Talk at Dad's Funeral

My Dad had a great sense of humor, so I would like to share a quote with you about what he thought about funerals.  He said that they are just another “Darn” church meeting with a dead body in front.

            When I was in Graduate School getting my degree in Social Work we had to complete a paper about our childhood and family.  The intent was for us to identify issues that we had in our own past so that we would not transfer these problems onto our clients.  As I answered the questions I was able to really see what a fantastic job my parents did in raising us.  I was able to say that I could rely on my upbringing and background as a solid foundation for what does work in a family.  What a great blessing it is to know that your parents support you and love you unconditionally.

            When I was twelve I made this cross-stitch for my Dad, it says “Dear God, My Dad can do anything, so if you need any help just ask him.”  It really sums up how I felt about my Dad.  I was blessed to have the security of knowing that WHATEVER I was doing I could count on my Dad to help me and support me.

          As kids we always loved to go and help Dad in the garage.  He had a little stool with wheels on it that he had made for us to use and we liked to help hand him tools when he was working.

          There are a million examples of how Dad spent countless hours helping me, but I want to highlight two.  First, when I was on seminary council in High School each member was asked to prepare a devotional and have a small trinket handout that could attach to a keychain.  The idea was at the end of the year we would have a key chain on talk topics.  I decided that I wanted to use the scripture Matt 7: 1-2 Judge Not, Least you Be Judged.  I wanted to make little gavels, like a Judge would use as the charm.  It doesn’t seem like a hard job to make fifteen of these little charms, but I remember being out in the garage working with my Dad until late at night trying to get these drilled and the handle cut and put together.  This example sticks in my head because I remember being thankful that we had the tools to create something like this and that I had a Dad to help me do it.  Many, many, many times I turned to my parents to help me accomplish projects and I know that I am who I am because I had the unconditional support of my Dad. 

          The second example is a bit bigger project.  When I was fifteen my Dad was able to purchase a Monza Spyder car for the reasonable price of $1.00.  It was such a bargain because the engine needed to be re-built.  Dad took on this big project for me, but he also included me in the process.  I had to check out book from the library on internal combustion engines and I spent a lot of time helping my Dad fix this car.  I have many memories of being in the garage my whole life, but there is a great lesson in building and caring for something.  I loved being able to have a car in High School and I felt the love and trust from my Dad as he built it for me and provided that opportunity for independence.      

          Elder James E. Faust said, “I suggest that the ultimate judgement will come to us in terms of what kind of person we have been, what kind of husband we have been, what kind of father we have been, and what kind of family we have raised.”  Dad has his priorities right his full focus was on the family, he worked hard to provide for us, he was always available for us and we knew that we had his unconditional love.

          It was a great blessing to see my Dad interact with my children.  Some may have thought that my Dad was a bit gruff.  But those kids made him melt.  He loved them and they loved him.  Carter has great memories of riding in Grandpa’s truck to go and see the ducks and sprinklers.  Serena is my little nurturer and when Dad was to the stage of needing to rest upstairs she escaped up there one day and gave him a kiss and asked him if he was all better.  

          I am grateful to know that families are forever and I know that our Savior is there to support us in our times of sorrows.  I am thankful for the peace that we have been blessed with and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.