Grandpa Smith

Frank Wayne Smith

May 12, 1922 - November 10, 2013

My Grandpa's funeral is today.  It is in Utah and I was unable to travel down this weekend.  I am sad that I am missing this.  I have decided to share a few of my memories here as everyone else is sharing them down there today.

1.  My Grandparents lived in Utah my whole life.  Before I was born they lived right next to us on the family farm.  We would travel down once a year and stay with them for a while, they would also travel up to see us.  Grandpa always brought us American candy.  He had quite a sweet tooth and would bring us the good stuff to share.

2.  I remember him laughing all the time.  It seemed like he always enjoyed a little tease or a good joke.

3. Once on our visit in Utah he took a few of us kids to a pond to feed the ducks.  He was breaking the bread into tiny little pieces to make it last longer and of course was teasing them a bit with it.

4. One time, when we were down seeing my Grandma for the last time, Grandpa took Natalie and I to a little airport to have a scenic ride over the Salt Lake Valley.  I have no idea how we or this activity got chosen, I don't even remember actually going in the plane.  But while we were waiting there was a bowl of candy on a table.  In it were Fireballs and Lemon Drops.  Natalie and I chose a Lemon Drop, but Grandpa wanted to try the Fireball.  We told him it was really really hot. Grandpa opened it and popped it right in his mouth.  A few second later he started exclaiming, 'oh that is hot, yes that is hot' but never took it out.  Looked for a glass of water but still did not take it out.  I think of this every time my kids get Fireballs for Halloween.

5. My Grandpa was only 6 or 7 when one day he was out with his dad.  His Dad had a heart attack and fell off his horse into a near by water trough and died. I can not even imagine losing your dad as such a young age.  It is nice that he finally gets to see him again.

6. He loved my Grandma,  you could tell. He loved his children and grandchildren. He was always so excited to see us.

7. Last year my Dad and Uncle Vaughn moved Grandpa back up to Canada.  We would try to see him at least once a month.  Towards the end he was mostly sleeping and he didn't know we were there. Didn't know us when we did see him. He loved to talk about the old days on the farm and riding horses.  Grandpa always loved to tell a story, and we enjoyed listening.

8. When Dave and I were dating we took a last minute trip to Utah to meet both sets of Grandparents.  We couldn't leave till I got off work and couldn't rent a hotel together, so we traveled through the night.  We arrived at G & G Smith's house at 3:30 in the morning.  My Grandpa was up weeding his carrots by street light.  Dave always thought that was the funniest thing.  But he always got up early.  I guess it is so ingrained from years of farm live.

9. Even when it got hard to travel, Grandpa made it to our weddings and everything else that he could.

10. One of the place that my Grandparents lived had a pool table in the basement.  He would take us grand kids down and play us a few games.

11.Grandpa would always call for our birthdays.  Up until just a few years ago.  It was always really early since he was up, but he never missed a grandchild or a great-grandchild.  We knew the first phone call birthday morning was Grandpa Smith.

12. He has two brothers.  One passed away a few years ago and the other is still around, living in Utah I believe.

13. He has 7 children that are scattered across Canada and the USA.

14. Last year I was able to go to Utah with Natalie, her boys,and my parents.  While we were there we celebrated Grandpa's 90th birthday.

That is just a few of the things I remember about my fun-loving, happy Grandpa Smith.  Grandpa I am glad you are no longer uncomfortable and you can remember everything again.  I am glad that you get to be with Grandma and see your parents again.  You will be missed.  We will see you again soon.