Tyler and I had the neat opportunity to take a little trip, just the 2 of us Ü, back in February. It was for a sad, but beautiful, reason...to attend the funeral and honor the life of Tyler's grandma ~ Elizabeth Amy Stevens Gibson.
Grandma Gibson celebrated her 92nd birthday back in July...
And her 75th wedding anniversary back in November!!
I love this picture taken of them a few years ago...so tech savvy!!! Ü
Grandma and Grandpa Gibson raised an amazing family of 6 children with an 18 year span between Tyler's mom, Aldine...the oldest, and Uncle Matt, the youngest.
~ Aldine, Beth, Arlea. Renee, Matt, Wally, Roseanne, Jayna ~
Both Grandpa and Grandma's health have been shaky the last few years and our family has been lucky we've been able to see them as often as we have. Grandma has had several health scares over the last year or so and mid-February she went down hill fast. It was actually the weekend Tyler and his mom drove back to AZ with a moving truck full of furniture for us from Tyler's parent's home. Aldine was planning to stay with us for a visit...possibly up to a couple of weeks. But Grandma declined so rapidly that Aldine came into town Friday afternoon, stayed the night, and left Saturday morning...worried she wouldn't make it up to Utah in time to say goodbye to her mom. Luckily Grandma hung on for a couple more days and was able to spend time with each of her children and other family members before passing away at 11:12am on Tuesday, February 16th.
Grandma and Grandpa were always holding hands so before she passed a special mold was made of their hands together.
I enjoy road trips and love seeing family...and doing it with my honey is extra super fun!!
Thanks mom for keeping the kids!!
(PS ~ all pictures from this trip were taken with my new Android phone!! Ü)
Beautiful Utah Mountains!!
I do miss them...
Our first "selfie" with my phone!!
Guess I could have chosen somewhere a little nicer to take it. Ü
I never know where to look!!
Lucky us!!
The Provo City Center Temple open house happened to be going on while we were in town. Score!!
I love the history associated with this building. Tyler and I actually went to a few stake conferences here, when it was the Provo Tabernacle, after we were married and still attending BYU. I remember going in one of those side doors and walking up the spiral staircases to sit in the balcony. The temple was gorgeous, inside and out, as they tried to keep to the time period it was originally built and used as much of the original building that was not destroyed in the fire as they could. I'm so glad we could go see it!!
No UT trip is complete without a visit to...
(it was fun taking a golf cart tour around campus and remembering)
And you gotta go to...
Our history started here too...First Date baby!! Ü
Grandma's Viewing
~ Friday night, February 19th ~
Tyler giving Grandpa a hug
Grandpa sat by Grandma's side the whole night...
Recognize these guys...Daniel and Lincoln Markham?
Yeah, we're related!!! Daniel is Tyler's cousin!! We know famous people!! Ü
If you're not familiar with them, check out their You Tube Channel "What's Inside"
https://www.youtube.com/user/lincolnmarkham
Always so beautiful!!
Even amidst his grief Grandpa still has time for hot fives. Ü
~ with Nikki Gomez ~
Funeral
~ Saturday, February20th ~
Grandma was the 3rd child and oldest girl in her family of 11 siblings. A few months after the youngest child was born Grandma's mother had a stroke and within a few years her father abandoned the family. As the oldest girl Grandma took on a lot of the responsibility of the home and children and took care of her mother most of the rest of her life.
It was said in one of the funeral talks how Grandma's life was one of opposites...
*born and raised in poverty but as an adult lived a lifestyle of style and elegance
* lived in a barn but as an adult was a terrific homemaker and cook
* a father who abandoned the family and siblings who were separated but as an adult had a marriage that lasted 75 years and never turned away anyone who needed help
I thought that was pretty cool. Such a great example!! Ü
Family gathering before the funeral
Grandpa Gibson comes from a large family as well. He is the oldest of 10 children. Here in the center is Grandpa's youngest brother David who came to show his love and support.
Cousins!!
~ Robyn, April, Arianne, and Stephanie
Arlea and her children
~ Jamie, Allie, & Chris ~
The Final Goodbyes
Aldine hugging her dad
The 5 remaining siblings
(Renee passed away about a year earlier from Alzheimer's)
Grandma and Grandpa are both so loved by all the grandkids and family
~ April is especially close to them ~
~ Robyn, Braxton, Stephanie, Lizzie, Greg ~
grandson Jamie.........great grandson Ashton
~ Allie, Amy, Josh, Hope~
Jamie, Ammon, Gentry, Larissa, Lauren, Josh
Theirs is a true love story
You can see the look of devastation on his face after his sweetheart was wheeled away
The numbers 11 & 12 have become kind of special to the Gibson clan. Grandma and Grandpa were married on November 12th...11/12. Grandma passed away at 11:12. When the children went to the mortuary they found our the area for the grave were plots 11 & 12. I think there was even something else that happened with those numbers. So, fittingly, the funeral begun at 11:12.
The Grandsons were pall bearers
Family at the church after the funeral...
Our nephew Ammon and his son Benjamin. It was Benjamin's 1st birthday!!
Tyler with his sister Angie and her boys Nikki & Connor
Olivia, Jordan, Jamie, Arlea, Jamie's friend, Nells
Vince & Asthon
Brandon, Annie, & Juniper
At the Cemetery...
Gibson boys
The grandkids and great grandkids sang "God Be With You Til We Meet Again"
Sam & Briggs McGee, Brandon & Whitney Anderson, Steve Markham
At almost 95 Grandpa gave the dedicatory prayer and said one last goodbye to his eternal companion
12 doves were released
And everyone had a chance to put a flower on her casket
Aldine's family
Tyler's sister Shauna and her husband Jeff have been living with Grandma and Grandpa the last 3 years taking care of them. Their kids have gotten married and started having kids in the time they've been living there. Such a blessing!
Jayna's family
Matt's family
The grave site was right next to the graves of Grandpa Gibson's parents!!
Luncheon
When its your birthday...you just gotta eat cake...funeral or no!!
Happy 1st Birthday Benjamin James Gruwell!!
Grandpa with almost all of his grandchildren
Bunny Ears for Mitch!!
Grandpa with a handful of his great grandchildren
3 cool dudes
~ Ashton, Marcus, & Max ~
So much love and laughter!!
Such a ham!!
Aldine's group
Roseanne's Fam
Mitch got grandpa back!!
We were all pretty worried about Grandpa. We could easily see him quickly following Grandma...but I think he'll be around a little bit longer. Ü
Later that night we had a CoUsInS pArTy at April's house
~ Robyn, April, Angie, & Cindy ~
Yummy!!
Amelia, Conner, Ashton, and Nikki
Jeff, Debbie, Jayna, and Matt
It was so great that all of Tyler's siblings were there...
with Gwen and Brian
Uno Time!!
~ Bob, Josh, Lindsay, Vince, Sarah ~
Nells & Carl
It didn't take long for the party to turn into a dance party as Dru tried teaching Uncle Vince and Uncle Nells some dance moves...
Pretty soon others were joining in
Oh yeah!!
We left early Sunday morning to come back home as we wanted to back into for Andy and Alex's Priesthood Preview that night. Short trip but a great one!! Lots of memories made.
We Love You Grandma Gibson!
Thanks for the amazing family you created!!
http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Elizabeth-Gibson&lc=2257&pid=177741080&mid=6804928
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