A Special Lady

I decided to dedicate this post to the most special lady that I know - my mother.  Twelve years ago on the September 8, 2000, in the middle of the night, my sister Terry called me to inform me that my mother had passed away.  She had fallen down in her living room and she couldn't get up, so she pushed the emergency button she wore around her neck for help.  She told the emergency operator her problem and they immediately called for help.  My brother who lives only a couple miles from her home received the call to go rescue her. He arrived there in a few short minutes to find that her spirit was no longer there.  In that few short minutes she had gone home to our Heavenly Father.  Her sweet spirit had been released from that mortal body that held her captive.

She was 85 years old when she died.  She lived a long, productive life and was always thinking of others.  She was always crocheting and making needlepoint pictures for her kids and grandkids.  Her grandchildren were very special to her.   I have an art gallery in my stairwell of all the needle point pictures she made for our family.  One of my favorite pictures is the Indian with the full headdress.  I had looked through her craft books  many times and pointed to that picture and told her she should make that one.  She would look at it and tell me "no".  Then one night, when Robert was six years old, he was looking at the book with us.  He looked at the picture and said, "I want that one."  So, guess who got it?  It certainly wasn't me.


This picture of me and my mother was taken 56 years ago.  I think she was always happy.  There is no way that I can write about all the things that my mom taught me or tried to teach me.  She taught me to be kind to others.  She taught me to crochet, embroiderer, can fruits and vegetables, iron, clean house, pick raspberries and pull weeds. She taught me how to quilt and how to sew. Between her and my father I learned to be a good, hard worker.  I don't remember her ever going to church with me except on the day I was baptized and when I was confirmed on the next day but she always had a testimony of the gospel and she never kept me or my siblings from attending church and participating in other church related activities.  I'm sure she must have encouraged me and prompted me to go but I don't remember it.

My father died in 1977 and that gave my mother the opportunity to return to church.  Her and I went to the temple together for the first time in 1978 when I was preparing to leave on my mission.  She got involved in the name extraction program and spent many hours transcribing microfilms for the church.  Also, while I was gone she began working at the Provo LDS temple.  She worked there for many years and it was with great sorrow when she finally turned in her resignation.

My mom will always hold a very special spot in my heart.  It wasn't until I began doing genealogy work that I learned all the stories from her past.  She grew up in the 1920's in the coal camps of Carbon County.  Her family didn't have a lot of riches or luxury but there was a lot of love and wonderful experiences.  I'm so thankful for my mother and the rich heritage that I have been blessed with.  I love her now and always will.