One Last Honor of Chief B. - then I'll rewind to Christmas

As stated in my 2009 afterword and my previous two posts, Grandpa Brown passed away. His health was declining and his death was expected for a while now, though I do not think the expectation made the loss any easier to endure. I wish it were that way.

I come from Brown stock. The best kind of stock. One of quiet pride, honesty, service, hard work, dedication, loyalty and love. Grandpa lived these attributes and made sure to pass them along. Over the past 4 years I had the opportunity to interview him several times and have loved this time we shared. I learned so much I never would have known had I not asked. He truly was a great man. Mick even remarked that he never knew of all the great things Grandpa did in his life, most likely because he never boasted. He was a quiet, gentle man.

Our last moments together I spent asking him about his love of Grandma and their 62 years of marriage. They always lived an exemplary married life. He would answer my questions simply, and then switch subjects to speak about his work, his service, or his beliefs. I dreamed of long drawn out answers about his sweetheart, romanced up a bit. Love is simple in reality. Now, I think he may have wanted certain things to be known about his life. He had me laughing so hard over a few things he mentioned- those stay between grandma, grandpa and I, that I left that day forgetting he wasn't as healthy as a horse. It did not hit me until half way home, that I might not see him again.

Just a day later he suffered a heart attack and died in his home a day and several hours later. Luckily I was able to make the return trip and be with him and the rest of my family on his passage to the other side. Although I will forever recall the terribly long, difficult passage of time it took him to leave, the tears, the smells, the sounds, and the sight of him dying, I feel blessed for the whole experience. I've never been more certain of my beliefs about where we come from and where we go after this life. I know he had a sweet reunion with his parents, his siblings and his daughter and son who preceded him in death. He did not want to leave this earth without grandma. He told me he wished she could go with him. I know he waited until she left his side for a quick minute to use the bathroom, so he could finally depart. Broke my heart for grandma after she had spent the entire day at his side. For grandma, time will be long until they are reunited. As for grandpa, he's now on God's time.

In the wee hours of the morning of December 30 after grandpa had passed, the mortician came to remove grandpa's body. That was rough. I had never given much thought as to what happens after some one dies. I still hear the sound of the body bags zipper when I lay my head down at night. That sound was too much. I was so proud of grandma for handling her grief with such grace and strength. She is such and example to me. "He devoted his life to service" she remarked to the mortician, while giving final kisses to grandpa. "Not a day went by in 62 years that I didn't know he loved me". How many can claim that?

The next day, Grandma and Aunt Teri asked me to speak at Grandpa's funeral services. How could I say no? I was honored, but have never been so scared to speak in all my days. If I never have that experience again in life, I will live happy. I think many prayers on my behalf helped me to hold it all together. Below is my talk- spoken word so it sounds funny when read, but I wanted to have a copy to remember a few things I spoke about him.  

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Grandpa's internment services were like those out of the movies, I could not help but feel proud of grandpa and his life and honored to have known such a fine man. After the fireman's honor guard had stood guard over his body during his viewing and funeral services, they had one of the last trucks he had purchased as Chief waiting to escort the hearse that carried his body to the cemetery. Firemen truly honor their own.

A few fire vehicles blocked traffic for a funeral procession (even though ironically a cement truck got in between us- grandpa was also a cementer.), and then had an X made out of firetruck ladders which we crossed under as firemen stood watch. Amazing reverence, I tell you what. 

 The honor guard stood watch and a bagpiper played as the pallbearers brought grandpa's casket to it's final resting place.

 

Then, a final call for Chief Brown was broadcast on the state 2-way radio. It was emotional to say the least. After the dedication of the grave was done, the American Legion did a three shot salute for Grandpa and presented the American flag to grandma in grandpa's honor.

 

The playing of Taps was included. I'm certain not a dry eye was in attendance.  It was a wonderful service, and it made me so proud to be grandpa's granddaughter. I know grandma was so proud of him and felt such honor from all the special tributes, and such peace from her family that surrounded her. I love grandpa, he was good to me. I will miss him.

Stanley Gerald Brown- Funeral Talk- January 4^th, 2010 

Today I'm honored to come as you do, to celebrate the life of Stanley Gerald Brown, my grandpa, and to reminisce a little and describe some of the life lessons he taught me, and many of you along his journey. 

One of the earliest memories I can recall with grandpa came on a rainy day at Grandma and Grandpa house. I was being snotty with grandma and arguing about going outside to play. Grandpa walked into the kitchen just as I was in the middle of exercising my stubbornness and determination, which are Brown traits I'm certain I inherited from grandpa. According to grandma, my clothing was not suitable for weather conditions but I did not care. My stubbornness won out in my fight with Grandma and I marched down the steps and out the side door into the rain. Grandpa followed after me and provided me the first of many lessons he would teach me through the years.

He bent down, looked me in the eye and said in a gruff tone complete with pointed finger, “you don't talk to your grandmother that way. Now come inside before you catch a cold”. Of course I waited until I was good and soaked and it eventually became my idea to go inside, mostly because Grandpa had scared me silly, but he set me straight, and I don't think I was ever snotty with grandma again, that's for sure.

Be extremely honest in every thing you do- was grandpa's motto. As a young child grandpa learned a hard lesson in honesty from his mother. He had stolen a quarter from her and she knew. She questioned him about it and he lied. He told me that that day his mother took a leather razor strap to his backside and that it produced a fire of honesty in him from that day forward. For Grandpa's 80th birthday I interviewed he and grandma's good friend Joyce Hadfield, who said that Stan was as honest as the day was long, and I believe it. In his work, service or family obligations her never wavered in speaking truth. I asked him once what had changed the most in his 80 years, and I expected him to say something about the amount of fish in the waters, the shrinking sizes of buck, or the change in automobiles through the years, boy was I wrong. His reply was “Provo City, especially the administration. Some people are good, some are bad. I'm honest, if I don't like them, I let them know”. I believe grandpa became more respected because of his honesty, even through his work in politics.

Hard work was another lesson I learned from grandpa. Because I arrived in his retirement years his hard work was most evident in his love for tending to his garden, both vegetables and flowers. Not a year went by when he didn't have a beautiful, productive garden to feed the tummy and spirit of whomever made their way down to his back lot with an empty sack. He could load anybody up with produce. Believe me when I tell you that there was never a weed to be seen, or a plant or furrow out of place. A few years back as the weeds in my garden were near 3 feet high, I asked him how his garden was so weed free and he said “if it's big enough to hoe it, I hoe it, like this one here, see it”, and in a flash that weed was gone and I kid you not, it was probably only a 16^th of an inch high, if that!

This last summer as grandpa's health was failing him, others planted the garden and got a few honest words of advice from him after the tomatoes were planted too close together and the furrows were crooked. He worked perfection as a green thumb, even to the point of making notches in his hoe that determined how close to plant different vegetables. Grandpa always had a prized pumpkin waiting in his patch for every grandchild, or great grandchild to enjoy each Halloween. This was a special treat and I remember picking mine out and watching it grow each Sunday I would visit as a child. 

Grandpa's love of vegetables and hard work started early. Before High School when his sister Mary sent him out to find a job, he searched every business on down center street and was denied until he came to the IGA grocery store where he was hired for $9 a week to take care of produce, wait on customers and as he said it to “deliver grocery's to the homes of the rich ladies on Center St. who would tip him a nickle or quarter each time, and that was good money at the time”.

My brother Jeff mentioned that “grandpa was a Man's Man” and he was. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, working hard, playing even harder and having a little money in the bank to support his family financially. I recently asked him why his marriage was so successful and a key element he mentioned was that he and Lois never missed a payday. How's that for tried and true marital advice that we could all wish to follow?

One thing I always admired in grandpa was what a great citizen he was. He always honored his right to vote and be an influence for good in local, state and national politics. He educated himself about issues and debates that were important to his moral compass and to his quality of life in Provo City. It was important to him to be one of the first to the voting polls on any election day and grandma tells me that he would wake up almost a half an hour early just to be voter number 1 through 6. He was actively engaged in making a difference any way he could. Recently during the last Presidential Election, I loved having discussions with him about the candidates, especially Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama. He would get so fired up and I loved to see that in him.

(Didn't talk about this, as it was spoken of during his life sketch) Grandpa was a a great leader and serviceman who spent his life in service to his country and community. He served for two years in the Navy During WWII. He served as President of the 20/30 club for two years, and also as District Governor for Utah, Idaho and New Mexico. He was President of the Utah State Fire Chiefs Association for 2 years and also a lifetime member of that and the National Associations of Fire Chiefs. He served as President of the Utah State Fireman's Association and was a lifetime member. He was Fire Chief for 13 years and at the beginning of his assignment, had 35 people under him and by his retirement after 34 years, he had 60 people to lead. He was active in the Lions Club, President on two occasions and District Governor of Utah and Idaho. He took over as President of the Provo Police and Fire Credit Union until he retired. He served on the Provo City Council for one two year term and 2 four year terms, helping to create lasting changes for Provo City. He served as Chairman of the council twice during his last four years, and once during the other times.

Grandpa was devoted to family. He loved deeply. I believe growing up without his parents gave him a sweeter perspective on the importance of loved ones in his life. He told me he first knew he wanted to marry grandma after their first date together. He took her out to the State Fair and even though Lois had to be home early, they just couldn't separate from one another. So at 1:00 am they left for home but nearly ran out of gas at the point of the mountain. They were able to gather all the gas left in the pump hoses at every gas station until home, eventually making it at 4 am. Stan's sister Mary- who he lived with at the time, couldn't quite see why Stanley would keep a lady out til 4 a.m! Grandma and Grandpa's love for each other was such an example through the years. Even through their sorrows of losing two children, they experienced great joy. They loved, celebrated and cherished one another. 

There is so much I could say about grandpa, so this was a daunting task, but I'm grateful for the opportunity. Since grandpa couldn't stand long meetings I will close by saying that he was a great man and I will miss him though I know he is in a better place. What a sweet reunion it must have been to see his mother and father after all this time, to be with all his siblings and Sam and Kate once again. Thank you.