My Grandpa's Funeral

My Grandpa's Funeral was Wednesday, May 5th (on Derek's Birthday).  Grandma Jensen graciously offered to drive to Salt Lake in order to tend Josh and Jenna during the funeral. Since my mom and dad were watching my brother and sister-in-law's two girls while they are on a cruise this week, she tended them too.   It was nice to see all of our relatives in one place.  I had not seen several of my cousins for a long time.  Everything went smoothly during the funeral, graveside service, and luncheon and the weather was gorgeous.

Jaiden was worried about the military guns after experiencing the graveside service of Uncle Bill last summer while Rick and I were away on the Pioneer Trek. The minute she found out she was going to a funeral she asked if there would be guns there. I knew Grandpa had served in the army and so I said that there probably would be. As soon as we arrived at the graveside service she saw those guns and immediately clamped her hands over her ears!

It was touching ceremony and it is neat to think about Grandpa Norman finally being free of the pain he suffered for so many years.  My heart goes out to Grandma.  She looked so little and frail.  She is having trouble with her memory but she seemed to understand everything that was happening.  We hope that she doesn't have to wait long to be reunited with her eternal sweetheart.

Below you will see a picture of a vase filled with beautiful red roses. There are 73 roses -- one for each of Grandma and Grandpa's descendants.  We were all instructed to take one for each family member and so I now have a beautiful bouquet of 8 red roses on my kitchen table -- one for me and one for each of my seven children.  Uncle Merrill talked about how Grandpa was so meticulous about numbers both in his job and when score-keeping with the games they loved to play.  And speaking of numbers, notice all of the family members listed below.  He pointed out that every marriage is a temple marriage -- with NO divorces, not one. What a legacy! 

Herbert Rex Norman
August 31, 1915—April 29, 2010

The Family of Rex and Zada Norman

Nelva and Arnold Griffiths
Dale and Stephanie Griffiths . . . Janell and Darren Robinson & Baby Lillia
                                                    Courtney, April, Devin, Cami, Alicia
Karie and Gary Godfrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megan, Wesley, Taylor
Randy and Jennifer Griffiths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor, Shelby, Brandon
Gregory Griffiths

Marjorie and LaMar Westra
Scott and Amy Westra . . . . . . . McKenna, Alyssa, Kellen, Kemery, Taylee
Christopher and Cassandra Westra . . . . . . . . . . .Conner, Kadan, Corin
                                                                          Camden, Cayson
Wendy and Rick Jensen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Janika, Jase, Jared, Janelle
                                                                       Jaiden, Joshua, Jennalee
Jennifer and Grayson Blackham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Landon, Callahan
                                                                        Keaton, Cooper, Colton
Shane and Alicia Westra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adria, Mirella
Kellie Sue (deceased)
Cory (deceased)
Derek and Danielle Westra

Merrill and Lorrie Norman
Jason and Kristen Norman . . . . . .Joshua, Natalie, Abigail, Caleb, Sabrina
Kathryn and Jacob Murakami . . . . . . . Anderson, Walker, Bennett, Miya
Emily and David Watkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Remington, Ellie
Nicole and Callahan Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eliza, Caroline
Jeffrey and Whitney Norman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katelyn, Jane
Matthew and Alllison Norman

Herbert Rex Norman
August 31, 1915—April 29, 2010

My Grandpa

My Grandpa Norman passed away this evening, April 29th, (on my birthday) at the age of 94.  He would have turned 95 this August.  He and Grandma just celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago.  Grandpa was rushed to the hospital at 3:00 a.m. after going into a coma.   Many family members were able to go to the hospital that day to see him and say their "good-byes."  Grandpa slipped away peacefully around 11:35 that night.  Both my mom and dad were with him.   We will miss our Grandpa!

Some of my memories of Grandpa include:

Going fishing with him and Grandma as children -- often at Strawberry Reservoir.  We would sleep on a mattress in the back of his enclosed truck and wake up really early to get out on the lake in Grandpa's little fishing boat.  Later on Grandpa got a ski boat.  He mostly used it for fishing, but he brought us water-skiing a few times.  We were thrilled!  It didn't have much power and so if we tried to ski, we had to hang on to the rope handle really tight and try to keep ourselves held up (with water splashing in our face) until the boat got enough power to actually pull us out of the water!  We loved it though! We had many wonderful memories of fishing with Grandma and Grandpa.

Grandpa also loved to hunt and proudly displayed his hunting successes on their basement walls. Grandpa also shared stories with us about his days in the Army Air Corp in World War II.   He was a hard worker and admitted that sometimes he worked a little "too hard," bringing work home with him.  He and Grandma started out with basically nothing and built up a lovely home and family.  Their three children are all active in the church with wonderful families of their own.  Grandma and Grandpa loved to play games such as scrabble and progressive rummy.  For years my mom and dad would go to their house every Friday night to play games with them.

I remember going to Grandma and Grandpa's house during holidays and many other times.  We would have dinners out on their large back patio.  We would roll down the hill on their side yard and play silly games with the cousins such as "strong-ies and fast-ies" (do any of you remember that game?)  Grandma and Grandpa were proud of their wonderful garden.  

I remember when I got my first "real" full-time job.  Grandpa teased me that my beginning salary was more than his was at retirement!  I remember singing at Grandma and Grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary and Grandpa shocking me with a big ol' kiss!   I always loved Grandpa's crooked smile!  He leaves behind a wonderful legacy.  We love Grandpa very much and will miss him! 

Obituary Information

Herbert Rex Norman August 31, 1915 ~ April 29, 2010 On April 29, 2010, our beloved father and grandfather, Rex Norman, passed away peacefully after almost 95 years of a rich life. He leaves behind for a short season Zada, his eternal sweetheart and companion of 72 years. In their quiet and unassuming manner they raised three children and left a legacy of five generations of 73 strong and contributing individuals, who love and revere them. As dad goes to prepare a mansion to receive her we will continue to care for our mom. Dad was born in Richfield, Utah to Herbert LaVar and Louella McGee Norman. The family moved to Mt. Pleasant, UT where he eventually met and married Zada Howell of Fairview in the LDS Manti Temple on April 13, 1938. As a father of three, he proudly served in the Army Air Corp during WWII. They settled in Salt Lake City, where dad commenced a career in data processing, working some 33 years with the Utah State Department of Employment Security. Dad’s favorite hobbies were hunting and fishing with family and friends, often near his ancestral home in Sanpete County or Strawberry Reservoir. He faithfully served in many capacities within his LDS ward, typically in the background while proudly supporting his family and friends. Rex is survived by his wife; Zada, daughters Nelva (Arnold) Griffiths, and Marjorie (LaMar) Westra and a son Merrill (Lorrie); sister Bonnie (Wallace) Allred; 16 grandchildren; 51 great grandchildren and a great, great granddaughter. Preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, a sister and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at noon, Wed. May 5th at East Millcreek 9th Ward Chapel, 3750 So. Hillside Lane (2500 E.), where family and friends may call Tues, evening 6-8 p.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. prior to services on Wed. Interment at Larkin Sunset Lawn. Grandma and Grandpa are right in the middle.  This is my mom and dad's kids and spouses and all of their grand-kids.  I am sure Grandma and Grandpa have a big picture like this for each of their three kids!

Grandma Norman's Funeral

Grandma Norman's funeral was held on November 2, 2013.  We wanted to come and so we packed up our family and headed up North as soon as school was out on Friday, Dec. 1st.   We arrived at my mom and dad's house that evening and fed the kids and then got everyone's beds ready.  Saturday morning we got everyone ready and headed out to the funeral.  We arrived early in time to run through the musical number that our family was singing.   It was the medley of "Love at Home" and "Love One Another" that Rick wrote.  We asked Gerilyn to play for us and so she and Grandma Jensen met us at the church.  The song went well and I really felt the spirit then and throughout the whole meeting.  Aunt Nelva spoke along with Merrill and Lorrie.  All of the grand-kids and great-grandkids sang "I Am a Child of God" and I felt a little emotional looking around at the amazing (and big) posterity Grandma and Grandpa have left behind and feeling grateful to be a part of it!  (I will add the program when I get a scanned copy of it).