I was asked to speak at my Grandfather’s Funeral this week. It was a difficult task to put into words the great things that his life contributed to this world. But I did what I could. I just wanted to share my Grandpa with Ya’all,

“It is with great honor and humility that I represent the grandchildren of Grandpa Norris this day. As we celebrate his life, our minds are drawn to the example he gave for us to follow, as well as the memories of the many joyful times that we were able to share with him. I would like to share just a few of these with you this day.

Grandpa was always a harder worker. It was with great patience that he would take us at his side and teach us the right way to plant potatoes, how to mow the lawn or why we shouldn’t sneak out to the garden and pull up all the carrots. We learned that work can be fun when you work together. Such as when we would meet at potato picking time, racing up and down the rows filling our buckets with freshly turned potatoes.

One of our favorite memories is of mowing the lawn with Grandpa. He would fill up the wheelbarrow with grass clippings and then pile us kids on top, giving us rides out to the barn and back.

Grandpa was always full of fun. He always had a joke or two that he was anxious share when we came to visit. None of us girls could pass by him without him checking on the status of our relationship with Fat Albert.

Grandpa taught us about service. Often helping out the neighborhood widows with their plumbing and other problems. He would willingly take a week out of his schedule to escort some young and naive grandchildren and their rickety trailer packed full of household belongings all the way to Kansas. He was sure they wouldn’t have made it on their own- He was probably right.

Grandpa taught us the joy and importance of family. Some of our fondest memories are of the fun times we had together. It was great excitement for us children to pile into the back of Grandpa’s truck with all our cousins as we bounced, sang and, yes, screamed all the way down the highway. We remember going fishing with Grandpa up at Strawberry Reservoir in our big orange life vests. We have great memories of camping at Zions and Capitol Reef, sitting around the campfires, singing songs and telling stories.

He shared with us his love for Rock Hunting. He even let us haul home a few buckets of “Leaverites” to throw into the rock tumbler. He masterfully created works of beauty out of the rough and dirty.

Grandpa showed a special love for the littlest of his grandchildren. He was always willing to have us or our children climb up on his knee for a big hug.
Grandpa had a great love for Grandma. We will all miss him getting up at Golden Corral and sharing with us the story of how he met Grandma the great love he had for her. The tears he shed were a great testament of how much he truly cared for her.

Grandpa always had a way of showing each of us grandchildren how much he cared about us. Even when it got hard for him to get around he still came to our Birthdays, Baby Blessings, Graduations, and Weddings. He painstakingly penned a letter in his shaky all cap’s handwriting to tell a grandson how proud he was of him. He made it clear to all how much he loved each and everyone of us.

One of the greatest examples of Grandpa’s love was seen each morning at his breakfast table. Living with Grandpa as a young and very hungry child, I don’t know that I always appreciated Grandpa’s Prayers as much. But as I grew older they grew very dear to my heart. What a blessing it has been for each of us to know that whatever we are doing, and wherever our lives took us, Grandpa was at home praying for each and every one of us BY NAME, invoking the blessing of the Lord in our lives.

Like our Father in Heaven with whom he has returned to dwell, he knew what was happening in our lives, he cared about us and love us. What a blessing it has been for his posterity to have the example and love of such a great man from which to draw strength. What a blessing to know that our Father in Heaven too is mindful of each and every one of us. He loves us and wants what is best for us and looks forward to that day when we can join together as a family in the eternal realms, to dwell in glory and joy forever.

On behalf of all the grandchildren, it is my prayer that we can all live our lives in such a way to allow us to be worthy of this great honor. Quoting Grandpa’s often repeated prayer, I too petition the Father “Please bless, MaryAnn, and Grandpas and Grandmas and pray that we can all be together again someday”

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. “