Our Beloved Grandpa Jack

All through my childhood, and even into my early adulthood, I never really thought I was very close to my Grandparents. I was raised in different states and was lucky if I saw them every few years for Christmas. Although, Grandpa Jack was the grandparent I've had the most contact and memories with. I remember his Houston home very fondly. I remember loving going there. He had a fountain statue in his backyard that he would always turn on for us. We used to love when his "coo-coo-clocks" would go off and we loved sneaking onto his little organ and playing it as much as we could before Mom and Dad figured out it was us on it. He used to make a big popping sound with his mouth that would make us laugh pretty hard. I remember sitting on his lap while everyone was watching something on tv and being completely mesmerized by a glass paper weight he kept on his end table, it had a big flower in it and lots of air bubbles. I used to stare at those air bubbles for what seemed the longest time. That paper weight now sits on my counter. When I look at it, for a split second I'm 3 feet tall and sitting in his lap again.

As I've grown up, I've come to truly appreciate my love for my Grandpa Jack. Here is a copy of his obituary which tells more about his life, and honorable service to both the gospel and our country. This picture was taken in 2004 when he came through Logan and stopped in to visit Brent and me.

After we moved down here, we were able to go to the temple. Grandpa Jack was there and able to arrange to be the one to take me through the veil at the end of the endowment. Afterwards, he, Brent and I went and performed sealings. I remember kneeling over the alter and looking at Brent, and then over at my Grandfather who was acting as proxy for the sons of the families we were sealing together. I was overwhelmed with emotion, both with joy over uniting families for eternity and gratitude for having the opportunity to be there with Grandpa Jack. As I became choked up and started to cry, Grandpa says quietly, "I didn't know you were so close to the Morgans." (the family we were sealing). I laughed so hard, which I probably shouldn't have done, but I couldn't help it.

The picture above is one of the last we had with him. This is at our family reunion in July 2011. He came up to Utah for the occasion and was able to visit with all of us, and watch old home movies, which I think he really enjoyed. Once he came back home from the trip, his health went down hill. A few weeks ago I got the news that he had had a stroke and was in the hospital. He wasn't able to speak or move any of his left side. Although they could tell off and on that he knew of his surroundings. Mariska came over to me as I cried on my bed and asked me what was wrong. I reminded her of who Grandpa Jack was and explained that something bad happened in his brain and now he couldn't walk... to which the precious 5 year old asked, "Is that why he walks like this?" And she did her best 'old man shuffle'! I couldn't help but think of how innocent and precious her little mind is.

The next day we had the girls watched by a friend and Brent and I went up to go see him. As I walked in I went to his side and said "Hi Grandpa, Brent and I came to see how you're doing.", and at first he seems a little out of it, but as I finished talking, he looked me dead in the eye and squeezed my hand. After that, he seemed a bit more "in and out". When my Aunt Kathy and her husband Mike left, he turned his head toward the door as they were leaving. After they left, I was telling him about Mariska starting kindergarten, and he tried saying something but couldn't get it out. I have no idea what he might have been trying to say. I think I'll always wonder what it was, I'll have to ask him when I see him again. Then I had the nurse come in and change his IV bag and we turned him over and he fell right to sleep. He slept until we had to go home. When we left, I touched his hand and said, "Goodbye Grandpa", he opened his eyes and looked at me, and I told him we had to go and get the girls dinner and put to bed, he gave me a bit of a half smile, I leaned in, told him I loved him and gave him a kiss. He kept his eyes open long enough to watch us leave the room. And then I assume he just went back to sleep. I did just fine as we arrived and through the visit, but leaving was much harder than I'd anticipated. I felt horrible leaving him alone, it was going to be another hour before my other Aunt came to see him.

After a few more days, we learned that it was a growing blood clot and his body just started shutting down. I got the call that he had passed away just after dinner on September 5th, Labor Day. I started making arrangements for the girls to be cared for during the funeral services, which were held on the 8th.

Grandpa Jack is my Dad's Dad. This is him and my mother at the church for the funeral.

We had a lovely funeral service. My Dad told about Grandpa's life and many childhood stories, which I had never heard. Afterwards, we drove almost an hour to the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery for his burial service. We were able to have 2 motorcycle police escorts. I think the most touching memory of the day for me, was seeing the 2 officers park at the entrance of the cemetery and dismount in total synchronization and salute my Grandfather as he was driven past. From there he was taken to the service area where Brent served as a pallbearer, along with several of my cousins and brother Matthew. He was buried with full military honors, it was the most respectful thing I think I've ever witnessed. Here is a link to the video.

I'm so thankful for being able to be here for all of this. After the services my sister Amber came home with us and we had a fun weekend hanging out with her. I'm so glad she was able to be down here with us for this too. My heart is so fun of love for my family. I am sad to think I'll not see Grandpa Jack again in this life, but I'm so happy to think about his reunion with my Grandmother Erika. Even though I never met her, I could always tell he loved her very much.

So, to end this post... Goodbye for now Granpda Jack, see you again soon.