Monday, December 20, 2010

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Glen William Hillyard (1923 - 2010)

Glen William Hillyard, also known as "Crow," died peacefully of natural causes in his home, surrounded by his family on Monday, Dec. 13, 2010. He was born on the homestead at the base of Crow Mountain, north of Smithfield, Utah, on Dec. 15, 1923. He died just two days shy of his 87th birthday.
Glen grew up north of Smithfield. He attended local schools and graduated from North Cache High where he excelled at basketball and was given the nickname "Crow" by his coach. He convinced Jackie Hansen to be his bride on Feb. 27, 1946. They were later sealed in the Logan LDS Temple. Together, they raised a family of five children, Dixie (Lee) Skabelund, of Centerville, John (Janet Willmore), of Smithfield, Sheri Andersen Murray (Glenn), of Smithfield, Leisa Christensen (Dale), of Smithfield, and Angela Heaps (Michael), of Smithfield. They have 18 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his younger sister, MarJean Anderson, of Newton.
During his working years, Glen touched the lives of many. He was employed by Del Monte Pack, U and I Amalgamate Sugar in Lewiston, local feed stores, Jack Parson Construction, Utah State University and the Cache County Road Maintenance Crew. He then retired to live his dream as a sportsman and full time farmer.
He was always known for his excellent horsemanship. In his younger years, Glen was a member of the Summit Saddlers Riding Club and participated in many rides in the mountains. Glen was an avid hunter and loved spending time on a horse in the hills hunting deer and elk. He was instrumental in promoting and participating in cutter races in Smithfield and, later, at Forrester Acres. He established Hillyard Stables and was known for his gray horses. Winken Tim was one of his most successful runners.
By his example Glen taught his whole family to love hard work and horsemanship. He loved dairy farming and continued to milk until he was in his 80s. Glen had a big heart and was always willing to help others. He had a great sense of humor, and made many lifelong friends.
Glen was preceded in death by his wife, Jacquelyn, his son-in-law, Brian Andersen, and his grandson, Cortney DeLoy Christensen.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 20, 2010, at noon at the yellow brick church in Smithfield, 179 N. 100 East. Friends may call at Nelson Funeral Home, 85 S. Main St., Smithfield, Sunday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and at the church on Monday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Smithfield City Cemetery.
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Today we buried my Grandpa, the last of my grandparents, and hopefully the last funeral I have to be closely involved in for quite some time.  I left work and home in a bit of a rush last Monday and was able to be with my Mom through the week. It's been a very long  and emotional week, & I'm glad I spent it with my family.  There are so many things to take care of and plan out, even when you know it's coming it's still a shock.  He passed on just 20 minutes after I arrived at his home.  I was very grateful to be there with my mom and aunts in that moment & all the ones that followed it.  I hope i didn't intrude.

My Uncle John arranged for a horse drawn hearse to carry him to the cemetery, and my cousin Eric rode behind it leading a horse who wore Grandpa's saddle.  There were a few fussy details to make that happen, but the results were amazing.  It was RIGHT.  Grandpa had a lot of anxiety about moving into the hereafter, and he never did get entirely comfortable with dieing.  Now that he's crossed that bridge & remembered all the things that were forgotten, I'm pretty sure he's happy with the way we celebrated his reunion with Grandma.

I'm so tired, and not very able to pull together details, so please forgive.  I've had a lot of emotional highs this week, some lows, and several overloads when I just had to sit and cry.

My kitties missed me.  Scott says he had to trick Yahzi into snuggling, eating, and doing any of his normal things.  He's my sensitive baby & he knew that not only wasn't I here, but I was sad.  Spazz & Sider don't place that much importance on the emotions of we humans.

While I was north I spent several nights at the Christensen Ranchette (Dale & Leisa's Home) they all love kritters as much as me, and always seem to have some sort of rescue animal in their care.  The rescues this week are a motley crew of kittens.  From different litters, and all adorable.  There's a pair of ginger/marmalade kittens that were born in the seat of a school bus and abandoned by their feral mother.  They have just as much joy in adventure and brave curiosity as you could ever imagine for a kitten.  Their companion is a tiny calico who's been named Horton (Leisa & her bunch are just as creative about naming animals as I am).  Horton was mauled by a dog in her first or second day of life and was brought to the house for nursing by the previously mentioned tough guy Eric (I love him tons and tease him mercilessly).  They fostered her in another family of kittens and she's proving to have quite a personality and possibly a few special needs.  Sambo, a pure black kitten (who's story I don't know) with an adorable attitude climbed onto my shoulder a few nights ago while I was unpacking my car and refused to climb down until he'd been sufficiently snuggled. All of these adorable babies are up for adoption, so if you know of anyone who needs a christmas present that will win the day let me know!  I'd adopt any of them myself if I wasn't already at maximum capacity. 3 cats and a very confused green bird is all we can handle.

I think I'm going to turn my brain off now and hope that I when I turn it back on I'll have more to work with.

Happy Holidays.
-m


Thursday, December 16, 2010

We'll meet again.

Been busy lately getting together details for Grandpa Glen's funeral.  I have to drive to Mom's to use internet, so please forgive the brief post.  We're sad but coping.  Love y'all, more later.
-m

Friday, December 10, 2010

My dentist is on vacation...or dead...or avoiding me....

I've called 4 times in the last week to make an appointment and I get their after hours answering service who usually hangs up on me within 20 seconds.  What did I do?  Am I a pariah?  I LOVE my dentist, he's quick, honest, and has fabulous eyes.  Even his billing people are amazing. THEY CAN'T BE GONE!

Guess I'm panicking.  I should just keep trying and perhaps stop by their office.  That's a more rational goal.

Judy & I've coerced and teased Scott into going back to Quartzsite this winter.  Yay!  It's going to be yet again delightful.  New Christy Minstrels concert, Cob Salad in Mesquite, jalapeno cheese curds, and sweet potato pancakes.  And that's mostly just the food!  There will be good people, unique sunsets, time to think, fireside conversations, and absolutely no expectations.

I've got a good portion of my holiday shopping done.  Instead of doing universal gifts this year I've done a bit more personal tailoring.  Hope that doesn't bite me!  Thank goodness most of my Brown family doesn't expect a present.  We set up a tradition a while ago to not do gifts, but to go out for a meal together during the year.  It's amazingly non stressful. As long as we can keep Lynn out of the hospital that is.  Of course we all spoil Mason.  It's just so much fun, I can't resist.  I may be a lack luster non participant aunt, but he's the only nephew I've got and I intend to do what I can.

There's a bunch more going on, but most of the details aren't mine to share.  I'll catch y'all up on it when it's public knowledge.

Happy Solstice, hope we all find peace, hope, prosperity, and just a touch of self indulgence this season.
-m

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Good Golly

I am SO tired.  Can't even string thoughts together.

Yesterday we had some amazing FOG.  Scott & I went to sears for new pillows.  Blah, blah,. blah...our life is pretty boring.

Thank You Kindly!!!!!
Boring ain't at all bad.

Still haven't found a way to boot the roomy.  I suck.

Pretty much everyone is better than me.
-m