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In the top picture Papa is the one who seems to be harassing Uncle Knewel and is being corrected by Uncle Cecil. James and Walter are the other two brothers.
Happy 101st!!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Happy Birthday Papa
In the top picture Papa is the one who seems to be harassing Uncle Knewel and is being corrected by Uncle Cecil. James and Walter are the other two brothers.
Happy 101st!!
101
In honor of the 101st anniversary of his birth, let us celebrate the life of Thomas Stevenson Rushforth: Eat some licorice, tell some children to lower their voices, love your children in his memory, or turn on a ball game and rest your eyes. You could bake a cake with 101 candles or send everyone to bed at 10 ( well, maybe not that extreme). You could add a few remembrances to this blog. Whatever you do, take time to remember how much he loved his family, his friends, his God and his country and be grateful.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Some of Jeff's memories of his grandpa
* I don't remember a lot of words. I do remember a lot of work (his primarily- not mine).
* Once my brother (Tiff) and I had been tasked to rake the lawn while grandma and grandpa were visiting. We had almost finished with 1/16th of the front yard when we saw grandpa watching us from the window. He came out to show us how it should be done correctly and soon had the whole lawn raked.
* The blue coveralls. If I recall correctly, when he was originally diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he was given three months or so to live. Four months later we had to shoo him off the roto-tiller when we came to visit and he was in the back yard in those coveralls.
* I remember a time when grandma and grandpa were driving my brothers (Tiff and Steve) and me home from some event in Utah County. We had just passed Point of the Mountain on I-15 and were beginning our descent into the Salt Lake Valley when a car in front of us did something dangerous and caused grandma to put her hand on grandpa's leg and exclaim, "Steve!". I felt that showed an inordinate concern for my youngest brother and was feeling somewhat neglected until I later learned that grandpa's name wasn't "Grandpa Rushforth".
* I remember grandma and grandpa driving us home from visits at their house and grandpa would quiz us with algebra and spelling questions to pass the time. He wasn't much for stories.
* "Simmer down", as I recall, was his most common phrase of correction to us grandchildren.
* I remember that he was always there. He was never missing from any family event.
* I think he had a perfect knowledge of some aspects of the Gospel. On what was probably one of his last trips outside of the house, I got to drive him to Bowmans (the supermarket down in Kaysville). I don't remember what he bought- I do remember what he said. He said that he was ready to die. He said that he had a good family and that he'd lived a good life according to the Gospel and that was what it was all about. His voice didn't waver. There was no appeal to my emotions or sympathies. He told me in pretty much the same manner that he'd used years ago to tell me the correct answers to the algebra questions he'd posed for me. I was strongly impressed that this wasn't just his belief. My grandpa was talking to me. He was a man who was looking death straight in the eye and it had no power or influence over him. It wasn't courage, it wasn't bravado. He knew and he wanted me to know. I don't remember many words from my grandpa, but what I remember is enough.
* Once my brother (Tiff) and I had been tasked to rake the lawn while grandma and grandpa were visiting. We had almost finished with 1/16th of the front yard when we saw grandpa watching us from the window. He came out to show us how it should be done correctly and soon had the whole lawn raked.
* The blue coveralls. If I recall correctly, when he was originally diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he was given three months or so to live. Four months later we had to shoo him off the roto-tiller when we came to visit and he was in the back yard in those coveralls.
* I remember a time when grandma and grandpa were driving my brothers (Tiff and Steve) and me home from some event in Utah County. We had just passed Point of the Mountain on I-15 and were beginning our descent into the Salt Lake Valley when a car in front of us did something dangerous and caused grandma to put her hand on grandpa's leg and exclaim, "Steve!". I felt that showed an inordinate concern for my youngest brother and was feeling somewhat neglected until I later learned that grandpa's name wasn't "Grandpa Rushforth".
* I remember grandma and grandpa driving us home from visits at their house and grandpa would quiz us with algebra and spelling questions to pass the time. He wasn't much for stories.
* "Simmer down", as I recall, was his most common phrase of correction to us grandchildren.
* I remember that he was always there. He was never missing from any family event.
* I think he had a perfect knowledge of some aspects of the Gospel. On what was probably one of his last trips outside of the house, I got to drive him to Bowmans (the supermarket down in Kaysville). I don't remember what he bought- I do remember what he said. He said that he was ready to die. He said that he had a good family and that he'd lived a good life according to the Gospel and that was what it was all about. His voice didn't waver. There was no appeal to my emotions or sympathies. He told me in pretty much the same manner that he'd used years ago to tell me the correct answers to the algebra questions he'd posed for me. I was strongly impressed that this wasn't just his belief. My grandpa was talking to me. He was a man who was looking death straight in the eye and it had no power or influence over him. It wasn't courage, it wasn't bravado. He knew and he wanted me to know. I don't remember many words from my grandpa, but what I remember is enough.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Tiffer's "memories"
My memories of Grandpa Rushforth are pretty varied. This isn't an actual memory, but I think this is the best way I can sum up my memories of him. We would be in his garage and he would be wearing a blue jump suit and showing me where to get a tool. He had a great work ethic and I remember him working in his yard a lot. I remember he took us to play softball when we were young and I remember that I didn't hit the ball very often. So, I guess he wasn't a very good pitcher.
Steven's Memory
What I remember most about Grandpa was chatting with him during
BYU sporting events. Mostly basketball and football of course. He had
many of the football games recorded on VHS. Just checking up on me and
seeing how things where going. Like most of us know he was addicted to
Black licorice. Usually he was eating the nibs when we would show up.
Along with grandma they would wave to us goodbye as long as they
could see our car. It was something they would do every time we would
stop by and visit. Sometimes my parents will do the same when we leave.
Didn't know grandpa as much as I would of liked. Happy 100th!!!
BYU sporting events. Mostly basketball and football of course. He had
many of the football games recorded on VHS. Just checking up on me and
seeing how things where going. Like most of us know he was addicted to
Black licorice. Usually he was eating the nibs when we would show up.
Along with grandma they would wave to us goodbye as long as they
could see our car. It was something they would do every time we would
stop by and visit. Sometimes my parents will do the same when we leave.
Didn't know grandpa as much as I would of liked. Happy 100th!!!
Remembering Grandpa
--I remember him in his blue coveralls in the garden. Mostly we just watched, sometimes we "helped."
--When he wasn't working, you could find him relaxing on the couch with his hands behind his head, eyes closed, but not sleeping: Just resting his eyes.
--Now, I do remember a stern Grandpa who threatened to spank Andrea and me when we were giggling past bedtime. I was probably 12 at the time, and the thought of being spanked made me want to laugh even harder, but we were able to control our laughter or at least quiet it until Grandpa went back upstairs.
--The most memorable experience I had with Grandpa was the last time I saw him. My dad tried to prepare us for how frail Grandpa would be, but we still weren't prepared. But, it didn't matter what Grandpa looked like, he was still Grandpa. I remember sitting on the den floor with all my siblings and some Hunt cousins as Grandpa talked to us. Honestly, I can't remember what he said, but I remember knowing he loved us, he loved the Lord, and he wasnt' afraid to die. Then each of us was able to have a one on one talk with Grandpa. I remember him asking me what I wanted to do when I grew up. I told him that I wanted to be a teacher, but I was also thinking about physical therapy because they made more money. He stopped me right there and told me not to make my decision based on how much money I would make, but instead, to base it on how happpy I would be. Right there, while I sat at his feet, I decided I was going to be a teacher, and even though I knew I would never be rich doing so, I never changed my mind. And, I have never regretted it, because it has been such a blessing to me and my children.
--Yes, Grandpa could be strict, but he knew what was important and he passed that on to those he loved, and that included me!
--When he wasn't working, you could find him relaxing on the couch with his hands behind his head, eyes closed, but not sleeping: Just resting his eyes.
--Now, I do remember a stern Grandpa who threatened to spank Andrea and me when we were giggling past bedtime. I was probably 12 at the time, and the thought of being spanked made me want to laugh even harder, but we were able to control our laughter or at least quiet it until Grandpa went back upstairs.
--The most memorable experience I had with Grandpa was the last time I saw him. My dad tried to prepare us for how frail Grandpa would be, but we still weren't prepared. But, it didn't matter what Grandpa looked like, he was still Grandpa. I remember sitting on the den floor with all my siblings and some Hunt cousins as Grandpa talked to us. Honestly, I can't remember what he said, but I remember knowing he loved us, he loved the Lord, and he wasnt' afraid to die. Then each of us was able to have a one on one talk with Grandpa. I remember him asking me what I wanted to do when I grew up. I told him that I wanted to be a teacher, but I was also thinking about physical therapy because they made more money. He stopped me right there and told me not to make my decision based on how much money I would make, but instead, to base it on how happpy I would be. Right there, while I sat at his feet, I decided I was going to be a teacher, and even though I knew I would never be rich doing so, I never changed my mind. And, I have never regretted it, because it has been such a blessing to me and my children.
--Yes, Grandpa could be strict, but he knew what was important and he passed that on to those he loved, and that included me!
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