May 2010

Dear Friend,

Well the last 3 months have been nothing short of hectic. I have put many, many miles on my car going to Vernon and back to help Judy with Dad. I want to really thank the people I work with-Heather, Mary, Dennis and Frank especially for their kindness and generosity. Without their support I could not have done anything.

As most of you know, Dad had spent the last 2 months pretty much bedridden and after his last hospital stay, we decided to call in Hospice. They really helped us and we very much appreciate all they did.

Friends and associates often ask how I am or am I okay. The answer is yes! I miss both of my parents all the time, but I have a such a wonderful picture that I carry in my heart and my mind of the joyful reunion my parents shared a couple of weeks ago, that it supercedes all my wishes and desires. I know that my parents had both fulfilled their earthly missions and it was time for them to join our family and friends on the other side of the veil.

Although we were all grateful that Dad held on until Spring, we did have to deal with fierce winds up on the mountain on the day we said our goodbyes. Because of the winds, we didn’t get a lot of good pictures of friends and family that shared this special time with us bit I would like to share a few with you now.

The flower arrangement had some of Dad’s tools-schrewdriver, level, some nuts and bolts and a few other items.

The shadow box in the center contained his collected military medals, his US Army issued drivers license for special wartime equipment and the open book at the bottom of the photo is his Senior Yearbook from Gilbert High School. The school, parents and Seniors did not have the money to pay for the binding of the Yearbook so Dad made his own from a couple of pieces of wood and a piece of leather to tie it together. That was Dad…”use whatever you have available to make it work”.

The last time we will follow Dad into a Chapel.

Friends and Family gather at the cemetary for the last good-by and the dedication of the grave.

Until later,

Love Jan

Fathers Day 2010

Dear Friend,

I am going to celebrate Father's Day a little early this year. Every time I say goodbye to Dad, I think it might be the last time and this may be that time.

I have been thinking a lot about him, what he was like when I was a child, what he was like when a teenager and what he was as I became a mother and grandmother.

I have good memories of living in the the first house he built in Gilbert. Of the time we spent with friends and family there. I remember going to the family outings sponsored by the American Legion, which dad belonged to and all the Hunter family holidays and get-togethers. I remember one time I asked him where he was going and he told me he was "going to see a man about a horse" and he was going to trade me for the horse. I think I cried and mom told him to quit teasing me.

I remember how hard he worked when we lived in Wellton. Dad worked 7 days a week when we first moved there because the farming community worked 7 days a week. Then dad joined the church and found out he didn't have to work that 7th day. And he rested-until he was called to church positions that kept him almost as busy but in a good way.

We always had to have family prayer in the mornings and at night. The problem was-he went to work at 5 and 6 am and came home at 7 and 8 pm. But we had family prayer every morning and every night. Family home evenings didn't happen in our house (that's another story) but since going anywhere from Wellton meant lots of "riding in a car time" we had lot's of quality time as a family.

Dad, who couldn't carry a tune, loved to sing and he loved to listen to us sing. He had an amazing memory and could tell us about the geography of the area we were driving through or when we came to Gilbert/Mesa, he would tell us about his humongous paper route when he was a kid and delivered papers to almost every house north and west of Gilbert.

He has been a life-long Republican, very conservative and he is probably the the biggest influence on his very strong minded daughters. Except for being on the City Counsel in Gilbert in the late 40's, he has never run or held a political office, but he has served on an advisory committee to Governor Jack Williams.

Dad belonged to the Kiwanis Organization in Wellton and Blythe. He enjoyed working with this group to improve the communities they served. While in Wellton (before we had a community pool or people had private pools) he arranged for a weekly kids swim day at the hotel pool in Dateland. We would travel by school bus to Dateland every Tuesday or Wednesday to spend a couple of hours swimming.

More than anything, Dad loved the Gospel. He drank from the scriptures and he loved and honored his Priesthood. He loved every calling he held in the Church from teacher to Stake High Counsel, he even loved being the building custodian in Vernon. He was a faithful home teacher and the families he served love him for his faithfulness and commitment.

Dad and Mom were called a Stake Missionaries when we lived in Wellton and dad probably loved that calling more than any other. It was his chance to share the Gospel with his friends. He says he only had one conversion, a couple that are good friends to this day, but I think dad probably had a hand in more conversions than he knows. His love and knowledge of the Gospel has influenced a lot of people in Arizona and California.

Dad planted his roots everywhere he lived. He served his communities with a dedicated heart. He took great pride in making each house he and mom lived in something they could be proud of. He was a very frugal man but he never denied mom or any of us anything we needed. He was always there for us, never failed us and always loved each of us no matter what we did. He didn't hold grudges but he could set someone straight if they needed it.




Dad loves his family, loves his Father in Heaven and loves his country. He has set a supreme example for all of his descendants to follow.

Thanks for letting me ramble a little.
Jan

Surprise Visit

Dear Friends.

This year has been a wonderful whirl of visits from their Montana cousins that have never been here before. In January, Marcus spent several days with the family and we were thrilled to get to spend time with him.

In March, Hilja (sister to Marcus) came to town with friends and arranged to spend the day with Lisa and Nikki and the group that comes attached. They had fun riding the light rail to Phoenix and getting to know each other again.

Then last weekend we got a call from another cousin who was visiting in town and we got to spend Sunday afternoon with Bridget and her young son, Alex. Shawn did his magic with the smokers and pork and we had a wonderful time.

What a great smile. I think he looks like his Uncle Dan.


The kids had a great time hanging out in the back yard and entertaining Alex. Eli and Wyatt were teaching him to play basketball.


I'm not going to say what Eli is doing while he was sitting there but I think it is what it is, because here is another shot of the same contemplative look.

When I said show me your "snagletooth"- I got this
and this

and this

and finally this

Do you think the rest of his teeth will ever match this one.

It was one of those beautiful spring days to just be outside and enjoy yourself and it was made better by a visit with Bridget. We hope you come back to see us again.



Thanks for listening, Jan

Touring Miami Arizona

Dear Friends,

Last Friday I ended up in Miami (AZ) with lots of time to kill. I went to the quilt store and had a good time. I picked these pieces to make Morgann a new quilt. I hope she likes it.

After I did a couple of times around the shop and made my purchase I still had time-I was waiting for Judy to meet me for lunch at Guayo's and getting really hungry just thinking about it.

Since she was not even into Globe yet, I decided to check out some of the back streets of Miami. I drove through area north of Sullivan St. (the street with all the antique stores) and this is what I found:
a solid wall of this beautiful ice plant.


Cement stairs up steep hillsides to front doors, an old police car-straight out of Dragnet,


some really interesting buildings-most of them abandoned and some in very high places


and some very colorful ones.
This was interesting-the shell of a block 2-story behind this very well kept manufactured home
I loved this tree!
And then I saw this house-a little smaller, but it reminded me so much of Gin and Irwin's house in Butte. It brought back a wave of memories. Mat couldn't see it, but I did.
And then Judy arrived and we had a wonderful lunch. She got a much needed break and I, well let's just say I saw my future and it wasn't pretty.

That's all for now. Later, love Jan