His funeral took place on Saturday, June 5th and it was really really special. Grant, Andrea, and I drove down as soon as we got off work and school on Friday afternoon. We drove straight to the funeral home, where the first viewing was. At the viewing we stood in line and greeted everyone who came through to pay their respects. It was really nice to meet all these people from my Grandpa's life. A lot of people were family and close friends, but there were also people who he had associated with in business, some he had lived down the street from when he was younger, some he had gone to college with, and some were just people he had really touched and influenced over his life.
My favorite part was the slideshow that my mom and aunts had put together. It was playing at the funeral home and I sat down and watched it for a long time. There were pictures from the time he was a little boy to the time he died, and all along the way were pictures of him with his family and friends, and my grandma. It was so sweet to see, and so sad. It really touched me and made me cry and cry and cry. But it's a good cry. We all miss him so much, and we are so sad he's gone but we'll see him again, and that's the best thing ever.
The next morning was the funeral and there was a viewing again in the morning. President Monson, Elder Ballard, and a couple men from the 70 came. It was so nice of them to come all the way down to St. George to honor my grandpa and President Monson said some really nice things at the viewing for just the family before the funeral. And then we went to the chapel for the actual service and both President Monson and Elder Ballard spoke. Elder Ballard and his wife were next door neighbors to my grandparents for so long so they really got to know him. He said some really funny things about my grandpa, and some really nice things too. He did such a great job.
President Monson talked about how my grandpa was always the one he would turn to if he needed help overseas in China. My grandpa had gained the trust of so many great men over there and he was more influential than anyone else for getting the church recognized in China. He also spoke about my Grandma a lot and how wonderful she is and how she's always been behind my Grandpa. He said one thing that was just so true. I wrote it down so I would have it word for word. He talked about how the work doesn't stop on the other side and he said, "Who do you think is teaching them? Don is just as busy as always. For it wouldn't be heaven for Don, if he wasn't working."
My mom, my Aunt Gaye, and my Aunt Kim also spoke. My mom gave the eulogy and did such an amazing job. She talked about all of his abundant accomplishments (including being the National FFA President at age 20 and meeting President Truman, being the adviser to the mayor of Shanghai, being old pals with incredibly famous people like Henry Kissinger and George Bush Senior, being on the education board at BYU-Hawaii, being the only non-family member to be the CEO of Continental Grain, being on a dozen different boards having to deal with international relations between the US and China, having a great deal to do with the international business program at BYU and now has an award named after him, etc.) The list goes on and on. He was incredible. My aunt Kim and Gaye both gave really great talks as well, the whole service was amazing.
Rod Hawes also spoke. He, as President Monson refers to him, is the "insurance guy" and he was great friends with my grandpa and his daughter Kimberly is one of my mom's best friends and her son, Matthew, is one of my best friends, and etc. We love their family, can you tell? He gave an amazing talk, speaking of my grandpa's ability to listen to others. He spoke about how my grandpa was an amazing business man, family man, and friend because he would listen, evaluate, and then speak. And with this approach he was able to gain people's trust and persuade them to see the right choice.
I so badly want to be like him! Going to his service and hearing all these men and women talk about his life from their perspectives just gave me so much motivational to better myself. I want so badly to be like my Grandpa and to leave such a legacy like he has.
Everything was perfect about his service. After everyone gave their talks, we went to the cemetery and my Uncle Todd dedicated the grave and all the grandchildren got to go up to the casket and place a rose on it and have our last few moments to say goodbye. And since my grandpa was in the military, they had a military procession, which is always the coolest.
It was a great weekend to see all my family, but also a really sad weekend because I really really miss my Grandpa. It still hasn't sunk in yet entirely. Half of me still expects to see him this summer up at his cabin fixing the fences and teaching us how to do it just right. But I'll just have to wait a little it longer than usual to see him, I guess.
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