OUR FAMILY: Armando's daughter

Payson, Utah

146th operating temple

Dedicated: 7 June 2015

By: Henry B. Eyring

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

John 3:35

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 7:8-17

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 17:24-27; Luke 9:57-62

General Conference

Your Priesthood Playbook

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

"Create your own playbook of how you will prove yourself as a disciple of Christ."

FYI: Max and Evan went with their ward to do baptisms for the dead this morning. Max baptized 10 people and then was baptized for 3. I'm not sure about Evan, he was asleep when we visited today.

We left a little later than we had planned, around 6 a.m. but still in plenty of time to make the funeral. I read scriptures and a conference talk but we didn't get to finish the conference talks I wanted to read because we were out of range. We finished our proper romance novel except for the epilogue.

We arrived at Darrel's just before 9:30. He rode with us to the funeral. We met Sheri there and we all sat together. It was great to see so many good friends from Chandler. Betty Bogle was taking a leave from her mission to visit her brother who had a stroke and was able to be here for the funeral. Here are some others we saw: The Pace's, Davis's, Trudy Lamb, Dave, Laura, Sandy and Pat, the Tolman's, Paul without Stacy, the Bueler girls, all the Arnett kids, and of course Cathy. I wrote Thursday that the Arnett's had 10 kids but I had forgotten about Casey so I had to go back and correct it to 11, 5 girls and 6 boys.

It was great hearing stories about Cliff's life. Wayne Lamb, Cliff and Cathy's son-in-law, and their bishop, conducted the funeral. Cliff's brother H.B. Arnett was the first speaker. Here are some notes from his talk:

His children are God's eternal masterpieces, including Cliff.

The Be Attitudes describe Cliff and Cathy's lives.

Cliff was everybody's friend. He served a mission to Argentina. He was a football star in high school.

In regards to his marriage to Cathy:

"Not many men get to marry an angel."

The eternal fire of love burns brighter still.

Memories of Cliff by his children and grandchildren:

Other than diet Dr. Pepper and a candy bar, things were not important to him, people were. He had nicknames for almost everyone. (He called Sheri's boyfriend, Mark Brusstar, 'Old Broccoli Top.')

He loved to eat ice cream because it made life better,

friends were family, (Cliff coached Darrel every year he played baseball.)

He would rather by 5 cars for $500 a piece than one car for $2,500 because they would last longer and you didn't have to get them fixed. If they broke down you just left them by the side of the road.

He respected everyone, no matter their position.

H.B. said that when Cliff gets to heaven he is sure he is going to ask his dad, "Where's the auction"?

(He went to car auctions and calf auctions too)

The grandkids sang, "My Heavenly Father Loves Me". I think there were 33 grandchildren. Wendy's son Reed was the lead singer. He has a beautiful voice and was just in his high school's production of "Newsies."

Pierce Goodman, Cathy and Cliff's cousin, (Yes, they were related) spoke next. He lives here in Vernon and is our friend.

I have been asked to cheer up and to comfort. Mourning is a deep experience of true love. What is the purpose of life?

"This is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." - Moses 1:39

Know this, that all are free to choose.

Peace and fullness of joy.

Our purpose is to receive exaltation and to return and live in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Not all problems are overcome in this life. The work goes on after this life.

Pierce quoted from a talk given by Dallin H. Oaks called,
"Memories of My Father."
'I remembered that my father loved me.'
Jackie, Cliff's daughter said:
"Our dad raised kids and cattle. Boggs was the calf whisperer."
Heavenly Father loves all of His children.
Jesus Christ is our perfect example.
An eternal perspective brings peace.
We were born to die and we die to live.
We barely bloom on earth, we fully flower in Heaven.

Wayne Lamb was the last speaker. He told about asking Cliff for Chea's hand in marriage and then he told about going with Cliff to feed cattle and he always had to stop at the QT to get a diet Dr. Pepper and Hydrox cookies. If everyone else liked Oreo's, Cliff liked Hydrox because he wanted to be different and not follow the crowd. He would say to Wayne when he sent him in the store, "I'll split it with you." Wayne thought he meant the cost and once he reminded Cliff, I thought you said you were going to split these with me. Cliff said, "I am", and shoved the box of cookies across the seat to Wayne.

Outside after the funeral I gave Wendy a hug and then I talked to Cathy and Trudy Lamb and gave Cathy a hug. She made a comment to me of something that I wasn't aware of. She said, "Cliff was never the same after he lost his eyesight."

Later I spoke to the Goodman's and Barbara, Pierce's wife told me one night about four years ago he saw lines before his eyes. He went to bed and when he woke up he could not see. It was because of bleeding on the brain. Cliff died of a brain anuresym.

Wayne spoke to Cathy and told her she was not alone. He said: "We love you and are grateful to you for serving your companion for over 50 years. Heavenly Father will not forget what you have done for one of His sons. You may be exhausted but you never gave up. Families are Forever. The best part of death is returning home. Cathy, you will not be left alone as you go about your Father's work."

We stopped at the Pei Wei in Queen Creek for lunch and then we took Darrel home and changed our clothes. James had to go to the Willis's and to some work. Armando was supposed to do some cleanup but his daughter is in the hospital and he has not left her side. Her name is Allison and she is nine years old. She has fluid on her lungs.

I went to Sheri's and visited with her and Max while James was working. Max was practicing his guitar. Evan was asleep on the couch. Sheri showed me the baby kitties and the mama ran away and of course Ollie chased her. We made a trip to Sonic to get drinks and then went outside in the backyard with Ollie. Ian was going to Home Depot to get some paint for their family room. I told Sheri I wanted to paint my bedroom a darker color and she said she would come up this summer and help me paint. I told her I had lots of Hallmark movies in my DVR and we could watch them while we paint.

I made James go home the Payson way because I am sick of the Globe way. We stopped at the Culver's in Payson and got some dinner. When we got home we walked for awhile and then watched the new Hallmark move, "Bottled with Love."