Larry Funeral Graveside Service
Description
Larry Funeral Graveside Service
Transcript
...such as princess pageants, animal shows, county fairs, and the 4-H events, and a volunteer for Little League umpire. He served several years as the chairman of the board of directors of Southern Utah Federal Credit Union. He loved people and was a great influence in the Southern Utah community. As a part of our lab, a member of the Color Country Chorus for more than 10 years, he loved to entertain and was often called on as the emcee of the annual Barbershop Show, showing off his great sense of humor and his trademark smiles with dimples.
Above all, he loved his family. He was always there to support and guide his family. He encouraged learning and the love of sports and the arts. Even when he was disabled and wheelchair-bound, he was a great father and grandfather. The courage and cheerfulness he displayed during his three-year battle with cancer was an inspiration to many.
He is survived by his wife Pam of 30 years; daughters Tamara, her husband Tad Raven, and April, her husband Jason, and a granddaughter, Gracie Jewell Hinn, and son Skyler Jewell; sister Marion, her husband John Nichols of Gilbert, Arizona; his brother Marv and Donna Hatch Jewell of Salt Lake City, and his children and brothers and sisters that all survived with him. Preceded in death by his parents Argyle E. and Grace Wilcox Jewell, his twin brothers Ray and Roy Jewell.
Brothers and sisters, it's a privilege for me to be here today. Argyle and Grace used to live—my mom and Donna lived—we were neighbors to them for several years. We appreciate the affection and love that they shared in the neighborhood with us. And Larry has visited many times in our ward during the years, coming to Salt Lake to visit his parents and family members. We got to know Larry very well as family members.
We will continue these services at this time with a musical selection by Skyler Jewell and Marv Jewell who accompanied him on the mandolin, Beautiful Savior, and then we have a few remarks by Brother Marv Jewell.
Musical Number [Skyler and Marv Jewell]:
The sunshine, the moonlight, and all the stars in the sky,
The sun is brighter, the moon is brighter, in the old world.
The Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man,
Thee will I honor, and with glory give praise and glory evermore,
Give praise and glory evermore.
Brother Marvin Jewell:
Pam asked me to give a little talk here today and I'd like to kind of review what has happened in the last three days with Larry and our family.
Larry passed away at 6:45 on Friday morning and we had phone calls back and forth and we knew that he didn't have long left. We went down and seen him. He had a beautiful viewing on Sunday evening. It started at about six o'clock and it was a constant stream of—I think half of St. George came to see Larry, and I think it was about 8:30, 20 minutes to 9 before the line finally subsided. We appreciated all the friends down there in St. George that loved Pam and Larry.
The funeral went very nice. We had President Hinton speak. He worked with Larry in the bishopric and also as he was the stake president down there, and he was able to tell the story in the religious side of Larry and his faithfulness and his devotion to the gospel and the love that he had of the community. It was a beautiful, beautiful service down there.
And then Skyler and I did this same number that we just did a few moments ago. It was very special to me, Skyler, to do this. And then I had the opportunity to speak for a few minutes down there and I kind of put his life in like a ball game, like nine innings. He started out, by the way, like Bishop Bartlett said, he started in this world just about three blocks down the road here at the old Cottonwood Maternity Hospital. It's now a care center. He grew up in about, I think it was second or third grade over on 39th South and 5th East, which is just a few miles to the north. And his last few years was up here on 57th South and Highland Drive by the Oakwood School. So within just a couple of miles of where we're at right now is where Larry grew up.
And Pam grew up over here on about 10th East, wasn't it? And 39th South. They never knew each other over there. It was when they were in college that they met each other in a communications class, I believe. Larry was working at the radio station at that time. This is where he finally found his niche in life, his love of sports and his love of broadcasting those sports.
He was a good ball player. He played in a lot of games and he started out, I think he played in the first game that was played over here in Ken Price Park, just around the corner over here. That was his favorite ball diamond. So it's kind of appropriate that he should be laid to rest not far from the ball diamond that he always loved to play in.
I just kind of took him through his life. I think some of the cousins remember when he was about five years old when he wanted to walk up and see his sister up at ZCMI about 11 o'clock in the morning and they didn't find him until about six o'clock that night. We had all of the posses, the sheriffs, everybody in this whole county looking for him. Finally some woman had written down his description as he was leaving her work and recognized these two little kids. He didn't go alone; he always had a girl with him. He was five years old, the neighbor girl was four, and they were walking up to see their sister up at ZCMI. We retraced their steps and we figured he'd crossed State Street about four different times on his way up there. But he was holding her hand and walking. Finally this woman stopped the bus, stopped the other bus going the other direction, they dropped him off at the police station up on 1st South State Street. That was I think the first time he ever had his picture in the paper, hiding underneath the desk there. And his name on the radio.
So it was kind of a fun time. And then as Larry grew up he played Little League Ball and mom and dad, they were right here. They got involved with the Babe Ruth League Larry was playing in. I'm not going to go through all of it but he became very efficient and he had a photographic memory. I was thinking when his memory started to go when this brain tumor hit him, it was just like taking the paint and the brushes away from an artist. That was his first symptom: he was calling a ball game and he couldn't remember simple things that were automatic to him. And this was when Pam and him first became aware that there was a problem. And that's the rest of the story there. I won't go through all of his life but there is a poem that I'd like to read about Larry. And this could fit any one of us. But let me read it. Author Unknown, so we're not doing any plagiarism here:
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. > He referred to the dates on his tombstone from the beginning to the end. > He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke the following date with tears. > But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years. > And that's put 1947-2003. > For that dash represents all the time that he spent alive on earth, > And now only those who love him know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash. > What matters is how we live and love and how we spend the dash. > So think about this long and hard. Are there things you'd like to change? > For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged. > If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real, > And always try to understand how other people feel. > And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more, > And love the people in our lives like we've never loved before. > If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, > Remembering that this special dash might only last a while. > So when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash, > Would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?
Well, the lights have been turned out on the old park. The broadcast booth is dark. You know, in baseball, they don't just judge by one game. It's usually a series. And there's going to be a game tomorrow when the lights come back on again. This is just the second game for Larry. The first game was before he came on this earth. But now he's gone to the third game of the series. Take care now, you hear me? That was his final game.
I have another special song that I'd like to play and I want my boy Bob to read the words to Beyond the Sunset, if you will.
Musical Reading [Bob Jewell]:
Beyond the sunset, O blissful morning, when with our Savior heaven has begun.
Earth's toiling ended, O glorious dawning, beyond the sunset, when day is done.
Beyond the sunset, no clouds will gather, no storms will threaten, no fears annoy.
O day of gladness, O day unending, beyond the sunset, eternal joy.
Beyond the sunset, a hand will guide me, to God, the Father, whom I adore.
His glorious presence, His words of welcome, will be my portion on that fair shore.
Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion, with our dear loved ones who have gone before.
In that fair homeland we'll know no parting, beyond the sunset, forevermore.
Tad Raven [Son-in-Law]:
Pam asked that you kids come out and say a little final goodnight to your dad, if you'd like to do that. Pam wanted us to get up and give one of our fond memories of Larry, and it's so hard to pick just one. Larry was a wonderful man and a father. He loved his family more than anything in his life. He welcomed Jason and I in with open arms and took care of us, made sure that we were always happy, smiling, and laughing.
I guess I could sum it up by when I went to ask Larry for Tammy's hand in marriage, he sat me down and we had a little chat, and he made sure that, one, I would always stay true to Tammy; two, that I would always take care of her and be able to provide for her; and then what was most important to Larry was church. He asked me what calling I had and what my plans for the future were. He wanted to know if I would take care of his daughter as he had done. Larry was just an extremely wonderful man and a father, and that's how I want to remember him.
Jason Hinn [Son-in-Law]:
When Larry welcomed me to the family, it took a little bit longer, and I don't have enough time to go into that. It took about four hours. We started at midnight when I went over to ask for April's hand, and I remember he was watching a baseball game and rocking in his chair. Actually, I was rocking. He was just in a chair. He was sitting there watching the game, and I told him, I said, "Larry, there's something I need to ask you. There's something that's important I need to talk to you about." He kind of turned his head a little bit and said, "Yeah, go ahead. I'm watching the game. Go ahead." I said, "I really love your daughter." He says, "Yeah, I know. I know you do." I said, "No, I mean, I really love your daughter, and I want to marry her."
Anyway, after telling me that I couldn't buy a boat and I couldn't do the things of the world so much, he made the same kind of deal: that I needed to make sure that I always loved and respected her. The one thing that is the funniest and awesomest memory to me is as we were sitting there, he was eating ice cream as he normally does, and he was just enjoying the ice cream. I said, "Larry, I want to marry your daughter," and he said, "Well, would you rather have a bowl of ice cream instead?" That's my fondest memory of Larry. We'll miss him, and we know he's in a better place, and he's finally serving that mission that he always talked about and was able to get out and get busy. That's my memory.
Family Member:
I'm supposed to tell about a car, too. I know everybody's getting tired, but Larry had this car that he drove off a lot with his father, and as he drove it off, he was a little kid. He was just excited and happy as ever. I wasn't there, but this was told to me by him. I could just imagine him sitting, and as he was driving, looking over and looking around and thinking he was pretty hot stuff.
Anyway, some time after Larry was diagnosed, the car had sat in his carport there for a while. As it sat there, a thought came to my mind, and the rest of the family thought, "You know what, let's try and restore this car a little bit and get it fixed up." So we brought it up to Salt Lake and fixed it, and Larry got released from the hospital for a few minutes. Pam came over, and Pam made sure to tell me that he's not allowed to drive. He's had his license taken away. That was really hard because Larry said, "Do you mind if I drive?" I said, "Well, maybe we'll take you for a ride a little bit later." He says, "Okay," but he kept pounding me all night.
Finally, we went for a little ride, and we got down the block, and he just looked at me. Pat and I were both there, and I knew he wanted to drive so bad, so I said, "Okay, we'll both just sit here, and if anything happens, you just let us know. Your wife's going to kill us, you know that." So we drove, and as he sat in that car, I'm sure that the thoughts of pulling it off the lot again—him looking across and thinking he was pretty neat stuff. We thought he was, as he sat with his hands on the wheel and just looked around like a little kid. Honestly, that's probably the fondest memory I have with Larry, and being able to share that time with him was awesome.
Tamara (Tammy) Raven [Daughter]:
If you want to... I've got my list over here. I don't really think it's fair. I mean, I spent my whole life with him. How can I choose just one? I can't even think of the one that I could consider my favorite, but I can't because I have so many.
I think some of the things that we remember most as young kids is he would do the basketball games for Dixie College, and he would do them in the old gym. I don't know if any of you ever went to the old gym, but there's not really any broadcast booths, but there's a weight room that has a brick wall, a half wall that you could look out over and have all his equipment set up on one of the tables in there. I just remember being able to go with him during the games, and we would play on the weight equipment, and then we'd come over and listen to him do the game, and then we'd play on the weight equipment some more. He would take us after the game, and we'd get to meet all the players, and they would always be so nice to us, and they were always so wonderful. I just remember what wonderful memories I have of going to the basketball and football games with my dad. Being so young and having him taking the time and letting us come with him to work, and having him love us so much and taking the time.
I know that as I was a teenager—and most kids hate their parents—I could never say that. I could never say I hated my parents. My dad would stay up. I'd get home from work at 11:30, 12 o'clock at night, and we'd stay up for another three or four hours just talking about whatever: the baseball game or what had been going on in my life or school. Dad was never too busy to take the time for us, and I'm really grateful for that.
April Hinn [Daughter]:
I think I have the same feelings as Tammy. It's just not fair to try and sum up our father in just one little memory, but one thing about him that is so important is his support for us. In everything that we did, we always knew that we were his number one priority.
When I was in high school, our softball team made it to the state playoffs, but he couldn't make it. I was so devastated. And then in the final game, I saw the old Chrysler pull into the parking lot. My dad with blankets to make sure all the gang was taken care of, and he had arranged with work and with all the other commitments of the weekend to make sure he got there for that one game. He would do the same for music, and he would always ride up and follow us to the state competitions in Salt Lake, just never get involved, make sure he had his distance, but he always made sure he was in our eyeshot so that we could look right out. I don't think I can remember a concert or a ballgame that I didn't have him right where I could see him.
And when I moved to Denver, he was the one that took the time for my big break away from Utah that I'd never done before. He stayed with me till I was ready. And as soon as he got home, he called me and told me that it was one of the hardest things he'd done, but now he felt like he had his third missionary. Even though I wasn't called with the church, I was able to go and do the same type of work, and that was so important to him, the church and spreading it.
Skyler Jewell [Son]:
It was one of my fondest experiences. It's not as happy as some of the others, but it just shows me how important his family and the gospel was to him. The day before I went into the MTC, I was able to spend the whole day with my dad as he was getting tested. And just to see his joy—he had to deal with all this stuff, he had to find out—but he didn't care at that point. This was just sidestepping. I was there, and that was the important part for him.
We got a call that night that said, "Don't let him drive. Find a way not to let him drive because he has swelling in his brain." When we drove up—I drove up to the MTC the next day, Mom drove home—I remember one of the things that he said to me. He said, "If you have any doubt of where you're supposed to be, you're at the right place right now. Don't worry about me. Don't worry about Mom. Because that doesn't matter. You're doing what the Lord wants." And then, when I flew out to New York, he said, "I'm going to fight so I can be here when you get back." I looked at him and said, "You bet. He'll be here."
From what I understand, after that, he said, "I'm going to tell people, I've got two years. I've got at least two years that I will be here. No matter what the doctors say, I'll be here for at least two years." And I was able to spend one full year after that with him, reminiscing. Any of you who have heard the Harry Potter books on tape, the man that reads those is amazing. But we put one of those on, and he just said, "Nope, nope, nope, I want you to read." So I was able to sit and read some of those books with him. Every now and then Mom would sit in, but it was mainly just me and Dad that would go through those books. And just those moments that I was able to share with him alone, so that he would know I loved him, and to know that he loved me. Those were some of the best moments.
Pamela Jewell [Wife]:
Larry was an incredible man. The most compassionate man that I ever knew. Probably I fell in love with him because we started dating and went to church together, and he would always choose a bench behind somebody that had a little kid. And invariably before the meeting was over, that kid was in his lap. And I said, "I could love this man."
He's taken such good care of me and my family. He has truly been a choice spirit on this earth. My goodness. I know he'll be with me whenever I need him. And to see him talking a mile a minute to his family over on the other side, he's probably checking up on every single person that he knew that's gone on before just to make sure they're doing okay. Because he didn't care about himself. He wanted to make sure everyone else was doing okay. And we loved him. And I'm sure our Heavenly Father is pleased that he's returning home. I'm so grateful.
Conducting Officer:
Brothers and sisters, we have certainly been blessed to be here today. Learn more of Larry's outstanding qualities as a loved one. We will complete the services with a grave dedication by Skyler. And at that conclusion, the Relief Society of the South Cottonwood Ward has prepared a luncheon for you. The stake center is at 1250 East 4800 South. So feel free to go over there and visit, spend time together as family and relatives. And the section here at the cemetery, you'll be able to complete the grave possibly within an hour and a half to two hours if you wish to return before you go home. Is that clear?
Skyler Jewell [Dedication of the Grave]:
"Our Father in Heaven, we come before you now to put our authority on the office of the priesthood to dedicate this grave of my loving father today. This family asks thee to keep it safe, to keep it holy, that it will last until the resurrection, that he will be able to rest in peace, accomplishing all that thou hast in store for him. That he will be able to remain a strength to all those that come and visit, and that this place will be a place where thy Holy Spirit can be felt always with great power. That those who come to visit will know the greatness of this man, that they will know what he stood for and the importance of the gospel. We pray that he will be able to continue doing the missionary work that he did in life, to share his love with those spirits that are in need, and allow him to continue to live a glorious life in the manner that he did. And this we do in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
Above all, he loved his family. He was always there to support and guide his family. He encouraged learning and the love of sports and the arts. Even when he was disabled and wheelchair-bound, he was a great father and grandfather. The courage and cheerfulness he displayed during his three-year battle with cancer was an inspiration to many.
He is survived by his wife Pam of 30 years; daughters Tamara, her husband Tad Raven, and April, her husband Jason, and a granddaughter, Gracie Jewell Hinn, and son Skyler Jewell; sister Marion, her husband John Nichols of Gilbert, Arizona; his brother Marv and Donna Hatch Jewell of Salt Lake City, and his children and brothers and sisters that all survived with him. Preceded in death by his parents Argyle E. and Grace Wilcox Jewell, his twin brothers Ray and Roy Jewell.
Brothers and sisters, it's a privilege for me to be here today. Argyle and Grace used to live—my mom and Donna lived—we were neighbors to them for several years. We appreciate the affection and love that they shared in the neighborhood with us. And Larry has visited many times in our ward during the years, coming to Salt Lake to visit his parents and family members. We got to know Larry very well as family members.
We will continue these services at this time with a musical selection by Skyler Jewell and Marv Jewell who accompanied him on the mandolin, Beautiful Savior, and then we have a few remarks by Brother Marv Jewell.
Musical Number [Skyler and Marv Jewell]:
The sunshine, the moonlight, and all the stars in the sky,
The sun is brighter, the moon is brighter, in the old world.
The Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man,
Thee will I honor, and with glory give praise and glory evermore,
Give praise and glory evermore.
Brother Marvin Jewell:
Pam asked me to give a little talk here today and I'd like to kind of review what has happened in the last three days with Larry and our family.
Larry passed away at 6:45 on Friday morning and we had phone calls back and forth and we knew that he didn't have long left. We went down and seen him. He had a beautiful viewing on Sunday evening. It started at about six o'clock and it was a constant stream of—I think half of St. George came to see Larry, and I think it was about 8:30, 20 minutes to 9 before the line finally subsided. We appreciated all the friends down there in St. George that loved Pam and Larry.
The funeral went very nice. We had President Hinton speak. He worked with Larry in the bishopric and also as he was the stake president down there, and he was able to tell the story in the religious side of Larry and his faithfulness and his devotion to the gospel and the love that he had of the community. It was a beautiful, beautiful service down there.
And then Skyler and I did this same number that we just did a few moments ago. It was very special to me, Skyler, to do this. And then I had the opportunity to speak for a few minutes down there and I kind of put his life in like a ball game, like nine innings. He started out, by the way, like Bishop Bartlett said, he started in this world just about three blocks down the road here at the old Cottonwood Maternity Hospital. It's now a care center. He grew up in about, I think it was second or third grade over on 39th South and 5th East, which is just a few miles to the north. And his last few years was up here on 57th South and Highland Drive by the Oakwood School. So within just a couple of miles of where we're at right now is where Larry grew up.
And Pam grew up over here on about 10th East, wasn't it? And 39th South. They never knew each other over there. It was when they were in college that they met each other in a communications class, I believe. Larry was working at the radio station at that time. This is where he finally found his niche in life, his love of sports and his love of broadcasting those sports.
He was a good ball player. He played in a lot of games and he started out, I think he played in the first game that was played over here in Ken Price Park, just around the corner over here. That was his favorite ball diamond. So it's kind of appropriate that he should be laid to rest not far from the ball diamond that he always loved to play in.
I just kind of took him through his life. I think some of the cousins remember when he was about five years old when he wanted to walk up and see his sister up at ZCMI about 11 o'clock in the morning and they didn't find him until about six o'clock that night. We had all of the posses, the sheriffs, everybody in this whole county looking for him. Finally some woman had written down his description as he was leaving her work and recognized these two little kids. He didn't go alone; he always had a girl with him. He was five years old, the neighbor girl was four, and they were walking up to see their sister up at ZCMI. We retraced their steps and we figured he'd crossed State Street about four different times on his way up there. But he was holding her hand and walking. Finally this woman stopped the bus, stopped the other bus going the other direction, they dropped him off at the police station up on 1st South State Street. That was I think the first time he ever had his picture in the paper, hiding underneath the desk there. And his name on the radio.
So it was kind of a fun time. And then as Larry grew up he played Little League Ball and mom and dad, they were right here. They got involved with the Babe Ruth League Larry was playing in. I'm not going to go through all of it but he became very efficient and he had a photographic memory. I was thinking when his memory started to go when this brain tumor hit him, it was just like taking the paint and the brushes away from an artist. That was his first symptom: he was calling a ball game and he couldn't remember simple things that were automatic to him. And this was when Pam and him first became aware that there was a problem. And that's the rest of the story there. I won't go through all of his life but there is a poem that I'd like to read about Larry. And this could fit any one of us. But let me read it. Author Unknown, so we're not doing any plagiarism here:
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. > He referred to the dates on his tombstone from the beginning to the end. > He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke the following date with tears. > But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years. > And that's put 1947-2003. > For that dash represents all the time that he spent alive on earth, > And now only those who love him know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash. > What matters is how we live and love and how we spend the dash. > So think about this long and hard. Are there things you'd like to change? > For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged. > If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real, > And always try to understand how other people feel. > And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more, > And love the people in our lives like we've never loved before. > If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, > Remembering that this special dash might only last a while. > So when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash, > Would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?
Well, the lights have been turned out on the old park. The broadcast booth is dark. You know, in baseball, they don't just judge by one game. It's usually a series. And there's going to be a game tomorrow when the lights come back on again. This is just the second game for Larry. The first game was before he came on this earth. But now he's gone to the third game of the series. Take care now, you hear me? That was his final game.
I have another special song that I'd like to play and I want my boy Bob to read the words to Beyond the Sunset, if you will.
Musical Reading [Bob Jewell]:
Beyond the sunset, O blissful morning, when with our Savior heaven has begun.
Earth's toiling ended, O glorious dawning, beyond the sunset, when day is done.
Beyond the sunset, no clouds will gather, no storms will threaten, no fears annoy.
O day of gladness, O day unending, beyond the sunset, eternal joy.
Beyond the sunset, a hand will guide me, to God, the Father, whom I adore.
His glorious presence, His words of welcome, will be my portion on that fair shore.
Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion, with our dear loved ones who have gone before.
In that fair homeland we'll know no parting, beyond the sunset, forevermore.
Tad Raven [Son-in-Law]:
Pam asked that you kids come out and say a little final goodnight to your dad, if you'd like to do that. Pam wanted us to get up and give one of our fond memories of Larry, and it's so hard to pick just one. Larry was a wonderful man and a father. He loved his family more than anything in his life. He welcomed Jason and I in with open arms and took care of us, made sure that we were always happy, smiling, and laughing.
I guess I could sum it up by when I went to ask Larry for Tammy's hand in marriage, he sat me down and we had a little chat, and he made sure that, one, I would always stay true to Tammy; two, that I would always take care of her and be able to provide for her; and then what was most important to Larry was church. He asked me what calling I had and what my plans for the future were. He wanted to know if I would take care of his daughter as he had done. Larry was just an extremely wonderful man and a father, and that's how I want to remember him.
Jason Hinn [Son-in-Law]:
When Larry welcomed me to the family, it took a little bit longer, and I don't have enough time to go into that. It took about four hours. We started at midnight when I went over to ask for April's hand, and I remember he was watching a baseball game and rocking in his chair. Actually, I was rocking. He was just in a chair. He was sitting there watching the game, and I told him, I said, "Larry, there's something I need to ask you. There's something that's important I need to talk to you about." He kind of turned his head a little bit and said, "Yeah, go ahead. I'm watching the game. Go ahead." I said, "I really love your daughter." He says, "Yeah, I know. I know you do." I said, "No, I mean, I really love your daughter, and I want to marry her."
Anyway, after telling me that I couldn't buy a boat and I couldn't do the things of the world so much, he made the same kind of deal: that I needed to make sure that I always loved and respected her. The one thing that is the funniest and awesomest memory to me is as we were sitting there, he was eating ice cream as he normally does, and he was just enjoying the ice cream. I said, "Larry, I want to marry your daughter," and he said, "Well, would you rather have a bowl of ice cream instead?" That's my fondest memory of Larry. We'll miss him, and we know he's in a better place, and he's finally serving that mission that he always talked about and was able to get out and get busy. That's my memory.
Family Member:
I'm supposed to tell about a car, too. I know everybody's getting tired, but Larry had this car that he drove off a lot with his father, and as he drove it off, he was a little kid. He was just excited and happy as ever. I wasn't there, but this was told to me by him. I could just imagine him sitting, and as he was driving, looking over and looking around and thinking he was pretty hot stuff.
Anyway, some time after Larry was diagnosed, the car had sat in his carport there for a while. As it sat there, a thought came to my mind, and the rest of the family thought, "You know what, let's try and restore this car a little bit and get it fixed up." So we brought it up to Salt Lake and fixed it, and Larry got released from the hospital for a few minutes. Pam came over, and Pam made sure to tell me that he's not allowed to drive. He's had his license taken away. That was really hard because Larry said, "Do you mind if I drive?" I said, "Well, maybe we'll take you for a ride a little bit later." He says, "Okay," but he kept pounding me all night.
Finally, we went for a little ride, and we got down the block, and he just looked at me. Pat and I were both there, and I knew he wanted to drive so bad, so I said, "Okay, we'll both just sit here, and if anything happens, you just let us know. Your wife's going to kill us, you know that." So we drove, and as he sat in that car, I'm sure that the thoughts of pulling it off the lot again—him looking across and thinking he was pretty neat stuff. We thought he was, as he sat with his hands on the wheel and just looked around like a little kid. Honestly, that's probably the fondest memory I have with Larry, and being able to share that time with him was awesome.
Tamara (Tammy) Raven [Daughter]:
If you want to... I've got my list over here. I don't really think it's fair. I mean, I spent my whole life with him. How can I choose just one? I can't even think of the one that I could consider my favorite, but I can't because I have so many.
I think some of the things that we remember most as young kids is he would do the basketball games for Dixie College, and he would do them in the old gym. I don't know if any of you ever went to the old gym, but there's not really any broadcast booths, but there's a weight room that has a brick wall, a half wall that you could look out over and have all his equipment set up on one of the tables in there. I just remember being able to go with him during the games, and we would play on the weight equipment, and then we'd come over and listen to him do the game, and then we'd play on the weight equipment some more. He would take us after the game, and we'd get to meet all the players, and they would always be so nice to us, and they were always so wonderful. I just remember what wonderful memories I have of going to the basketball and football games with my dad. Being so young and having him taking the time and letting us come with him to work, and having him love us so much and taking the time.
I know that as I was a teenager—and most kids hate their parents—I could never say that. I could never say I hated my parents. My dad would stay up. I'd get home from work at 11:30, 12 o'clock at night, and we'd stay up for another three or four hours just talking about whatever: the baseball game or what had been going on in my life or school. Dad was never too busy to take the time for us, and I'm really grateful for that.
April Hinn [Daughter]:
I think I have the same feelings as Tammy. It's just not fair to try and sum up our father in just one little memory, but one thing about him that is so important is his support for us. In everything that we did, we always knew that we were his number one priority.
When I was in high school, our softball team made it to the state playoffs, but he couldn't make it. I was so devastated. And then in the final game, I saw the old Chrysler pull into the parking lot. My dad with blankets to make sure all the gang was taken care of, and he had arranged with work and with all the other commitments of the weekend to make sure he got there for that one game. He would do the same for music, and he would always ride up and follow us to the state competitions in Salt Lake, just never get involved, make sure he had his distance, but he always made sure he was in our eyeshot so that we could look right out. I don't think I can remember a concert or a ballgame that I didn't have him right where I could see him.
And when I moved to Denver, he was the one that took the time for my big break away from Utah that I'd never done before. He stayed with me till I was ready. And as soon as he got home, he called me and told me that it was one of the hardest things he'd done, but now he felt like he had his third missionary. Even though I wasn't called with the church, I was able to go and do the same type of work, and that was so important to him, the church and spreading it.
Skyler Jewell [Son]:
It was one of my fondest experiences. It's not as happy as some of the others, but it just shows me how important his family and the gospel was to him. The day before I went into the MTC, I was able to spend the whole day with my dad as he was getting tested. And just to see his joy—he had to deal with all this stuff, he had to find out—but he didn't care at that point. This was just sidestepping. I was there, and that was the important part for him.
We got a call that night that said, "Don't let him drive. Find a way not to let him drive because he has swelling in his brain." When we drove up—I drove up to the MTC the next day, Mom drove home—I remember one of the things that he said to me. He said, "If you have any doubt of where you're supposed to be, you're at the right place right now. Don't worry about me. Don't worry about Mom. Because that doesn't matter. You're doing what the Lord wants." And then, when I flew out to New York, he said, "I'm going to fight so I can be here when you get back." I looked at him and said, "You bet. He'll be here."
From what I understand, after that, he said, "I'm going to tell people, I've got two years. I've got at least two years that I will be here. No matter what the doctors say, I'll be here for at least two years." And I was able to spend one full year after that with him, reminiscing. Any of you who have heard the Harry Potter books on tape, the man that reads those is amazing. But we put one of those on, and he just said, "Nope, nope, nope, I want you to read." So I was able to sit and read some of those books with him. Every now and then Mom would sit in, but it was mainly just me and Dad that would go through those books. And just those moments that I was able to share with him alone, so that he would know I loved him, and to know that he loved me. Those were some of the best moments.
Pamela Jewell [Wife]:
Larry was an incredible man. The most compassionate man that I ever knew. Probably I fell in love with him because we started dating and went to church together, and he would always choose a bench behind somebody that had a little kid. And invariably before the meeting was over, that kid was in his lap. And I said, "I could love this man."
He's taken such good care of me and my family. He has truly been a choice spirit on this earth. My goodness. I know he'll be with me whenever I need him. And to see him talking a mile a minute to his family over on the other side, he's probably checking up on every single person that he knew that's gone on before just to make sure they're doing okay. Because he didn't care about himself. He wanted to make sure everyone else was doing okay. And we loved him. And I'm sure our Heavenly Father is pleased that he's returning home. I'm so grateful.
Conducting Officer:
Brothers and sisters, we have certainly been blessed to be here today. Learn more of Larry's outstanding qualities as a loved one. We will complete the services with a grave dedication by Skyler. And at that conclusion, the Relief Society of the South Cottonwood Ward has prepared a luncheon for you. The stake center is at 1250 East 4800 South. So feel free to go over there and visit, spend time together as family and relatives. And the section here at the cemetery, you'll be able to complete the grave possibly within an hour and a half to two hours if you wish to return before you go home. Is that clear?
Skyler Jewell [Dedication of the Grave]:
"Our Father in Heaven, we come before you now to put our authority on the office of the priesthood to dedicate this grave of my loving father today. This family asks thee to keep it safe, to keep it holy, that it will last until the resurrection, that he will be able to rest in peace, accomplishing all that thou hast in store for him. That he will be able to remain a strength to all those that come and visit, and that this place will be a place where thy Holy Spirit can be felt always with great power. That those who come to visit will know the greatness of this man, that they will know what he stood for and the importance of the gospel. We pray that he will be able to continue doing the missionary work that he did in life, to share his love with those spirits that are in need, and allow him to continue to live a glorious life in the manner that he did. And this we do in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
114
views
0
downloads