Uncle Fred's Funeral

Haleigh met her third cousin also named Hailey and they were fast friends.  They stopped playing tag for a minute to take this picture but you can tell they were ready to tag immediately after saying cheese.  It went like this, "Cheeeese!  Tag, your it!"

My great aunt Jan, recent widow and beloved by many.

My father's uncle Fred Donkin passed away last month and there were many there to honor him.  All of my Dad's siblings came, which they said was the first time they'd all been together for 20 years.  I went along with four of my kids too, my first real outing by myself.  Doug was on a business trip.  It was a long but enjoyable day.  We arrived and viewed the body.  Haleigh met her new friend Hailey and their conversations about death were so sweet.  

Hailey:  "That's my Grandpa in there."  (pointing to the coffin)

Haleigh:  "No, That's Uncle Fred."

Hailey:  "He's my Grandpa, but now he's in heaven.  My mom says he's making his special ice cream recipe for Heavenly Father."

Me:  "Haleigh, do you want to see his body?"

Haleigh: "Is his head cut off?"

Me: "No."

Haleigh: "Okay."

Dad, Uncle Gary, Aunt Marilyn visiting from California.  Uncle Gary finally helped me solve my shaky camera problem.  He's a great photographer.   Thanks Gary!

My Uncle Aaron and Aunt Kathie who live in Pleasant Grove.  She knows all there is to know about family history and teaches preschoolers.

My Dad's twin brother Greg.  We love when he visits.  He and my Dad bunked at our house.  He shares my love of Dr. Pepper but unfortunately thinks the Diet version is better.  :)

Haleigh couldn't get enough of their chocolate cake.  She ate about four pieces.  As long as she was quiet, I let her keep going.  

The little one's still hanging in there after 6 hours.  

Haleigh loved her great Aunts.  She wanted to ride with them in their car to the cemetery.  I think she misses girl time with relatives.  

I've been reading about Fred in the histories of his sister and his mother, but didn't know him well myself.  There is also a great book put together by his granddaughter, Ashley that I've read.

Here are some things I learned about my Uncle Fred that I didn't know before.  

• He "stalked" his wife, Jan, when they first met in the war by finding out her schedule and showing up wherever she was to get to know her better.  
• He hated going with his mom shopping because she was an avid coupon-er and would go to multiple stores for a few things every week.  He got bored.  
• He had polio as a child.
• He was an engineer.
• He is famous for his secret recipe of ice cream which has been passed down to the daughters.  There was a lot of talk at the funeral about not losing the recipe through the ages.
• He was known to tease and the week before he died, a nurse asked him if he was strong enough to shower and he replied that he needed a few more days (referring to his smell)
• He made wonderful homemade bread and pies
• He was the loudest snorer
• When his children would come home with B's on their report card, he wouldn't be satisfied and would ask, "Is that the best you can do?"
• He loved BYU football and had season tickets, then would go home and watch it again on TV, yelling at the TV as he watched.