Craft Weekend 2011

Every year during a long weekend, my girls like to get together...allegedly to do crafts. Thus, it has become known as 'Craft Weekend'. Sometimes 'craft' is loosely interpreted. The main craft event for this weekend involved cooking fancy things, coming up with cute decorations and having a party. We hoped to have our garden party outside, but the weather wasn't great, so we moved the garden indoors.








So what was the occasion for our party? Well, here is the guest of honor!









We took a few more pictures after the party, because actually, the guest of honor is part of a matched set:



As you see, we plan to increase the number of grandchildren we get to love. Perhaps you can guess the genders....



They are projected to be born about 7 weeks apart, so we expect to have a busy and exciting summer!

More of the same

I promise...I'll just post these last few pictures and comments and then I'll move on. The folks who handled Dad's funeral did an excellent job we thought. They wanted to print a program and also make a special picture to be displayed. They had lots of images and poems, etc. for us to choose from, but were most helpful when we asked if we could do something special. We tried our best to include family in what we did. I think Dad would be happy with the result.

First the special display picture:



This is a combination of things. My brother is an excellent artist. When I looked at some of the paintings on his website , I found a beautiful painting that I thought would make a great background. Happily, my brother agreed that we could use it. The poem is adapted from one written by Dad's father many years ago. We just substituted Dad's name into the poem.



Mom and Dad were married in the Logan Temple, so for the cover of the program we used another of my brother's paintings...one which hangs in their living room.



Then for the funeral program, we included many family members.



"Whispering Hope" has been Dad's favorite song for many years, so it was a treat for all of us to hear it done by another brother who has a beautiful singing voice.

We were offered the opportunity to display some items of memorabilia before the funeral.



Included were family pictures, a family tree, pictures of 2 cabins where he spent some leisure time, jewelry created from rocks that he had made, his chemistry books, information on the patents he held on various medications he helped to develop, a fishing picture from his trips to Alaska, a name tag from his time serving as a temple worker, military memorabilia and a cowrie shell necklace that he made for Mom while he was in the military on the island of Guam during World War II.




He was buried with military honors. Mom received the flag as well as the shell casings from the ceremony.

As a parting thought, the last few days of Dad's life were not easy. During those days, he received many visitors and expressions of love and caring. One morning as I sat with him, one of his grandchildren asked me to read a couple of verses of scripture to him. As I read to him, it gave us both comfort.

"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."

He did endure his life well. We look forward to being reunited with him someday.

Memorials - Verlin

These are a few of the tributes that were sent online. I thought if you hadn't seen them, you would enjoy seeing how some other folks saw Verlin.

May 11, 2011

Aunt Roma I'm real sorry for your loss .My prayers are with you and family

~

Jerry Myers,

Tacoma, Washington

|

May 10, 2011

Verlin you were one of my heroes. Roma you were part of my hero list also.
I worked with you in Indianapolis as a young missionary in 1954-55. You took us in and helped us with our missionary efforts as well as any one could have.
I returned six years later when we came to serve in the Military.
You took my wife and my children into your home when we came to serve in the United States Army at Ft. Benjamin Harrison.
You loved people and served with all your might, mind and soul. You had no ego you just lived the first and second commandments to the best of my observation.
You developed a drug while at Eli Lilly and it became a best seller. Your life never changed due to the increase of attention and etc.
We loved you and what you stood for. Character and integrity were the highest of standards.
Eternally grateful for touching my life for an important time and at the right time.
Elder G. Harlan Clark
Great Lakes Missionary--Indianapolis Nov. 1954-March 1955

Dear Roma and Family, We are sorry to read about Bishop Stephens passing. When Keith got orders for Ft. Benjamin Harrison in 1970, you took us in while we looked for a place to live. We came to love your family. You and Bishop Stephens were loving and kind and friendly to everyone in the Ward. We have very fond memories of that time in our life as we started our career in the U.S. Army. May the Lord's spirit be with you and your family to comfort and bless you during this time. We send our love.

Keith & Kay Gamble

May 11, 2011

Preston, ID Dear Roma Indianapolis Second Ward - 1968 Our first bishop Loved that man!!! Lost track of where you guys were. We live in Colorado. Since 1983 So sorry to hear about Verlin. More names from the past... Keith Gamble called to tell us about Verlin. John Kerr lives about two miles from us and I called him. We've stayed active thanks to the start we got from the wonderful Stephens family. I've even served as a bishop along with all the other callings. All is well on our end. Please accept our heartfelt condolences... Your names come up frequently as we talk about the old days. Thank you both for all that you did for us. Love Chuck & Bea Barton Chuck Barton May 10, 2011 Castle Rock, CO We are sorry for your loss, but grateful for his service in the U S Army. Please accept our condolences. Marine Corps League Auxiliary #476 Chaplain May 10, 2011 Cove, UT Dear Roma and family, We recall our association with you and your family when we lived in Indianapolis in the 1960's. We adopted two children there and then one more in Boulder, CO. Our eldest son, Howard who was born in 1966 - think you gave us your baby swing for him, died at the age of 41 of cancer. We are doing well, and have lived in Boulder for 41 years. May you be comforted at this difficult time. Sincerely, Arlene Arlene Hill May 10, 2011 Boulder, CO Dear Roma and Family - We express our condolences at Verlin's passing. What a good and devoted man! It was our blessing and pleasure to serve with you in the Layton North Stake. Verlin was so dependable, with good cheer and good counsel. Your kind and gentle nature was valued and appreciated. May the many memories you shared with this good and faithful man and as a family bring you peace until you are reunited. We are so blessed to know of the Plan of Salvation and that we will be with our loved ones again. We're sorry we cannot come in person, but are in Qingdao China with the BYU China Teachers Program. We'll be home in July. Loving Best Wishes - Judy and Winslow Hurst Judy & Winslow Hurst May 10, 2011 Qingdao, - Other - China

Clouds often have a silver lining

I don't know that clouds ALWAYS have a silver lining, but sometimes they do. In this case, it brought my entire family together for a few days to attend my father's funeral. It is always an occasion for a family picture when everyone can be there at once. So...here you see us...the old fogies in the middle, along with all 5 of our children, their spouses and the 12 grandchildren. We're pretty proud of them!

Verlin Clark Stephens

Verlin Clark Stephens

4 August 1923 - 8 May 2011




Verlin was just 4 years old when he had this picture taken. He had to have his tonsils out, so his parents had the picture taken in case he didn't make it through the surgery.





In 2nd grade, Verlin attended a rural Idaho school.






When World War II came along Verlin traveled many places during his time with the army. He ended up in Guam.






After the war, Verlin obtained his PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry. He spent his working years as a research chemist for a large company which developed and manufactured medicines. He held patents on several items...mostly antibiotics...that are responsible for helping many people regain their health...and maybe even save some lives.

After retirement, Verlin enjoyed being with family, gardening, lapidary work, fishing and serving in various church leadership positions.

It was my privilege to be with him pretty much the entire last week of his life and be at his bedside when he passed away.



Verlin's Obit:

Verlin Clark Stephens 1923 ~ 2011 LAYTON, UT -
Verlin Clark Stephens passed away on May 8, 2011.
He was born to Hyrum Grant and Myrtle Clark Stephens
on August 4, 1923. He grew up in southern Idaho and
northern Utah, and graduated from South Cache High
School. He served in the US Army during World War II.
In 1946, he married Roma Freeman and they were blessed
with five children. He received a BS from Utah State and
his PhD from the University of Kansas. He spent 33 years
working for Eli Lilly in Indiana as a pharmaceutical research
chemist, developing a variety of medications. In 1984, he
retired to Layton, UT where he spent the remainder of his
life. Verlin was a member of the LDS Church and served as
Branch President, District President, Bishop and high
counselor for many years. He was an ordinance worker
in the Ogden Temple for nine years. He also enjoyed
gardening and lapidary work. He is survived by his wife
of 64 years, Roma; children; Nancy (Roger) Lincoln,
Mark (Karen) Stephens, Karma (Douglas) Owen,
Eileen (Clark) Moss, Duane Stephens; 21 grandchildren
and 31 great grandchildren; brothers, Kenneth Stephens
and Jack Stephens. He was preceded in death by his
parents, two brothers, four sisters, and one grandson.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, May 11, 2011
at 11:00 a.m. at Oak Ridge Ward Chapel,
2250 East 2200 North, Layton, UT. Family and friends
may gather Tuesday evening from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at
Myers Mortuary, 250 North Fairfield Road and
Wednesday at the ward chapel from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
prior to services. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. at
Brigham City Cemetery, military honors will be accorded.
Condolences may be sent to the family at
www.myers-mortuary.com

Dad's Hands

I have had an opportunity the last couple of days, to spend considerable time looking at my father's hands. One constant in his illness is his desire to maintain contact by holding hands with whoever is near him. It has been a privilege to hold his hand.



This is a picture of one of the hands that helped to cradle me when I was a baby...
which held me to give me his blessing,
which taught me how to ride a bike
and to drive a car.

To spend time holding his hand now is a blessing to me....
A repayment for the many hours he worked to provide for me.

Harpist

My father has not been well lately. Although he was well enough last Saturday to attend the little reunion we had in the activity room of the facility where he is living, by Monday morning it was determined he is suffering from pneumonia and other things. He is not well enough to get out of bed right now so various care givers have joined to help us care for him. Today a harpist came to the door of his room to play for him. She told us she plays 'prescriptive' music depending on what he likes, his pulse rate, etc. She played for him for maybe half an hour. Sometimes she sang along in a rather soothing, Celtic manner.

Reunion 2011

April is an odd time to have a reunion I suppose, as most seem to be in the summer when children are out of school, but sometimes you just do it when you get a chance. In this case, my brother from Kansas and his son from Texas were coming to visit, so we decided to take the opportunity to get together while they were in town. We counted up the other day...my parents now have 5 children, 22 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. Obviously with a group that size, not everyone can make it, but it was fun to see those who could come. We got one group photo with everyone in it.



Our original plan was to have the gathering in my sister's yard which is beautiful and shady in summer. Unfortunately this has been a weird Spring. It actually snowed a bit at our house on this last day of April! Added to that, Dad has not been well lately. A few weeks ago he went to spend some time in a nursing home and then was able to move into an assisted living facility just the day before the reunion. We were reluctant to take him out into the cold, so were pleased to find that we could reserve the activity room of his home to meet in.


















There was even a special table for all the little girls who came. Once they got over being shy about meeting new cousins for the first time they had a great time together.



These two were having a great time taking a ride sitting on Great-grandma's walker.



The evening ended with news of an upcoming event scheduled for mid-August which pleased everyone.

Thanks to all who were able to come. We enjoyed getting to know you all better.