Tuesday was funeral day.
The handsome (what, me biased?) Michael Feddock
and Mom are talking in the kitchen.
Our Last Days with Dad
February 2004
Tuesday was funeral day.
The handsome (what, me biased?) Michael Feddock
and Mom are talking in the kitchen.
Breanne is working on her crocheting (she's so crafty),
with Aunt Sarah looking on. They look beautiful
and ready for the day.
Three Davis women; Natalie, Stephanie and Susan
Ron Pimentel working on his
Plan of Salvation talk for the funeral.
That fabulous Gramma Heder (Mom's mother)
flanked by Michael and Clint.
Photo display at the funeral, in the church foyer,
including a professional portrait of Mom and Dad,
marriage certificate, honeymoon pictures we all know and love of them in
their
matching plaid shirts, a Navy picture, Mom & Dad's mission photo plaque,
M&D and their "14" children, a stand up cut out of them on
their wedding day,
M&D with the Los Angeles temple presidency, a boyhood photo, etc.
Group photo of the immediate family members able to come.
(a few more Davises came in shortly hereafter)
Less than 1/3 of the grandchildren are here.
Hey, the Redd sisters are not sitting in order like we always
do, what were we thinking?! We did save a space for Dad to
show how we feel him missing. We'll list names in another photo.
During a family meeting before the funeral Laurel read two things
she had taken notes of. First was the blessing President Dixon had
given Dad just before Dad died. It included blessing Dad with a peace
and calm knowing that some of those he loves are waiting to greet him on
the other
side, also that it's time to go for there is other business to take care
of.
We're pretty sure they've got all kinds of assignments lined up for Dad!
Two Brown cousins (yes, we're a colorful family--Redd, Brown)
Maureen Smith and Janet Davidson with Gramma Heder. Incidentally, Maureen
"just happened" to be head of emergency in the Provo medical center
Dad was in for 5 weeks. It was especially nice to have her visit
him and report to us by email during the few days Mom was not there.
That was a blessing.
Dad's sister, Arlene Redd Brown visiting with Mom's cousin
Billie and Dan Clinger. Patty is behind.
Maureen with Sarah and Linda.
It was so great to not only see so many cousins today,
but for them to come from so far meant so much.
Oh my, five of the dashing Brotherhood (Peter, Clint,
Ron, Craig, and David) along with our
equally dashing cousin, Jeff Redd. I can barely stand it.
Mom wanted each son-in-law to take part today. Blair and Ron spoke,
Peter and Michael gave the opening and closing prayers for the
funeral, Craig gave the prayer at the family meeting, Clint did
the closing of the casket at the family meeting, and David
dedicated the grave. Very neat. Five of our fine Brotherhood are
former Bishops and have plenty o'experience in the funeral arena.
This is Annette. Last October we barely met each other for a
few minutes at the St. George marathon. We know each other by way of
the St. George Marathon message board. She's a member of the
LDS church, too, and lives about an hour from St. George. It meant
so much to me that she would come to the funeral of someone she
didn't know because she's an internet friend of mine. She
represented the rest of our message board family. Her day
was hectic and didn't start out well but she came anyway.
I appreciated what she said about the funeral being more
like a celebration of life. It was, indeed uplifting.
The funeral speakers were Susan and Blair Davis, Ron Pimentel,
Stake President Dunn, Temple President Muir, and Branch
President Dixon. They all did a wonderful job. They all adored
Dad. My nephew Bret Pimentel played "Did You Think to Pray"
on the soprano sax (yes, it was an appropriate instrument) and I
accompanied him at the piano. His beautiful music drove
me to tears our first time through! Glad I got that
overwith before the real thing. It seemed only fitting that after
all the money Dad shelled out over the years for piano
lessons for seven daughters (which I roughly estimate
to be around $35,000) that one of us should play today.
This was kind of a neat thing. When we followed the pallbearers
and Mom out of the church, the sidewalk was lined with Dad's
fellow High Priests, his friends with whom he discussed
the gospel each Sunday. They were happy to quietly honor him
We lucked out and got to ride in one of the two limos.
We must be rich and famous! Here are Laurel,
Linda and Craig Robinson. In fact, on the way back to the
church we drove by an elementary school and a little girl
was squinting at the limo as we drove by, trying to see the
celebrity inside the dark windows. I waved my hand near the
window at her and she got all excited!
The gravesite.
Patty and Clint Kennington, Laurel Feddock, Jennifer Kurt and two of her
children, Craig and Linda Robinson, and Sarah Pimentel.
I'm so proud of the way Mom handled everything so graciously today.
Here, before the service, she went around and shook hands with
each and every military representative there. There were about 15.
The pallbearers, all seven sons-in-law,
and Bret Pimentel, grandson.
David, behind the pole about to dedicate the gravesite with a prayer.
The folding of the flag.
The flag from Dad's casket being presented to Mom.
That was touching. Mom and Dad were at someone else's
funeral who had military honors. This was a few years ago.
Knowing he qualified for honors having been in "The Great War"
(WWII),
Dad expressed interest in having military honors.
He mentioned it only once. Mom remembered.
Then the 21 gun salute. There were seven men.
They shot three times. Some of us took a shell home.
These military men looked great, it really gave this
service a special feeling.
Then a beautiful, unhurried, playing of Taps.
It was played with such feeling.
Then the sons-in-law and Bret each laid their boutonnier
on the casket and gave Mom a hug.
After the graveside service:
On the right is cousin Doug Redd, on the left his wife, Claudia,
and daughter Alexandria talking with the Barkers.
The top to Dad's vault.
I never knew this before, but the casket is required to go in a
vault, a larger, stronger box, which is watertight and protects
the casket. I like that.
More long-time friends, the Willard Tates, the Walt Davises
(Blair's Dad and his wife), and Linda Tate and husband.
Another Redd man, cousin Jeff, visiting with Clint, Janet and Maureen.
How nice to see the cousins together again. I only remember us
all as youngsters at Gramma (Jeanette) Redd's apartment, outside the
Los Angeles temple gates gathering for our annual Christmas Eve bash.
I guess we all turned out to be decent, respectable adults--phrew!
Michael spending a few minutes with Aunt Billie and
Uncle Dan. Uncle Dan was pretty sick there for a while,
but gratefully he seems to be his old self again.
Mom and our cousin Dean Brown.
I like to call him Doctor Dean since he was our dentist
before Michael and I moved away from Woodland Hills, CA.
Laurel and Michael.
Kathy Tate, the Tates, Sinclairs, Arlene Redd Brown,
Steven Tate, and the Hancocks. This is a Culver City
group. The Harold Redds moved from Culver City to
Woodland Hills in 1966. (The Tates did too!)
Janet Brown Davidson, Jeff Redd, and Steven Brown.
I just can't get over how wonderful it was to have
so many cousins there!