My Dad was the oldest.
Every time I think about that Grandpa of mine my heart swells. It's weird how you can feel so close to someone you've never even met, but I do. He was an amazing man who left a huge hole to fill.
So throughout his life, with no Dad or fatherly figure around (my Grandma never remarried), my Dad wisely sought out good male role models. He picked some pretty great ones I must say. Men who steered and advised him in so many wonderful ways.
The one I have to take a moment to honor and respect before the day is through is Elder Perry. He has served as one of the apostles in our church for many years, but my Dad met him way before that.
Back when he was his Stake President back in Boston.
He could feel his strong spirit right from the start and looked to him for advise and counsel in business and in life.
Those two kept in touch over the years. Which meant we all got to know him.
He came to and spoke at the end of my mission farewell. And he was the one who performed the marriage ceremony when Dave and I got married all those years ago.
A few years after his first wife passed away (cancer), he married Barbara, a wonderful woman from a small town next to my Mom's small town of Montpelier, Idaho at Bear Lake.
So every once in a while they would come through and say hi at our family reunion on their way to theirs.
He graduated in the same class of Logan high school that my Grandma did (my Dad's Mom). Here's a glimpse of him at her funeral a couple years back.
I remember being in awe of him especially there. We were surrounded by all these frail elderly people (my Grandma was 92). But when Elder Perry came in he barreled down the hallway, broad shoulders making him look extra tall, with warmth and love and enthusiasm for life all over his face.
I remember thinking "that man is going to live into his 100's" he was so healthy and vibrant.
But then suddenly his health took a turn for the worst. Cancer that spread through him so quickly and he was suddenly gone. My family along with the rest of everyone who knew and loved him were devastated.
The girls and I watched his funeral on Saturday, and later as I scrubbed the floor and helped direct the Saturday jobs I listened to he and Sister Perry's interview from a few years ago on the "mormon channel" ap on my phone.
It was so good.
It made me miss that man even more, but filled my heart with gratitude for good people like him who tirelessly work to make a difference for others all their lives.
So grateful for that good man. He will be greatly missed by many.