Oak Den: Saying Good-bye to Grandpa: Part II

Grandpa's funeral and burial were on Saturday, September 20, 2008. The funeral services were held in his home ward in Mesa. None of his three daughters were able to attend the funeral, but they had come to Provo in August for a last visit with him.

So Ralph's Ogden children all participated in behalf of the Ladner girls who couldn't be there. Tad said the family prayer before the services, Maggie, Janet and Ward each spoke during the funeral service, and Doug dedicated the grave. It was a very nice service with some sweet and some funny things remembered.

The table display that Marilyn put together. I was honored to have the scrapbook I made for Ralph-of some of the adventures our family has had with him-on the table.

After the funeral service in Mesa, and the light luncheon, we headed east to Thatcher where the Hoopes are from and where the family burial plot is. It was about a three hour drive but we entertained ourselves looking at the saguaro cactus and the paddle cactus (prickly pear) and the creosote bushes all about. Ahhhh, the Ft. Irwin memories it brought back...

When we finally arrived we found the American Legion waiting for us. There were a few young-ish men, but most of them were quite older and there were also women. They were all so sweet and kind and did such a great presentation. It was really a touching service they provided.

The 21-Gun Salute

Taps being played

The presentation of the flag to Marilyn

After the formalities we spent some time visiting and enjoying one another's company. Jake and Abbie were our only kids who attended. They were both born after Grandpa Ralph married into the family, so he considered them as much his grandkids as ever they could be.

Grateful for the canopy shade and the water cooler with ice-cold water!

Janet, (Bob), Darien, Maggie, Rick (Tad)

Maggie and Tad

Janet and Bob reading headstones in the Hoopes family plot

Marilyn and her surviving children: Tad, Janet, Maggie, Doug and Ward

Marilyn and her brother, John

The cemetery workers were anxious to finish things and could tell we were in no hurry to leave, so they came over to start with their business. After it was determined that the spray of flowers would need to come off of the casket, many of us took a flower. Then they started lowering the casket into the vault. Previous to the funeral Doug had suggested we sing "You Are My Sunshine" just because it is such a great song. That didn't happen at the funeral, but when the casket was being lowered the moment seemed like it needed SOMETHING, instead of all of us standing in silence watching. So I went over to Doug and his brothers and said, "If you want to sing 'You Are My Sunshine' NOW is the time to do it." I couldn't because there was a huge lump in my throat. But Doug looked at Tad and Ward and they said "Should we do it?" then in the next moment they were singing. They started on the same note and within two or three notes they were in 3-part harmony and it was SO BEAUTIFUL! Maggie and Janet jumped in with their voices and harmony and to me it was probably the sweetest moment of the whole day.