My dad's older brother Lincoln had been battling cancer for about 3 years. This summer things got very bad and then on Sept 26 he lost the battle. It was difficult because he was still quite young, just 63.
Link was raised in St. Johns and had lived there until 1989 so the funeral was held there, in the St. Johns Downtown Chapel. My chapel that I grew up in, as well as the chapel he had grown up in years before. While sitting there during the funeral I realized this was the 1st family members funeral I had attended since I was an 8 year old girl.
There in that same building I attend my 3 great Grandparents funerals in the short time frame of about 3 or 4 months. Living so far away it is difficult to rush away on short notice for a funeral but I could not miss Uncle Link's!
When I was 8, after my Great Grandparents passed, we moved into their house. Just across the street was Uncle Link and Aunt Linda. They are a primary fixture in my childhood memories. Precious memories were created with them and their family and it was very important to me to go home and see Linda and all of the family.
So Luke and I jumped in the van and headed to AZ, just the 2 of us. He was such a good boy. I was going to leave him home with a babysitter but he really wanted to go with me. I told him it was going to be a long, long drive and he couldn't whine and complain if he went. And he didn't! We were just about 5 miles to St. Johns, an 825 mile drive, when he said his first "Our we almost there yet. " What a wonderful little boy he is. In fact, he had even been without a DVD player since the Hoover DAM, about 5 /2 hours, when he had gotten sick driving down the winding road the thrown up on it and thereby ruined it.
Mom and my sisters planned a wonderful get together the night before the funeral for all of the town friends and family to come and have a chance to visit with Linda and her children. It was difficult for them since there were so many things they were doing for the funeral, but it turned out to be a great way for them to all relax and enjoy all of the friends and family who have missed them since they moved away.
The dinner was a Navajo Taco Dinner with fresh fry bread. It was wonderful!
Karson and Melody cooking up the bread.
Everyone was so great to pitch in and help. Here is my Sister Rashelle with her husband Travis, daughter Melody and her Mother in Law Rochelle.
They had a great assembly line going.
Matt's wife Shelia, a neighbor, Teaerra, Rashelle, and Claryce were amazing.
It was a sad reason to get together but such a wonderful time. There are my Phalen cousins. My dad's sister Cathy's boys. Jeff, Brant and Brock. I don't know how many years it has been since I have seen them all together. Probably since we were kids.
I made an irreverent comment that night that Uncle Lincoln had to die for us to have a family reunion because that is the only was we could get he and Matt there!
Donatta, Jeff, Me, Cathy, Brant, Brock, and Aaron.
Rashelle got together all of the little girls and had them sing "The Dance" by Garth Brooks. It was very touching to everyone.
Melissa, Brock, Brant, Aaron
I think this may be the ONLY photo op ever of the Gleason Sherwood Family cousins. We were all there except for Shurell. Vern said he would leave a spot open so we could Photoshop her in though.
Back Row: Mark, Brock, Brant, Jeff, Aaron, Matt, Chase, Vern
Front: Rashelle, Melissa, Shawna, Claryce, Brooke, and missing is Shurell
Matt's wife Shelia with 2 of her children and Claryce.
Luke found someones scooter and enjoyed himself on it most of the night.
The Cemetery.
It was a nice clear September day, even a little hot.
The casket and flowers were so nice. It was a very nice grave side service. The boys even branded Link's brand onto the casket.
There were so many gorgous flower, both there and at the church. Aunt Linda sent us all home with some, there were just so many.
LaKay Grant, Aunt Linda and Shurell.
Brooke and Aunt Cathy. With Luke walking on the wall.
Lincoln Sherwood. A wonderful well loved man who will be missed.
Leaders: Michelle Capps and Caroll Merrill
