The Floyd Family: Dad's Funeral: June 2013

If you had told me 20 years ago when I married Dan that his father would live to see our 20th Anniversary I would never have believed you. He has endured great suffering for so many years, and we have prayed on a regular basis that he could return home and not have to suffer any longer. We would try to visit him regularly... but that became far easier when Dan and his older brother Travis were given power of attorney over their father and had him moved to Utah. His final year or so was spent in the nicest assisted living facility that I have ever been in, Stonehenge in American Fork. He was loved and cared for by some really wonderful people and for that we are forever grateful.

When we received the call on Friday morning that he was "going" and that we should come, we changed all of our plans that day and headed over. He never gained consiousness while we were there, but we know he was aware and could feel us. As often happens, the Lord provided many tender mercies that day, including Rustin and Emily and their family being in town from Texas... although they were attending the unexpected funeral of her uncle that morning... and it just happened to also be their anniversary!... at least they were there and he could come make peace with his dad before he passed. Dan's younger sister Aimee jumped on the first flight from Seattle and arrived minutes after he had passed away... but he knew she was coming.

Another tender mercy... we ended up with enough money from his prepaid account in Montana that could be transferred to the funeral home in Roosevelt, in addition to the money that had just been deposited into his account for the month, to the unexpected check that "literally arrived" while we were discussing what arrangements needed to be made in the hallway outside of his room.... that we had a balance of about $15.00 when all was said and done. Manna from Heaven.

I am convinced that there is no better place to be from or be buried than a small town. Dan's father passed at about 4:30 Friday afternoon, and after calling the funeral home in Roosevelt and the city office in Duchesne we were able to pull everything together for a service at 10:00 am on Monday morning. The funeral home didn't require a pre-payment... they told us no problem they would head right out to pick him up and we could meet with them Saturday to make all the arrangements. Dan's uncle donated us a plot in the Duchesne cemetery and we were good to go.

We decided to leave for Duchesne first thing Saturday morning and pulled our trailer out with us so we wouldn't have to worry about where to stay with all of the family coming too.

Here are the double cousins... Courtney, Logan, Austin, and McKenna in grandmas back screened in porch...

The morning of the funeral Marv, Cheri, and Jonathan drove down from Montana and were a part of the services. They have done more than anyone else over the years to provide for Mike. They are saints in every sense of the word. In this picture: Marv, Jonathan, Dan, Rustin, Austin, Travis, Greg and Logan.

Rustin, Emily, Levi, and

Two of my favorite people... Parker and Westin... LOVE those boys!

We did an open casket... but turned it so only those who wanted to see him could have a moment to say their goodbyes. He built so much out of pine over the years... this was the perfect final resting place for his mortal body.

Dan officiated and dedicated the grave...

Travis and Angie spoke and told some of their favorite memories...

After the funeral we felt like the kids needed some fun so we headed to the Duchesne pool! Like I said... we were sad but this wasn't how you usually feel when someone passes away. We KNOW where he is, and we know he was ready to go a LONG time ago!!

In this picture: Courtney, Parker, Logan, Ellany, McKenna, Westin, and Austin...