Grandpa's Obituary

This is for my own journaling purposes - I wanted to make sure I have this recorded somewhere before it's taken off the newspaper's website.

Grandpa's Obituary

Calvin Lamar Davis

Posted: Friday, September 24, 2010 5:00 am | Updated: 7:27 am, Mon Sep 27, 2010.

Calvin Lamar Davis, 76, died suddenly of a heart attack Sept. 8, 2010, in Springerville. He was born Feb. 10, 1934 in St Johns to Harold John Davis and Caroline Nelson.

Except for a few years away at College, Calvin was a lifelong resident of St. Johns and never contemplated living anywhere else. He retired in 1980 from the Arizona Department of Transportation, where he was a resident engineer on numerous roadways in the White Mountains. After retirement, he worked even harder as a full-time farmer/rancher producing registered Angus breeding stock for the last 20 years.

Calvin and his trusty sidekick (Robbie, his wife of 57 years) raised horses for show and racing, cattle, hay and boys. He greatly enjoyed watching his sons and grandsons play sports, having been an athlete himself for for many years. He always coached, whether it was informally from the sidelines or formally as the team coach. He claimed he “couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket,” but he appreciated listening to those who could, especially when they were his family members.

Calvin is survived by his wife Robbie; six sons Russell (Annette) of Salt Lake City, Utah, Nelson (Tammy), Stewart both of St. Johns, Cameron (Cathie) of Payson, Aaron of Payson and Dallas (Jaymi) of Taylor; his sister Lavaun (Wesley, deceased) of St. Johns and his brother Dennis (Marge) of Tempe; 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters Margaret (William) Hanshaw, Anna (Larry) Hamblin and brother Jack.

Calvin was devoted to his family and a worthy steward of the land he used. He was a lifelong member in good standing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and spent some time as an ordinance worker in the church’s Snowflake temple. While working in the temple, his devotion to family deepened and truly became the thing that mattered most to him - but the cows still had to be fed.

Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 13, at the Grover’s Hill Ward, 2000 W. Cleveland St. in St, Johns. A visitation was held before funeral services. Interment was held at the St. Johns Cemetery.

Burnham Mortuary handled arrangements.

Three times now

For me, it's happened with all three children now.

You suffer.  You endure 9 months of discomfort .  Labor.  Delivery.  Recovery.  You change diapers around the clock.  You choose between grocery shopping and a shower.  You do everything one handed, since he insists on being held at all times.  You get puked on.  So you change clothes, then you get puked on again.  And since you only have 2 things that fit your postpartum body, you wear your pajamas for the rest of the day.  And let's not even get started on how little sleep you're operating on.

And you do it all for a little creature who not only doesn't thank you, but who doesn't even seem to acknowledge that you exist. 

And then, one day . . .

he smiles at you.

And he's forgiven.

One Crazy Birthday

While we were in St. Johns we celebrated Londyn's 4th birthday.  I'm kind of in denial that she's that old.  In fact, I just typed 3rd and had to go back and change it. 

We had some last minute changes of plans since we were heading out of town, but Londyn was really easy-going about it and she had a great birthday.  It was a family birthday year for her, and she had said she wanted a "BYU Birthday."  She chose bowling for her family activity.  So we decided that we could make it a BYU birthday by going bowling in the game center at BYU. 

We went bowling on Saturday morning, then left straight from Provo and went as far as Monticello that night.  Uncle Richard loaned us his net-book and wireless headphones so the girls could watch movies on the drive.  They watched in the motel that night too - it looks like it must be a really exciting flick. 

 

Grandma Annette was nice enough to have a cake made when we got there on Sunday.  I was worried about that - I tried to bring a cake along in a cooler but it ended up smashed.  So I was glad that my mom had it covered.  We had birthday cake at Grandma Robbie's, then opened presents back at the motel later that night.

Londyn didn't seem to mind the disjointed and crazy birthday.  She is pretty easy-going.  But she is also such a little firecracker.  She has so much personality packed into that little 4-year-old frame.  I'm happily amazed at what a super helper she has been with Calvin.  She loves him so much.  She loves to lay down by him and talk.  She loves holding him and giving him his bottle.  I frequently hear her say "Hi little buddy!"  Londyn started preschool earlier this month, and she loves it.  There's about 20 minutes between the time Jacey leaves for school and when Londyn leaves, and she spends that 20 minutes asking me repeatedly if we can leave now.  "I just want to be to preschool already, Mom" she says.  She loves teasing her dad, almost as much as he loves teasing her.  One of my favorite Londyn-isms right now is this:  whenever I ask "Have you brushed your teeth?" instead of saying yes, she grins as wide as possible to show me all of her teeth, and then says "Ding!"  (You know, the noise a shine makes.)  Makes me laugh every time.

Love this little big girl. 

The Original Calvin

There are three Calvins in my life.  My son, Calvin William.  My dad, Calvin Russell.  And my grandpa, Calvin Lamar.

I mentioned a few weeks ago how much I'd like to get a picture of the three Calvins together.  Just a few hours after I wrote that, Dad called to let me know that my grandpa had passed away suddenly from a heart attack.  My heart feels sad to know that my son won't get to meet this wonderful man in this life.  I like to imagine that he had a chat with Heavenly Father before he came to Earth and discussed His plans for Grandpa.  I think maybe Heavenly Father told my baby how He needed Grandpa back with Him, and promised that he would get to meet Grandpa in the next life. 

My grandpa was a good man.  He worked hard.  He was honest.  He had a testimony.  He was a loving and devoted husband.  He was a good example to his posterity. 

We traveled to St. Johns for the funeral last week.  Considering it was our second 20+ hour (round trip) journey in two weeks, I was amazed at how good the kids traveled, even Calvin.  It is a long drive, but it's one that I wish I had made a few more times these last few years.  I learned a lot about Grandpa at his funeral.  He wasn't one to sit and offer up stories or memories . . . he was kind of quiet that way.  I remember him being a man who listened more than he spoke.  I don't know if those who know him better than I do would say that's accurate, but that's how I remember him. 

As we were leaving the funeral, heading toward the cemetery, we passed the old feed store that Grandpa had owned at one point in his career.  The marquee outside held a pithy sentiment.

I'm so grateful for the promise that families are forever.  I know that I'll see my grandpa again.  And when we are reunited I know this temporary separation that must happen for all of us will seem like such a small moment. 

Lincoln's Blessing Day

We took a quick trip to Denver over Labor Day weekend to visit Bryan, Alex & Lincoln and to join in the festivities for Lincoln's blessing day.  To be quite honest, I wasn't sure that this trip was such a good idea.  My recovery has been a little more difficult than last time.  Not bad necessarily, just not as good as with Londyn.  And of course I wasn't sure how Calvin would do on the drive. 

I'm pleased to report, however, that we both did fine.  And I'm very glad we went.  In fact, Calvin was - hands down- the best traveler of the three kids.  The drive took a bit longer with a nursing baby in tow, but it was a good trip and totally worth it.  

A few pics from the weekend (mostly for Grandma Davis, who requested them).

Calvin and Lincoln meeting for the first time.  They played nicely.

A good lookin' family!

The whole crew - All of Alex's and Bryan's extended family.  (I stole this pic from Alex's blog.)

The circle, sans the bishopric.

Four generations.

Calvin².  I need a picture with my Grandpa Davis to make Calvin³. 

Thanks Bryan and Alex for hosting us all and letting us share in this special day!  Lincoln is just about as cute as they come - it's so fun to see him smile.  Can't wait for the boys' next play date!