Richard

There is much I want to share, but I'll wait until I have more time to think and write. 

Charlene wrote this beautiful obituary for Richard.  

Richard Brian Anderson February 10, 1942 - November 27, 2017 

Richard Brian Anderson, age 75, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and teacher passed away on Monday, November 27, 2017 from complications of a stroke. Richard was born to Golden and Charlet Anderson in Green River, Wyoming on February 10, 1942. He lived in Green River until he was 2 years old when his family moved to Provo, Utah where he was raised and graduated from Provo High School and BrighamYoung University. Richard was married to Carol Anne Day from1963 to 1985. They had two daughters, Cheryl Hollinger and Jan Anderson, and remained life-long friends. He was married to Laraine Sharpton from 1996 to 2013. 

Richard moved to Salt Lake City after graduating from BYU where for over 30 years he taught English at both Skyline and Granger High School. Ten of the 30 years were spent teaching in the Home Instruction Program. He loved and was so proud of his chosen profession, and felt blessed to be able to enrich the lives of his students. 

During the years he was teaching he also obtained a Master’s Degree in Literature from the University of Utah. Richard loved to write poetry, histories, and short-stories. His writings were beautiful, soulful, honest, and inspiring. He had a few of his poems published for which he was very honored. He was a veracious reader, which is evident in his library of books. 

Fishing at Mirror Lake, hiking in his treasured red rocks of Southern Utah and the Wasatch Mountains, and traveling with his family were some of his greatest joys. He and his family traveled to Europe several years over summer breaks, primarily to England where they walked in the shadows of the great poets, playwrights and authors. 

Richard is survived by his beloved daughters, Cheryl Hollinger and Jan Anderson; his grandchildren, Kylee Edwards (Spencer) and Mason Hollinger; his great-granddaughter, Jordyn Edwards, his sisters, Annette Anderson Ashton (Gary) and Charlene Anderson Rynders (Greg); brother, TomAnderson (Lynn); and sister-in-law, Lynn Anderson (Gary). He was also loved by his many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother, Gary; and his parents, Golden and Charlet Anderson. 

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017, at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Chapel, 4760 S. State Street in Murray, Utah. Visitation with family will begin at 12:00 p.m. followed by a celebration of his life at 1:00 p.m. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com Events VISITATION 2 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Dec Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home - Murray 4760 S State Street, Murray, UT 84107 CELEBRATION OF LIFE 2 1:00 PM Dec Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home - Murray 4760 S State Street, Murray, UT 84107 

Richard

This was the view from the car on 

the way home from visiting Richard tonight,

It was comforting through my tears.

 

 

      My thoughts went to the poem written by Richard the summer of 1994 when we went as a family to the beach house (the year after dad died and the year before mom died).  It was very bittersweet at the time, and even more so today.  

Richard's thoughts as he watched Mom looking at a Sunset

The sun slowly sinks

Beyond the sea

Parting with the day

In radiant display

She’s done her job well:

Given light,

Held us all snug within

Her arms, kept us warm

And spared us endless night

Within the sojourn

Of her day

She chased away

The darkest shadows

Of our grievings

And our fears

And brightened

Children’s faces

In their laughter

And their play

How like us to notice most

When she’s about to go

But then, at her summit

All were busily engaged:

She the energy

Of our lives

We converting it

To work and play

She’d have it no other way

How ripe she now stands

Full of maturity and age

Poised on the horizon

Set to launch to other lands

Benediction of those beyond

Beatitude for waiting hands

Darkness for us then

But we’ll make it through

Sustained by resilience

Of her love and the truth

That she’s eclipsed only

For a while from view

But for this time

For now

Let us rejoice

In the fullness of her being:

Golden crown above the sea

Abiding Mother of mankind

How full of wonder

And woe

Her odyssey

How dazzling

In poignancy

And awe

Her departing

Curtsy

by Richard Anderson

      On Tuesday, I got the call that Richard had fallen and was being taken to the hospital.  It turns out it was more than a fall.   Once at the hospital, the doctors quickly confirmed to Cheryl and Charlene
that he had had a stroke and brain bleed.  They told us he would not be able to recover. 

      It has been so sad and heart wrenching.  I went up on Wednesday and spent the morning at the hospital.  They determined they could send him back to his place at Legacy and could have hospice care come there.  Charlene and his daughters, Cheryl and Jan, have been so good to him in all these transitions.  

     I went up this morning after the Bishops left (more about their visit and Thanksgiving later).  He has not been conscious since the stroke, but it was comforting to see him in his room, surrounded by the things he loves --  His Monet prints on the wall, the desk dad built, many pictures of his family.   He looks so much like Gary and Dad that it is haunting.  It is so comforting to know that they and Mom will be there to greet him.   

     I take comfort in Richard's words, even if I am having a difficult time processing that this is really happening.

"How ripe she he now stands

Full of maturity and age

Poised on the horizon

Set to launch to other lands

Benediction of those beyond

Beatitude for waiting hands"

Throwback Tuesday - 1965

 

Happiness

Caramel Pretzels,

Fudge, Pumpkin Rolls, mini apple pies . . .

Getting a head start on Thanksgiving.

Throwback Wednesday - 1964

At our Sunday dinner Sunday

we started the habit of telling 1 thing we learned in the last week. 

It was fun to actually hear from everyone.  It was our BYU YSA Stake Conference, and there were so many inspiring messages.

Let's see if I can remember the thought I shared. 

Do the right thing.
Do the hard right thing.
Do the ______
Do the right thing right now.

I'll have to look at my notes.  

Thankful for

all the good people in the world. 

As I attended my friend, Lynne's funeral, visited with friends, and attended our Stake Conference Saturday night meeting, I'm reminded of how grateful I am for people who share and give their love so freely.   

November Blessings: Friends

It was such an enjoyable night Wednesday, when 8 of us high school friends (and Amies Toujours club members) went up Snowbird for an overnight stay.  It was filled with fun and lots of eating and talking.

Here was the view at sunset.



Here is the view from our selfie.

Throwback Thursday -- 1963

I'm feeling

a loss tonight.  My friend, Lynne, passed away this evening.

Just a little over a month ago she was diagnosed with Leukemia.  She was immediately admitted to LDS Hospital and started treatment.  Early testing showed that her leukemia was slow moving and treatable, so we were all so optimistic.

She was supposed to come home earlier this week and continue chemo here in Provo, but she was having a lot of pain and so they didn't release her.  I talked with her on the phone on Tuesday, and she was still optimistic but sad she wasn't able to come home yet.   Then last night she took a turn for the worse, and she passed away tonight.

I've been her visiting teacher for about 10 years, and I always left our visits feeling nurtured and loved .  She took the responsibility of sending a weekly email with the notes from Sacrament Meeting and Relief Society and was a true believer in the importance of supporting and loving each other.

She always wrote notes of love, appreciation, and encouragement to everyone she knew.  And they were always personal and meaningful. I've tried to emulate her in that regard, but have failed miserably.  In her honor, I will do my best to follow her example.   

Throwback Thursday - 1962

You know,

as I get older I'm really realizing that life would be simpler if  I didn't put up, and and then have to take down, holiday decorations.   One of these days . . .