Kay's Tribute To Her Dad (Earl Johnson) at His Funeral

I hope you'll be understanding with me while I talk to my Daddy.

Daddy, I know you made me promise just three weeks ago that we wouldn't hold a funeral for you. And I'm asking you to forgive me for breaking that promise. But we did compromise, Dad, with only one viewing and a short service and promise to keep it short here at the Mortuary.

Mostly I'm asking you to forgive us, your family, for not realizing how much pain and suffering that you were going through - both physically and mentally Even your Doctor had tears in his eyes when he told me that he had seen you three times in the last two weeks and he didn't realize or understand how much pain and suffering you were going through.

Daddy, know that we love you. And please forgive all of for not really understanding. Life was not easy for you, Daddy. It was a real struggle for you from the time you came into the world at two pounds and until you left it nearly sixty-eight years later.

You had a lot of heartaches and disappointments and you wanted to give up many times, but you endured it as long as you could. We feel lost as to why you chose to leave us at this time, but we will try to understand.

We love you and we're proud o£ our heritage and the good name we have. Daddy, as young children, we didn't understand how hard it was for you to freely show your love or even to tell us that you loved U8. But that's OK - we should have known from your actions that you loved us far more than words can say.

You wanted the best for us. You wanted us to have a good education - that was so important to you. And you wanted each of us to go on a mission but you gave us our free agency and allowed us to make our choice. Though usually you thought they were wrong and sometimes they were! But that's OK - you allowed us to choose.

You used to work two jobs - working at the Creamery in the day and working at the Cannery at night, helping Uncle Jack pick fruit and other farmers pick fruit, hauling hay, whatever you could do to earn extra money to provide us with a good home, music lessons and the things that you felt would be for our best good. We should have realized your love, Dad, but we really didn't really appreciate what you did for us.

You taught us many things by your example, Daddy, and we didn't realize we were being taught. You taught us to he as good as our word and if we said we'd do something you'd expect us to do it. You were always as good as your word with your family and your neighbors and your fellowmen. You were always good to your Mother and to Mama's Mother. And I've heard Grandma Kirk say more than once, "Earl, you're as good to me as my very own boys." Both of them appreciated you for that You used to delight in gathering up widows and seeing that they got out to the show and dinner on Old Folk's day And for years you'd see that they had a fruit basket or a fruit cake that Mama had baked You enjoyed going to Ward Parties, Family Reunions, Funerals, Weddings - anywhere where you could have a good handshake. We used to complain because Dad had to go early so he wouldn't miss anyone to shake hands with. And I bet you've been doing a lot of handshaking, Dad.

As for work, both you and Mom said that if a job was worth doing at all, it was worth doing well. I'll bet that most of you people in the audience didn't know there was a right way to pull weeds. We are grateful that you taught us to work it had been a blessing in our lives. However, to be honest, Dad, we didn't think much of it at the time.

It would have been nice Daddy if we'd played more together as a family. But we realize now how seriously you took life and what it dealt you. You had your joy in serving our Father in l-leaven and helping others. You always paid a generous tithe, Missionary fund, Ward Budget. If the Ward ever needed any money they knew they could always come to Brother Johnson and he always gave more than his share. You were more than generous with your time and your money. Remember the first year you retired, Dad? You picked nearly all of the Ward assignment of the apples on the Church Farm and it was cold and rainy and snowy. We'd scold you and say, "Dad, you've picked your share - you don't need to go up there every day. But there were still apples to pick and you stayed there until the last apple was picked and helped two other Wards pick their assignments

Your joy was being able to grow a beautiful garden. More than one Bishop would announce from the pulpit that if anyone needed help with their garden, or advice, that Brother Johnson would be glad to help - and you were. you were always pruning someone else's grapes or teaching them how or showing them how to prune their fruit trees or helping them deadwood their raspberries. Every year we'd say, "Dad, we don't need this much garden to take care of" and you'd say, "well, I want to be sure we have enough for what we need and have it here for the boys if they want it and have some to share." Mother and I would be so glad for that first frost after the summers' canning.

You taught us at a young age to love others and to share what we had. After we moved from the little house I always had a Lamanite sister to share my room with. And when I left home, they got two. They were treated like one of their own providing them with the very best you could. We all learned to love them as sisters by your and Mother's example.

Your joy was having a truck available for the scout drive or the D.I. drive or for just a neighbor who needed to borrow it. You loved to hire a Santa to remember different families at Christmas You and Mama taught us Christ-like love by doing for others less fortunate and not letting them know who it was from. You showed the true love of God through the service you gave your fellowman. And all of this was true love, Daddy, and we couldn't recognize it at the time.

Larry and Lloyd, I want you to know how much Daddy loved you and your families. I don't think he ever uttered a prayer that he didn't pray that your needs and desires be met and the best for your good and the good for your family. I always thought we should have Dad pray first and then put the food on the table so it would still be warm. Sometimes Mother would whisper, "Earl, make it short," so it would be a little shorter. Dad was proud of you boys and proud of your accomplishments and it's too bad he couldn't have told you himself, instead of telling others. Love Dad for his good qualities and forgive him for his weaknesses.

I want you grandchildren to know that your Grandpa loved you - though he was never able to show you that love. I'm sorry Grandpa didn't know how to play. But he did love each and every one of you.

And he was so happy when he was included in blessing the babies, baptisms and Priesthood ordinations and so hurt when he was left out.

I love you Larry and Lloyd and though we've grown apart through the years I want us to forgive and forget and remember the good things so that Daddy's life or his death will not have been in vain.

Mama, know that Daddy really loved you. And with your own poor health he did not want to be an added burden to you and the family.

It is not our place to make judgements, or to ask why, or to place blame. Only God knows, it is our place as his family, friends and loved ones to reach out to each other in love and forgiveness and to go on with our lives loving and serving our Father in Heaven and each other,

Daddy, in looking back, I'm sorry I couldn't see the love you had for us, You have showed love in so many unselfish ways way beyond the expression of words,

Goodbye for now, Daddy, Be happy serving our Heavenly Father, Be at peace, knowing Mama will be taken care of, And thanks for leaving her behind with us, We'll be good to her and to each other,

Thanks for everything, Daddy, I love you and we will miss you so much.