Don R. Percival
May 19, 1935 - February 12, 2012
Isn't this man just about the cutest grandpa you have ever seen?! He was such a sweet, special, intelligent(I'm talking smartest man you have ever met intelligent), loving, amazing man. He was a fighter, a doer, a perfectionist and a give it your all kind of guy. He was my grandpa.
I was the first granddaughter to be born into a family of 11 grandchildren. Sometimes I attribute that to the bond I felt with this man, but in reality he was just that kind of person. He had a bond with everyone and made everyone feel special. He made me feel smart and pretty and in-stoppable. He made me feel happy and confident and most of all loved. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't know that I was his "dear" and was called just that each time I talked to him. Conversations I will miss more than I can say.
It's hard to imagine not being able to hear him on the speaker phone when I call Grandma's house or to see him in his chair when I stop in for a visit or to smell his yummy cologne when I go to give him a tight squeeze with a kiss on the cheek. It's those little things I will miss more than anything.
My Grandpa was a fighter! He got up, showered, shaved and dressed every single day knowing he was never going anywhere but to his chair. On the last day of his life, while bed ridden, he had requested a shave, something my Grandma lovingly did. The love I saw between my Grandparents that day will forever be a testament to me of what "love" is. After 50+ years of marriage and years of nursing my grandpa, they were still truly in love.
We all knew he was suffering and miserable and just wanted to be able to breathe, play golf and have a conversation with those he loved. It was those things he missed the most. He had always been so active spending uncountable hours outdoors. He was always learning something new. At one point my brother had coined my Grandpa "Cyber Grandpa" because he was always whipping out his laptop and learning about the latest greatest craze. He loved to travel, learn, spend time with his family, golf and every once in awhile enjoy a sweet treat.
He passed away Sunday February 12 after a long battle with emphysema. Luckily I was able to spend the day with him on Saturday. He held my hand, gave me some chuckles, lots of smiles and "that feeling" that I was special to him, even though he couldn't speak, and barely move but he could let you know he loved you. I will forever cherish those last few hours of his life.
His funeral was last Friday on a beautiful Winter morning in Idaho Falls Id. My Grandpa hated wind and he must have put in a word with the weather God's because there wasn't even a breeze. If you know Idaho and winter, it almost always includes wind and COLD. Not this day, it was gorgeous, just as he would have loved. He had a beautiful service, which to no ones surprise, he pretty much planned in it's entirety. He had his life sketch all but written from his journals, he had his obituary laid out with specific instructions to "fill in the blanks" where appropriate and had even picked out the songs on his video tribute, including a favorite of his "Happy Trails." He was laid to rest in the Ammon cemetery where is headstone had already been picked out and engraved some years ago.
He had decided that the view on the hill in the Ammon cemetery was much more beautiful than that of the one on the old highway where their plots had previously been, and he didn't want the noise of all the traffic, so he sold their plots and bought some new ones. He was right, it was beautiful, quiet and he will enjoy the view.
He was a man of great detail and left no detail undone. He even had a list of the number of death certificates my Grandma would need and who would need them. That was just my Grandpa. Every little detail attended to. I will truly miss being one of those details in his life. I have felt his presence so strongly at times since his death and I know that he is always near. It makes me so incredibly grateful for the time I had with him on this earth and even more thankful for eternal families and God's plan. I will forever cherish the memories I have and hold an insurmountable amount of gratitude for this incredible man. I love you Grandpa and wish you nothing but Happy Trails!
May 19, 1935 - February 12, 2012
Isn't this man just about the cutest grandpa you have ever seen?! He was such a sweet, special, intelligent(I'm talking smartest man you have ever met intelligent), loving, amazing man. He was a fighter, a doer, a perfectionist and a give it your all kind of guy. He was my grandpa.
I was the first granddaughter to be born into a family of 11 grandchildren. Sometimes I attribute that to the bond I felt with this man, but in reality he was just that kind of person. He had a bond with everyone and made everyone feel special. He made me feel smart and pretty and in-stoppable. He made me feel happy and confident and most of all loved. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't know that I was his "dear" and was called just that each time I talked to him. Conversations I will miss more than I can say.
It's hard to imagine not being able to hear him on the speaker phone when I call Grandma's house or to see him in his chair when I stop in for a visit or to smell his yummy cologne when I go to give him a tight squeeze with a kiss on the cheek. It's those little things I will miss more than anything.
My Grandpa was a fighter! He got up, showered, shaved and dressed every single day knowing he was never going anywhere but to his chair. On the last day of his life, while bed ridden, he had requested a shave, something my Grandma lovingly did. The love I saw between my Grandparents that day will forever be a testament to me of what "love" is. After 50+ years of marriage and years of nursing my grandpa, they were still truly in love.
We all knew he was suffering and miserable and just wanted to be able to breathe, play golf and have a conversation with those he loved. It was those things he missed the most. He had always been so active spending uncountable hours outdoors. He was always learning something new. At one point my brother had coined my Grandpa "Cyber Grandpa" because he was always whipping out his laptop and learning about the latest greatest craze. He loved to travel, learn, spend time with his family, golf and every once in awhile enjoy a sweet treat.
He passed away Sunday February 12 after a long battle with emphysema. Luckily I was able to spend the day with him on Saturday. He held my hand, gave me some chuckles, lots of smiles and "that feeling" that I was special to him, even though he couldn't speak, and barely move but he could let you know he loved you. I will forever cherish those last few hours of his life.
His funeral was last Friday on a beautiful Winter morning in Idaho Falls Id. My Grandpa hated wind and he must have put in a word with the weather God's because there wasn't even a breeze. If you know Idaho and winter, it almost always includes wind and COLD. Not this day, it was gorgeous, just as he would have loved. He had a beautiful service, which to no ones surprise, he pretty much planned in it's entirety. He had his life sketch all but written from his journals, he had his obituary laid out with specific instructions to "fill in the blanks" where appropriate and had even picked out the songs on his video tribute, including a favorite of his "Happy Trails." He was laid to rest in the Ammon cemetery where is headstone had already been picked out and engraved some years ago.
He had decided that the view on the hill in the Ammon cemetery was much more beautiful than that of the one on the old highway where their plots had previously been, and he didn't want the noise of all the traffic, so he sold their plots and bought some new ones. He was right, it was beautiful, quiet and he will enjoy the view.He was a man of great detail and left no detail undone. He even had a list of the number of death certificates my Grandma would need and who would need them. That was just my Grandpa. Every little detail attended to. I will truly miss being one of those details in his life. I have felt his presence so strongly at times since his death and I know that he is always near. It makes me so incredibly grateful for the time I had with him on this earth and even more thankful for eternal families and God's plan. I will forever cherish the memories I have and hold an insurmountable amount of gratitude for this incredible man. I love you Grandpa and wish you nothing but Happy Trails!
7 comments:
What a sweet tribute. Thinking of you my dear!!
Ok love this! You sweet thing. Miss him so much every day!
I love this tribute. It sounds like he was an amazing man!
Ah, So sweet! I totally shed a tear or two reading this post. What a cute grandpa! Sorry again for your loss. Love Ya Rachel
Totally bawling after I read this! What a sweet sentiment! You guys have not been spared the hard trials with losing loved ones the past few months but I appreciate the sweet words :)
What a sweet post. I am sorry for your loss!
Hven't read your blog in a while but this is truely sweet and very well put. I hope all is well!
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