 5 as I remember.

Mom wanted me to sleep with her those first few nights.  I was happy to sleep on my daddy's side of the bed, it make me feel close to him.  Saturday night I couldn't sleep.  Mom had asked us each to speak and my mind was filling with thoughts so I got up and went to the computer and started typing.  I didn't go to bed until about 1:30 or 2.   I got into bed and my feet were FREEZING.   Tears were spilling out of my eyes and in my mind I was talking to dad telling him how much I loved him and missed him and thinking how cold my feet were.  After about 10 minutes I felt a warmth envelope my feet like dad had taken them into his hands and warmth radiated up my legs warming me to my core.  Then I was able to sleep.  I did wake up early Sunday morning about 5 so I slipped out of bed and went to the typewriter again to continue my thoughts.  Dave came in and sat down next to me and kept saying  "I can't do this".  Dave said from the start that he didn't think he could stand up and speak.  I leaned back in my chair and the thought came to me and I told him "I look at it this way,  mom would be so pleased if you did and this is the last earthly thing we can do for our dad".  Then he leaned back in his chair and nodded his head.  I will cherish that short time that just he and I had to visit.  I am so proud of him.  He was soon found jotting down thoughts all day as well.

We were met by lots of ward members and friends Saturday and Sunday.        I don't remember exactly when but I was feeling overwhelmed and needed to go have a good cry so I slipped out of the house and went out and sat on his tractor and just sobbed for a long time.       

Sunday night we went to the Funeral Home to plan the arrangements.  It was a very special time for our family, lots of tears and quiet laughter.  

Monday morning we all got ready and went for a family run, Dave wants to make it an annual run.  It was fun to spend time walking together to the farm and back.   That evening we went back to the Funeral Home and Mike and Dan dressed dad in his temple clothing.  It was a very special time again for us.   The Stake Pres came Saturday and gave us the advice to listen closely and watch for moments that we might be taught and feel him.   After we got dad dressed the boys were laughing softly about something and all of a sudden in my mind I saw dad with tears spilling and saying to me "take care of your mother, take care of your mother, take care of your mother".  I know he wasn't there but I leaned down to his ear and promised him that I would.  I hope and pray that I can live up to his expectation of me!  It has been a pleasure to be with mom and watch her strength and awe in the comfort she has been blessed with. 

August, Last day's with my DADDY

 Then we got back to moms early Sunday morning about 3 in the morning.  We got up and went to church with them and then came home had dinner with mom and dad and then Hickmans went home.    We then spent the following week at the cabin with mom and dad.  We had such a WONDERFUL time.  On the way out of town we stopped at Winco and picked up some groceries.  We got so much food.  Dad kept saying, YOU DONT NEED THAT  we have food up there.  He kept saying we sure aren't going to starve.  Then back to the pickup and off the 4 of us went.  We laughed the whole way.  Dad out of the blue said" and don't spend any money on an obituary"  we both busted out laughing and said, dad, its free.  He says,  OH OK.   We thought where did that come from but laughed about it just the same.  We raked leaves, played cards, ate, fished, me and mom watched movies while they went fishing.  WE played more cards, ate more,  one time dad said we were going to die because we ate so much.  He said he wouldn't have to eat for a week.  We made dinner and lunch everyday for them and mom fixed us pancakes 2 times, the rest we made biscuits and gravy for them.. Dad LOVED that .  We cleaned up our rakings and took them to the dump.  Then one afternoon dad says, lets go for a drive.  He took us up to Ten Ax, a little community above the ponds.  We drove up 10 mile to the end and he talked about when he and grandpa and Uncle Ray used to hunt up there.  We just talked and really enjoyed dad.  He took us up to the airport and talked about camping and hunting there.  Then we drove past the Ranger Station and went to a spot where we could get out of the truck and go over to the river and we walked around for about an hour there.  I took some great pictures all week and I cherish the time we got to spend with mom and dad, my last week at the cabin with my daddy.  We cleaned up Friday and came home.  Then Harold and I went home.  I was tired, had been gone for over a week already and was ready to go home and sleep in my own bed. 

 

Monday I had knee surgery,  Thursday Aubries house burned down and early Saturday morning I got a call at 2:30, my daddy had passed away.  We packed and back to moms.  I got here at 8 in the morning.  Dan, Mike, Lou and Charlie and Riches were here.  I just wanted my mommy and my DADDY. 

July

July was a whirlwind.  I can't believe that its Sept 1 and I havn't written since June! 
Spent the 4th with Jes and the family, had a nice bbq. 

Harold was watering the crop.  We were really busy.  I went in for an appointment on my knee.  Dr West told me I had a Miniscus Tear.  But we already knew that.  I thought that we would  have surgery soon but I didn't have it until Aug 20th.

Portland with the Prices

Harold and I had such a wonderful couple of weeks in August .  We went with Bishop and Sister Hickman to Portland to do a ring ceremony for Amber and Joe Price. We stopped and spent the first night at mom and dad's. They were at the cabin with Dave and Jan. I had given Hickmans the big bed and I slept on the hidabed. Harold came later as they were combining the last field and he couldn't leave as early as us so I rode with them. We got to Meridian and stopped a Shari's (restaurant) so I could buy a blackberry pie for our anniversary for Harold. I came back out and we sat there for another 5 minutes trying to decide where to eat, we finally ended up going back inside to eat. Got to mom and dads about 10:30 and hit the sack. I called Harold about 2 in the morning and he had stopped for a little snooze and was about Burley, so I figured he'd be coming in about 4:30. I woke up at 7 and Harold still hadn't come in so I called him twice and no answer. So I figured that I would walk out and see if he might be asleep in the car and he was sacked out on the front lawn. He didn't want to wake mom and dad,,,,,,hahahaha they weren't even there. We had a bite to eat and cleaned up and headed to Portland. We had so much fun with them. We laughed a ton. We got to Portland around 4 their time and was trying to find a hotel. We drove around for probably and hour and a half trying to find a good deal and NOT a dive until we ended up going back to the first hotel we stopped at. Laughed some more and some more. I love the Hickmans. Saturday morning we got up I had woke with a headache so Harold and I snuck out to go down to the hot tub. We sat in the jets and jumped in the pool for some laps and jumped back into the hot tub some more. I was feeling pretty good when we left there. We got back to the room ( I had left the bathroom fan on for noise) and the Hickmans were still in bed, they rolled over and said, we thought you were in the bathroom all this time. We all busted out laughing, I thought its a good thing they didn't have an emergency need for the bathroom. I told Harold we should leave a note but he said they'd figure it out. We got ready and headed for the temple. It is amazing, so beautiful and very secluded.  We got there early and waited in the chapel for the Prices and they came to get that session which was full anyway with own endowments and then the Price's came in and we had to wait for the next session which was just fine.  Harold was rubbing my neck and back the whole time cuz my headache was getting worse, then they asked us to be the witness couple.  I was praying the whole time for Heavenly Father to stop this pain and when they asked I thought "well now He is really going to have to help me"  It was a beautiful session!!!  We went to lunch at the Cheesecake factory and then headed to the ring ceremony and jumped in the car and headed home.  We got back to mom and dad's about 2:30 in the morning.  We got up and went to church with them, came home and ate a bit of lunch and Hickmans headed home and Harold and I crashed in the bedroom..............
On to our wonderful week with mom and dad at the cabin.