Our 10-year death-a-versary honoring my dad went great. I still can’t believe we have been without him for 10 years! We had a good turnout (41 people)– and Paula Carlson joined in as well. Liz and Al, Angela and Guy....Gary had all his family there. Adam and Christine had many of theirs in attendance–As did I. (We were only missing Aaron and Kass, Rachel and Casey, Addison and Bre’s family– they are in California for a fun Disneyland weekend, and Laila and Markus- California.)
We had it at the pavilion behind Gary’s church. The weather was perfect! We gathered and I had a board that I wanted everyone to write one word to describe Lyle–
We did this while we all put tattoos of Dad’s face on our arms. Dad would have hated the tattoo part. Most of us wore blue- his favorite color…and Nelson had his little 5-month-old Lily in a BYU cheer outfit.
We brought pics of Dad and some books and artifacts to look at. Al and Liz were in charge of the wiffle ball game- since baseball was one of his favorite sports– and it’s what dad would do every time we got together. We got a big group picture and sang “Once I Went in Swimming” at the top of our lungs. We ate chocolate chip cookies- his favorite and Dad would always sneeze after he ate one.
We ate Mexican food– dad loved Mexican food as long as it’s not spicy–and he loved trying to speak Spanish very loudly. He was really cute about it. At one point, he put Spanish words up all over his house- like on the table was the word “mesa” and on the bathroom door as ‘bano'. He really tried.
Then we all sat around and shared memories of Dad-/Grandpa Lyle. We laughed a lot.
Some things included;
Shoes on for a natural disaster
Wave hello to everyone
Breathe out bad Utah air, breathe in good Idaho air
Loved to Yodel
Favorite scripture Matthew 23:11: "He who is the greatest among you let him be your servant. " He usually said this while serving us in some way.
“You can pick your nose and you can pick your friends, but don’t pick grandma‘s flowers”
Chinese Checkers— “kachoonka”
Stealing watermelons
Look in a pregnant woman’s eyes to see when she’s ready "to calve ."
Thin pancakes for breakfast. Singing every morning.
Dad threw a pitcher of water in Marcie’s face when she was complaining about setting the table-- she was 9.
12 people were named after my dad in some way…All my boys with Cole as their middle name, Jordan Cole Call, Nelson Call, Preston Brown, Cole Fulton ( Jenny Poulter’s son) Great grandsons- Alfie Lyle and Silas Lyle and Great granddaugher Elsie ( L.C.) And a boy from dad’s ward- Cole Kasteller.
I played a video of Dad singing with Mom and yodeling. Then we played a guessing game all about dad with prizes being Snickers bars….his favorite! I’m really happy how it all turned out and I love my family for being so willing to participate.
Name places Lyle lived:
Fairview, Idaho ( born)
Moscow, Idaho ( University of Idaho)
MILITARY: Fort Ord, California and Camp Chaffee Arkansas, for cook school, Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Camp Gordon, Georgia
Provo- BYU
Southern States mission ( Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina)
Bountiful
Name Lyle’s favorite desserts/ treats:
Chocolate chip cookies
Cherry Pie
Apple Fritter
Candy corn
Snickers
Name Lyle’s major/minor in College:
Agriculture Economics with a minor in business
Lyle’s favorite sports:
Baseball/softball (New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers- when growing up only teams on the radio)
#1 in Boxing ( 135 lb)
Lyle’s school nickname:
Coke
Freshman class president
Senior Class president
While on the farm, what did Dad long to be when he grew up?
Beer truck driver - air conditioning
His dad said,” If I had my choice between the dairy cows (he milked 14-120 every day of his life)and the Utah State prison, I would probably choose the prison becaue you would have more freedom.”
Jobs Dad had:
Farm- milking cows
“Hashing’ at the University of Idaho– set up tables, pulled chairs out for girls and served two meals a day - waiter- white glove style
Road construction with Sorenson brothers
Car detailer at Oldsmobile place in Provo
ZCMI department store
Cole Esquire in Bounitful
Real Estate
Entrepreneur businesses—
Surveyor for the county
Name Lyle’s siblings
Jay T.
Gerry
Phyllis
Roma
½ with mom: Thelma
Dean
½ with dad
Joseph Edwin
Ethel
Vernon
Myron
Earl
Lowell
Lyle’s top TV shows after age 65:
Matlock
Heartland
ANY sport
Livestock shows
Tractor and trailer
Lyle’s hobbies:
Gardening
Golfing
Fishing
Horses
Nicknames he gave his children:
Marcie- Sarcie Ann
Melinda - La
Adam - Dammit Adam
Liz - "E" , Swish
Angela - Anjalouie
Dad’s go to songs he would sing:
Pretty little girl in blue - yodel
Once I went a swimming
God gave the wise men their wisdom ( played recording)
Going home - funeral song
I wear a chain - Ghost of Marley
Cool, Clear Water-- when one of us needed to go to the bathroom and pee
Name the countries Dad has been in:
US
Scotland
Ireland
England
Mexico
Canada
We had a really good, loving, kind father. I loved feeling my dad so close to me as I prepared for this day. I went through his writings and journals and photos and felt him near. I believe angels attend us. ANd what better angels to have around then my parents and other relatives who have gone before?
Pres. Holland spoke about angels. He famously taught, “Don’t underestimate your family on the other side of the veil.” Loved ones in the spirit world are helping and assisting those of us on Earth. He emphasized that family members who have passed away are still active and involved in our lives. He taught about the importance of believing in and recognizing the “ministering of angels,” which includes spiritual beings who act as “angels in our lives", providing divine help and care. Pres. John Taylor taught that “God lives, and his eyes are over us, and his angels are round and about us, and they are more interested in us than we are in ourselves, ten thousand times, but we do not know it.” I remember my mom calling on her angels when one of us was in crisis or needed help. She believed that angels are present and active in our lives and so do I. I often call on my angels to help my loved ones.
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