It was February 16th when I got a call from my Aunt Karen, notifying me that Uncle George had passed away in the early hours of the morning. As I laid there for the rest of the morning, my heart sank to think of this incredible giant of a man, who was no longer with his family.
He had suffered with Pancreatic cancer for a short six months and did so with more class and grace then imaginable. He was a remarkable man. A legend to so many. To John, he was a former church leader, family friend, and even boss/mentor. To me - he was a special link, a connection to my Mom's family that became more important to me with each passing year. (My Mom was actually born on George's 1st birthday, which caused my Grandparents to name her Georgia Ellen. Isn't that cute?) Every time I was around George, I felt closer to my Mom.
He was a quiet man, who NEVER sought attention. In fact, he shunned it. Despite that though, when conditions were right, you could talk with George and learn the most interesting things. He knew more about animals, rocks, land formations, birds, and the gospel than he ever let on, but learning from him was always a treat. He was truly a fascination.
I miss knowing that he is here, and I feel so sad for my darling Aunt Karen.
By the end of the week, many of my Toone relatives had made the trip up to Canada to celebrate his life. In fact, there was only one cousin who could not come. That is really kinda cool.
On Friday, my siblings and I worked together to feed a meal to all of our relatives. We ate, visited and got to know each other's kids.
All of our kids (all great-grandkids of Leo and Afton Toone who were old enough) gathered together and went to the temple. I couldn't accompany them, but some of my cousins went and it sounds like it was an incredible time together.
We gathered together to see Uncle George one last time.
Attended his lovely funeral service and tried to support his wife and kids.
On the last night together we gathered at the High School and watched old 8mm films of my Grandparents and their four kids. Out of that family of 6, only one member (my Uncle Jim) remains. It was a little sobering to observe him as he watched this footage of his family.
I loved it because I saw footage of my mom that I had never seen before!
I got to watch her as a child, getting pushed on the swings, blowing out candles on her and George's cakes, and excitedly riding in a motorboat in Waterton. I couldn't take my eyes off of her.
It was a special weekend.
It was the type of weekend that had me feeling grateful for my Beazer/Toone heritage.
I sometimes feel prone to curse the genetic dispositions that I have inherited, but there is more to be honored and privileged about than I could ever convey.
I should add that my brother Chad and his wife stayed with us for a couple of nights during this weekend and my kids had the FUNNEST time with them. John and I went to bed one night near midnight and these rowdy 12 were just getting started with a card game. It made my heart happy.
I felt incredibly grateful for the role my brother plays in my family and how I feel closer to my parents (particularly my Dad) when around him. So, I guess I was feeling a little grateful for my Rausch heritage as well.
Shortly after my Uncle George had returned home from his unuseful surgery I went over to his house for a visit. It was the kind of visit where my heart felt heavy going, but by the time I left I had been so lifted an elevated, I wouldn't have been shocked at all had I seen angels surrounding Uncle George. I suspect they were. At one point in the conversation though, he stopped and turned to me and bore testimony that family really is the ONLY thing that matters. We can spend our whole life worrying about money, or work, or owning things, but it all means nothing.
Just Familly.
