Eulogy -
So often in life you take things for granted. I am so lucky to have good parents who have worked throughout their lives to be good people, and because of that I am a better person. It wasn’t until I was about 21 just how lucky I was.

Growing up our home was always open, as kids our friends always came to our house and they all called my parents mom and dad, it was just so normal for us. I grew up hearing my parents tell each other “I love you” ALL THE TIME! Dad would ALWAYS kiss mom after prayer... any prayer, if he was standing he would rock up on his toes and then snap his eye open and say, very loudly, “WOW!” And shake his head like he had just been struck by lightening. They always started looking for birthday or Christmas gifts months in advance.

Whenever dad finished working and was on his way home he would call mom and her eyes would light up as she answered the phone, they would talk and then about 15 minutes later dad would drive down the drive way and mom would light up all over again, like he had been away for days.

I took for granted that my parents had a special relationship, I thought this is was normal, I assumed that all married couples were best friends and couldn’t wait to see each other every day. Their love looked effortless and so natural to me, it wasn’t until much later in life that I realized just how unique they truly were. I can’t tell you how many times I heard my dad say, to any one who would listen, that God had sent him an angel and he was sure he didn’t deserve her and he hoped the Lord wouldn’t figured it out.

I have never met two people who were better friends or more in love.

I know that if dad had his way today we would skip right to the food and visiting, he definitely wouldn’t want any fanfare or tears. Dad wasn’t afraid to die and he certainly wasn’t afraid to live, in fact he wasn’t afraid of anything. Anyone who knew my dad loved him and knows he was a good man, but in keeping with who he was I will tell you a few things you may not know about my dad...

When he was a cop at BYU while patrolling one of the building on campus that was under construction he came around a corner to find an intruder at the other end of the hall, with cat like reflexes he instinctively reached for his gun, the intruder followed suit so dad pulled and raised his gun, the intruder did the same, as dad’s heart raced he prepared to pull the trigger, luckily just before he fired he realized he was in a stand off with himself, there was a mirror at the other end of the hall.

He once repaired the family car with a tuna can lid, the repair held for several years until my parents were able buy a new car.

My dad was always close to his brothers and sisters, this last week I have spent a lot of time on the phone, texting and emailing with all of them. Each has shared stories, thoughts and feelings about their brother with me, each loved him dearly and held him in the highest esteem. Both of his brothers, Uncle Clayt and Uncle Nate, told me how smart he was - well... is this a sliding scale? His brothers loved to torment him because it was so hard to get him angry, even Aunt Becky pushed her luck a time or two with dad, when he did lose his temper, whether it was two giggling girls up way too late or to his brothers relentlessly teasing him, it seemed to end with a shoe being chucked followed by some strong words.

As kids we knew the only way we could get him angry was to sass mom, we learned quickly that didn’t end well.

My aunt Gwen is the only one my dad NEVER got mad at, she must have been his favorite, in fact he “saved” her once from breaking curfew, if you can call driving from Gold Hill to Central Point and back on an old scooter with bad headlights and barely enough gas a rescue. But dad was nonplussed, he chatted and chuckled on the drive home, he promised his sister he would get her home on time and he did. He also ran out of gas as they turned into the driveway.

I know there are so many more stories about my dad, we could probably each share 100 memorable interactions we had with him, each one personal, special, unique. My dad had a quiet way of teaching, I always walked away from conversations with my dad feeling smarter. My dad was never afraid to try something new, he didn’t care if he failed, he would just try again until he figured it out. He was always so excited to buy a new tool, he and mom would get home from shopping and dad would call tell me about some new tool he bought and how excited he was to share it.

My dad was never ashamed or disappointed in us kids, and between us we gave him plenty of opportunity. He never judged and he never complained. He was always available to help, I can’t imagine that there is a person here or watching online that my dad hasn’t helped at one time. I remember him always being the first one to stop to help fix a flat tire or overheated engine and walk away with a new friend.

My parents have always been examples of kindness, love, generosity, patience, devotion, loyalty and humility. They are such amazing examples of true Christlike love that extended beyond religion and family, it encompassed everything they did. My dad didn’t know any strangers or have any friends, if you knew my dad then you were family.

I know my dad was not perfect and so did he, if the subject came up he had a list he would rattle off, but it was the way he owned every part of his life that made him perfect in my eyes.

It would be easy to say that my dads passing leaves a huge hole or empty spot in our lives, but over the last week, since his passing, I have come to realize that he has loved and taught so much that even though we cannot see him and I miss him terrible, he hasn’t left a hole, he has left me full to the brim. My life is better because he was in it and his absence doesn’t change that.

Heaven has called him home and with joy and gratitude we let him go and prepare the way. We are blessed by his life and so we pass it on by being a little bit more like him.