San Antonio, Texas
120th operating temple
Dedicated: 22 May 2005
By: Gordon B. Hinckley
Book of Mormon
Alma 17:18-31
Come Follow Me
June 16-22: "The Lord Requireth the Heart and a Willing Mind"
D&C 64-66 Introduction
April General Conference
'Worship'
D. Todd Christofferson
We left early enough this morning so we could stop at Darrel & Trina's and see Ruby for her birthday. We went through Salt River Canyon and our first stop was at the Circle K gas station just on the other side of Superior. I had to wait in line for a few minutes to use the bathroom. There were some Indian kids in line too. When I was finished in the restroom I went back outside and there were several white vans unloading more kids. They were all streaming into the store and I am sure most of them were headed for the bathroom. I'm glad we got here when we did!
Ruby and Lola were the only ones home when we got to their house. I gave Ruby her card and a small purple drawstring bag full of silly little things to play with. We talked with her and Lola for a few minutes before leaving. Ruby was getting ready to go to the gym where her mom was. She said a friend was coming by to get her. I asked Lola if she was going and she said, "No!"
We stopped at Sheri's for a bite of the Million Dollar cake she made Ian for his birthday. She already had two pieces ready for us. It was nice of Ian to share. I loved the fudge frosting but still prefer my carrot cake.
On to the Willis viewing and funeral at the church building on Dobson & Galveston. We grabbed a program, said hello to President Scott Duncan who is presiding and conducting the funeral and then went back to the Relief Society room to the viewing. We met and spoke with Jackie, Kelly, and Mark Hall first. Then we saw Dan Willis and he directed James to where Ron was. James and Ron visited for awhile. I saw Sandy, and Jackie introduced me to Brenda. These are the four Willis children: Brenda, Dan, Sandy, and Ron.
Sandy had a hat on because she has had treatments for breast cancer. Sandy is married. Her husbands name is Mario Meza.
During the funeral we sat by David & Laura. Cathi & Terry aren't here because they didn't really know Reed & Janis. (The program is in volume 2 of my scrapbook).
Here are some notes I took at the funeral:
Both Reed & Janis were 94 years old, both were born in 1930. Reed grew up on the family homestead on Pecos & Gilbert. Janis lived in a tent house in Chandler and then moved to the San Carlos in her early teens. Her grandparents lived in Safford.
Reed graduated from Chandler High School in 1948. He spent his summers taking care of sheep in the White Mountains.
Janis was in Nation Honors Society and was her class valedictorian. She also graduated from high school in 1948. She loved her time at the UofA where she got her degree in education, specializing in home economics. She was the outstanding home economics student in the state of Arizona when she entered college. Because of this, she got to go on a trip to St. Louis, Missouri.
They were engaged before Reed's mission to the eastern states. He gave her a diamond ring and she gave him a turquoise ring with 25 stones. When Reed returned from his mission he finished his schooling at ASU.
Of their four children Brenda was the oldest, born in 1956. Dan was next in 1957, Sandy in 1961 and Ron in 1962.
Reed loved to rope and participated in jackpot ropings. He was also a realtor and Janis taught school and then later after the kids were gone she worked at AT&T. They consider themselves lifetime Chandler-ites. They celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in Sunland Home, the care facility where they both lived.
Ray Dobson, Cary Dobson's dad, was Reed's best friend.
When Ron got up to speak he said to the audience, "Your presence is very much appreciated by our family.
Ron told how his dad's family owned a feedlot in Chandler and every morning and every night his dad had to feed and water 2,000 head of cattle. He said his dad was very compassionate and was always helping out the farm hands with food or other necessities. "Charity and kindness permeated my dad's soul." He had the greatest respect for women and was a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
(I can honestly say I never knew a more kind, gentle, and respectful man that Reed Willis. I loved him). He rescued me from being "stuck" at girls camp at Spring Creek when it rained so hard none of us could get our cars up the hill. Brother Willis came and left his truck at the top of the hill. I was never so happy to see someone in all of my life! He was our rescuer!
James loved Reed too. They both served as counselors to Bishop Val Gale. James said Reed was invaluable because he knew everybody whereas he and Bishop Gale were newbies.
Janis was an amazing leader with lots of wisdom. I served as her counselor in the Relief Society for a few years. Here are just a few of the things I learned from her: 1.) Organize yourselves, prepare every needful thing, 2.) Waste not, want not, be frugal, 3.) Cleanliness is next to godliness. (Once she asked me if I would offer to help a sister clean her house). 4.) Polish your homemaking skills, 5.) When you iron your husband's shirts, always button the second button so the shirt doesn't fall off the hanger, 6.) Put Mentholatum in your nose at night, it will help you to breath better, 7.) She had the greatest respect for a sister in our ward named Ada Jones who had served on the General Relief Society Board. "If Ada said it, it must be true." I think maybe Janis's favorite scripture was: "Oh be wise, what can I say more."(Jacob 6:12)
Janis was a wonderful cook and baker. Here are some of her family's favorite things that she made: Homemade cherry nut ice cream, chicken enchiladas, minestrone soup, cinnamon rolls, and hot fudge sauce. She always gave a jar of her hot fudge sauce to her friends on holidays and special occasions. We were privileged to receive them from her several times.
When Dan spoke he said these things about his Mom, calling them "Mom" phrases:
1. When Dan didn't want to eat his dinner. "You better eat that, otherwise you will probably get called to Japan on your mission and have to eat raw fish for two years." - Dan did get called to Japan on his mission.
2. When everyone else was outside playing Dan resented the fact that he had to practice the piano. His mom said: "Someday you will thank me for this." - Dan said that day was now. He was so grateful for music and his ability to play the piano.
Dan told about using Zoom to communicate with his parents, especially his dad for the past four years while he has been in the Sunland care facility. Dan says because his dad has alzheimers he always starts out with an easy question, like, "How is the weather." He checks to make sure his dad is right to tell how lucid he is and where the conversation can go from there.
Recently Dan got some old photos from his dad's parents and grandparents and his dad loved talking about the people he loved in his early life. They called it "The Remember When" game. Dan made this comment: "I know that loved ones from the Spirit World came to take my parents when it was their time."
"Now my parents are happy and free of pain. My mom talked about how she wasn't going to be here very long because she was going home." She didn't mean their home on Half Moon Way, I think she meant home to Heavenly Father.
Sandy's husband spoke and so did Carol Gale's husband Howard, who is a dear friend. Carol is Reed's younger sister.
Here are some of the people we visited with at the funeral:
Dianne & C.T. Davis, Trudy Lamb, Dianne Layton, Kathy & Lynn Jones, Martin & Sue Kempton, John Bear, Betty Bear, Joe & Julie Robinson, Carol Brown, Howard & Carol Gale, Jerry and his son Derryl Lamb, Dave & Julie Willis, Guy & Sheri Christensen, and Gayle Bueler Jones and Jackie Hall and Kelly and Mark. These are all people we knew when we first moved to Chandler back in 1971. They were all members of the Chandler 2nd ward where Lynn Jones was the bishop.
We did not go to the luncheon afterwards but before the funeral started we went in and took some pictures of the displays:
Janis made her own wedding dress
They were married in 1953
I don't know who the other woman is.After the funeral we had lunch at the Olive Garden with a gift card Darrel & Trina gave me for Mother's Day. We then went to Costco and then headed for home up the 101 to the 87 to Payson and on to the 260 to Heber and Show Low. In Show Low we turned on to the 60 and it took us to Vernon. We did listen to "Follow Him" our favorite "Come Follow Me" podcast in the car.
Cid Elmer and I were Jackie and Janis' visiting teachers. We visited at Serranos
and got chile rellenos ala carte.
Olive Garden: James got salmon and
broccoli with salad. I got minestrone
soup, salad and one breadstick.
I'm not sure how she does it but Charlie is reading upside down.
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