Grandpa Beesley

During a walk with Grandpa near their home in Holladay

John, Brooklynn, and I had just sat down on a plane bound for SLC last Thursday to pick up our new baby when my Dad called to say that Grandpa Beesley had just passed away. What a mix of emotions I experienced! Happiness and excitement about meeting our new baby and sadness and relief for Grandpa and Grandma. I knew he was ready. In a conversation we had a few weeks before he told me he prayed every night that he would be able to go and that he just wished Grandma could go with him. She told me that they hold hands while they sleep because he thinks that might just do the trick. I asked him if he was afraid to die and he laughed his wonderful gruff and vibrant laugh and said, "Heavens no! I've been a bishop and a missionary--I've been around. I know how this works!" What a testimony that was to me as his granddaughter!

I had said to Grandpa awhile back after one of his stays in the hospital that I wish I was there to kiss his cheek. He said only half jokingly, "You could if you really wanted to!" When we found out that his cancer was terminal, I knew I needed to go out and give him that kiss and I'm so grateful I did. Not only did Brooklynn and I both get a kisses, but I was able to rub his feet and head as we visited and he told me about the pony he had growing up. I told Grandpa that we were hopeful we would get a new baby within the next couple months and asked him to hang on until they baby was born which I thought might happen in June even though we at first thought Grandpa may only have two weeks to live. He said he would do his best and then told me that he was sure the baby would be a boy. Only a few days before Grandpa passed, he was in and out of a dazed state when he suddenly said, "Who is that boy?" He asked again but no one knew who he was referring to as there were no males in the room. It wasn't until later when my mom and dad were talking that they felt impressed that it was our little boy that Grandpa saw. In the end, Grandpa did as he promised and hung on until little Ian arrived safely.

Grandpa was patient--even amongst a group of silly and noisy granddaughters at Lake Powell or Jackson Hole and had a great sense of humor--as when he impersonated a non-existent boyfriend for me in the Beesley Bee while I was in Russia. Grandpa had a way of making me feel like I was more than just another grandkid and showed me that I was special to him. I'll miss Grandpa--but am grateful for our walks and conversations over the years. I'm sad that he won't be here to watch Brooklynn and Ian grow up but I take comfort in the knowledge that he knew them already and that we'll be able to be together forever.
I love you Grandpa.

Mom, Grandpa, Brooklynn, and me at Brooklynn's baby shower. Grandpa came representing Grandma. It was the first baby shower he had ever been to.

A couple days after our sealing to Brooklynn. Grandpa always called the granddaughters "Doll" or "Doll-friend" and I found myself calling Brooklynn that from the moment she was born.