Redlands, California
116th operating temple
Dedicated: 14 Sept 2003
By: Gordon B. Hinckley
Book of Mormon
Mosiah 10:11-22
Come Follow Me
Mosiah 10:11-17
"My choices can influence generations"
April General Conference
"All Things for Our Good" by Elder Gerrit W. Gong
D&C 109:12
That thy glory may rest down upon thy people, and upon this thy house, which we now dedicate to thee, that it may be sanctified and consecrated to be holy, and that thy holy presence may be continually in this house;
I got up at 6:09 this morning. After prayer and scriptures and breakfast it was time to get ready to go to Aunt Gene's funeral.
The funeral isn't until 11 but the family viewing is at 10 and Rita invited us to be in with the family. We left the house at 9:20.
We met Vickie and Harold out in the hall and spoke with them. Then I saw Janna and Patsy, looking a little lost. I went over to talk to them to see if I could help. Patsy wanted to see Randy and Arlee so I took them in the family gathering room or the Relief Society room. We talked to Rita and then Rita took them to see Arlee and Gary.
They were happy and said they were going to go into the chapel and save a place for Pete and his wife Chris. When Pete came in looking for Patsy, I told him where she was.
Aunt Gene looked very peace lying in the pink lining of her casket. There was a beautiful pink bouquet on the other end. I'm guess that was her favorite color. Rita, Arlee and Gary stood in the front of the room.
These are some of the people I saw and recognized: Danny Seymore, David and Greg Butler, Eb and Ted Lewis, Gail & Gary Butler, Jani Huso, Alan Frost, Rick Goodman, Eddie Hall, Brian & Cher, Darlene Palmer, Pete & Chris Whipple, and Laurie Frost.
Rita's son Billy gave the family prayer before we all filed into the chapel.
Here is a copy of the funeral program:
Arlee, Rita, and Gary were the three speakers. The sister who was part of the couple performing the musical number is Jimmy and Jo Brookbank's daughter. I learned that thanks to Vickie. She has a beautiful voice and so does her husband.
I enjoyed her life history as given by Arlee. Aunt Gene was born in Eagar. She also lived in Winslow and Nutrioso before moving to Lakeside and then Show Low. Grandma and Grandpa Maxwell bought a hunting lodge near Nutrioso which they ran for awhile. Marlin and Imogene were too young to be of much help.
One summer they lived in an old cabin with no electricity and a dirt floor. She said that was the best summer she ever had.
In 1935 they moved to Lakeside. Buena Rose Fish was her first friend in Lakeside. They rode horses together among other things. One day they ditched school and were going to walk up the hill to the Springer Tower which is just left of the now existing Lakeside theater. They walked up backwards to throw off the truant officer, who just so happened to be Arlee Maxwell, Imogene's dad. He was on to them and I'm afraid they got caught.
The Maxwell's had the first flushing toilet in Lakeside and Aunt Gene held tours letting her friends come in and flush the toilet.
In 1941 Aunt Gene, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa Maxwell, moved to Show Low. They bought the Show Low cafe from Ina Peterson. Grandma did the cooking, dad washed dishes, Aunt Gene waited tables, and grandpa pumped gas. Aunt Gene and Dad had to walk from the Show Low cafe to Bill's Bar, which is a good distance, I would say at least two miles.
Imogene Maxwell married Clair Tenney on February 1, 1947. They bought and ran Clair & Gene's Cafe in downtown Show Low until they sold it and bought a ranch in Oregon. They didn't stay long in Oregon. They lost the ranch and came back to Arizona.
Clair and Gene had four children: Rita Claire who was born in Holbrook, Gary Gene who was born in McNary, Arlee Reid who was also born in McNary, and Randy Hank who was born in Oregon.
Two of Aunt Gene's best friends in those early married years were Buena Seymore, and Peggy Butler.
Aunt Gene was a Cubscout leader. One of her former Cubscouts, Norm Wakefield, was at the funeral.
The Tenney yard in Show Low where Chase Bank now stands was a beautiful green grassy area where kids from all over came to play baseball, and whatever other game came to mind. I remember coming up from Phoenix to visit and loving their yard. Once we found a huge toad in their cattleguard. The biggest I had ever seen.
Coffee was another Tenney legend. Coffee was their dog. He was one of those dogs that doesn't bark. He loved to walk the streets of Show Low and often followed the kids to school. The principal, Mr. Whipple, would call and say to Aunt Gene: "Come and get Coffee, he's been expelled." I remember working in my mom and dad's store and seeing Coffee walking down the street like he had an errand to run.
Aunt Gene and Uncle Clair were involved in Little League. Aunt Gene loved her yellow Cadillac and used it to haul kids to and from games and practice. Arlee Reid remembers going to Little League games in Flagstaff and staying at the Americana Hotel because they had a diving board in their swimming pool.
Aunt Gene always made a big breakfast on Sunday. Ebin and Charlie Lewis would come over for breakfast on fast Sunday.
Aunt Gene loved the White Mountains. One of her favorite places to visit was Paradise Creek.
In 1968 Clair & Gene bought the Hub Shell station. The Hub was like a mini Walmart. They had a little bit of everything.
In 1972 they sold the Hub and the house. It just about broke Aunt Gene's heart. They spent the summers at Apache Wells in the valley where Gene played Bridge and Golf, two of her favorite pasttimes.
In 1978 Uncle Clair passed away.
Aunt Gene moved back to Show Low and was the manager of the Paint Pony Lodge where she made many friends. Katy, Cher's mother worked for her at the Paint Pony. Katy came and visited Aunt Gene every Friday the last few years of her life when she was at the rest home in San Tan.
Aunt Gene was very active in community affairs. She was instrumental in Show Low getting a high school. She was on the Board of Directors for Frontier Bank which is now National Bank. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Show Low Hospital and was a delegate for the Democratic party.
She married and outlived her second husband, Clyde Brazieal.
Aunt Gene spent many winters at the Fountain of the Sun in east Mesa where she played golf and bridge.
Aunt Gene loved everyone and had what some would call a joyful spirit. Her kids often called her Patty Gene because she would pat you on the back while giving you hugs.
She held family golf tournaments with her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. Rita said her best golf club was her foot. Yes, she cheated. She was more like Marlin Maxwell than I thought.
She took some of her grandkids on a trip to Washington D.C. when they graduated from 8th grade. She embarrassed them by wearing a Clinton hat.
Aunt Gene had a way of making everyone feel special. It made me realize that the little things that we do can have a real impact on people.
Dennis & Denise, Harold & Vickie, James & I all left after the funeral. James and I headed for Walmart to buy some things for the basement bedroom. First we stopped at Wendy's for lunch. I got a Cobb salad which was quite tasty. I couldn't finish it but will take it home and finish it tonight or tomorrow.
In Walmart we bought two rugs, some towels and pillows, and a stand for the TV in the basement bedroom. We ended up leaving the pillows underneath the basket so I will have to go back and get some more.
The downstairs looks nice. It will look nicer when we get the TV stand put up and get the TV hooked up.
I finished typing James's talk this evening and worked on mine until about 12:30. I missed the aurora borealis because I forgot to look outside. I have some pictures that someone else in Vernon took.
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Lola's dance recital
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A painting Rebecca painted for Christine
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Beautiful patio
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