Our Sweet Grandpa Lee passed away on September 8th. He is CJ's, Mom's Father, but has been more of a Father to CJ then a Grandpa. He had a stroke back in April of this year and was hospitalized for a while and then he went to a Care Center so he could receive therapy. Everyone who worked there quickly grew to love him and the Dunford Doughnuts that he would share with all the staff. He wasn't improving as he should so they needed to send him home. Grandma had therapists coming to the house to continue with his therapy, but they still weren't getting the results they wanted despite Grandpa working so hard to do everything they asked. He quickly lost his speech and became unable to communicate at all. His whole right side of his body was unable to move. Grandma was so good about taking care of him. It is hard work and exhausting. My Mother-in-Law was very good about going out to their house everyday after work to help with Grandpa and run any errands Grandma needed.
On September 3, Grandpa had a grand mal seizure. An ambulance came and took him back to the hospital where they discovered he had a brain tumor. It was between the size of a golf ball and racquetball. This is what triggered the stroke and made him lose his speech. The location of the tumor was in the area of the brain that controls speech. They didn't catch it back in April on the cat scans, but they said even if they had there would have been nothing they could do about it. Surgery was not an option because of the location and the tumor was so aggressive that it would have grown back quickly even if they did do surgery.
The next day, Grandpa was sent to a Care Center to live out the last days of his life. We were so blessed to be able to spend the time with him that we did. We went almost everyday and stayed for quite a few hours visiting with Grandma, CJ's Aunts and Uncles, and taking turns sitting by Grandpa, holding his hand and talking to him.
I just have to say a little about CJ's Aunts and Uncles. I loved them before all of this, but it was so fun getting to know them all a little bit better sitting in Grandpa's room. The day before Grandpa passed, CJ and I were at the Care Center and it was just us, all of his Aunts and Uncles and Grandma. I had so much fun with them. We talked and laughed and I really enjoyed their company. I love them even more, and I have a new appreciation for each and every one of them. CJ has an amazing family and I am so grateful to be a part of it. We don't get to see his extended family nearly enough.
We got the call around 2 a.m. on the 8th that he had passed. It is heartbreaking, but at the same time relieving to know that Grandpa is not trapped in his body that couldn't function any longer. He is now in Heaven reunited with family members that have gone before him. I am sure he is already doing missionary work up there as well.
The funeral was absolutely beautiful. Everyone who participated did an excellent job and the musical numbers were very touching. CJ got the opportunity to read he Eulogy and he did a great job. Grandpa had written his Eulogy out a while ago and with just a few tweaks, it was ready to go. I learned a lot about Grandpa while listening to the talks that were prepared that I didn't know. He had a huge love and appreciation for his family and the gospel, which I did know. He volunteered at the temple starting in his forties because he thought it would help magnify his calling and continued that all the way into his eighties. He would do anything for anyone because he knew that "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." He lived by this and even had a general authority tell him, "He was truly a Christ-like man." I think everyone who met him knew this about him. You could feel it in his spirit and presence.
There was a viewing on September 11th in the evening that went very well. The line went down the hall and out the door for the full two hours. There were many who came to pay their respects. CJ's friend Brian came, my Mom and my brother Tim and his wife came. They were so sweet to take the time to show their love and support for us.
The next morning there was a viewing before the funeral and my sister Kim came, but we hadn't arrived yet. My sister Holly came to the funeral and was kind enough to let Jackson sit with her so CJ and I could enjoy the meeting without having to worry about him. After the funeral, Holly took Jackson to lunch and to my Mom's while we went to the graveside for the dedication of the grave. The people at Larkin Mortuary were so sweet. They had heard Grandma say that she wanted everyone in either Utah or red ties so they wore Utah ties to the funeral and also put a U sticker on the back of the hearse.
Uncle Stan performed the dedication of the grave and did a wonderful job. Instead of having all the grand kids and great grand kids pick a flower from on top of the casket, Grandma and her daughters decided to have each child get a picture of Grandpa dressed as Santa, a regular picture of him and a bell to hang on their Christmas trees every year in remembrance of "Santa Grandpa." Grandpa had been Santa for many years going to Primary Children's every December and giving out gifts. He would randomly show up to neighbors and friends houses dressed up as Santa and talk to the kids. He magically knew all their names and they thought that was great. He dressed up as Santa at our Vincent Family Christmas Party every year so everyone could get their pictures taken with him. I am so grateful we were able to do that with Jackson.
Above is CJ's Aunts and Uncles. Connie, Cindy Hughes, Steve Vincent, Grandma Vincent, Carlene Parkin, Stan Vincent and Christi King.
The luncheon afterwards was great. It was fun to spend time talking with the family and just being together after a long hard day.
Great Grandma Vincent with Jackson.
Everyone had pretty much left by the time this picture was taken, but here is a few of the many people in CJ's family.
It was a beautiful day. Everything went so well and perfectly. I think everyone felt the Spirit and love of Grandpa that day. He will surely be missed, but now he can be with us always. He can help lead and guide us on our paths to return to Heavenly Father and him again. We now have two guardian angels looking over our precious family, Grandpa Terry and Grandpa Lee. How blessed we are to have had these two great men in our lives. The best way to have a little piece of heaven in your home, is to have someone you love in heaven.
