Celebration of Life...

Monday, August 30th was the Celebration of Uncle Carl's life.
  

Sharon needed a ride to town that morning so I volunteered to take her. She had to go to the mortuary to take care of some paper work. It was a tender time for her. She fought back tears all the way to town. She took lots of deep breaths trying to prepare for the day. I tried to offer some words of comfort. She will miss her cowboy.

It was standing room only in the Buckle Club at Frontier Park. Nearly 400 of Uncle Carl's family and friends came to the celebration.

A dear friend of the family, Ken Peterson conducted the memorial service. He shod many of Uncle Carl's horses and is also a preacher at a country church near Iron Mountain.

 Bob Picket

Many of Uncle Carl's lifelong friends paid tribute to him. It was heartwarming to see these tough cowboy shed tears and tell how much they loved him.

Uncle Dale represented our family well, as he also honored Uncle Carl.

My brothers Lloyd and Kenny had a close relationship with Uncle Carl. He was their mentor, friend and really a second father to them. Lloyd wanted to say something at the memorial. He wrote down his thoughts and practiced on his horse but his feelings were too tender. In a private moment he shared with Sharon what Uncle Carl meant to him.

Cowboy Kaden and Reece, Uncle Carl's grandsons. These handsome boys are 10 years apart, Reece is 13 and Kaden is 3. Reece is the best big brother, it's so sweet to see them together!

And then there were three... it's hard to believe that only three of my Dad's sibling are left. How I love Uncle Dale, Aunt Bernice and Aunt Kay!

My Mom, my brother Kenny and his family. I am so proud of Kenny's boys and their families!

Kenny's darling grandchildren!

My niece Heidi and my brother Marion

Troy ~ Heidi~ Mom ~ Marion George

My cousin Debbie and Marion

My brother Lloyd and his family ~ Bobbie, Mandy and Theo

Mandy is expecting her second son and is scheduled to have him on my birthday, 11/11/2011!

And here's our rodeo champion, doesn't Jimmy look good in his Frontier Days jacket?! It was pretty warm but there was no way Jimmy was taking his jacket off! 

As sad as Uncle Carl passing is, it brought our family together. It was wonderful to be with my brothers. I love them so much. They are good, hardworking honest men, the best there is.

My sweet Mom has had so many health problems, she is brave and we love her.

One of Grandma Federer's cousin saw me standing with my brothers and she said, "You're the best looking one of the bunch." Ha!

It's no secret how much I love my niece Heidi!

I really love my sister-in-law Mary Kay, for sure you want her on your team!

Carlene ~ her son Dane ~ Marion ~ Ted Walton ~ Uncle Dale

Marge Gookin ~ Aunt Bernice ~ Aunt Kay

Barb ~ Aunt Kay ~ Aunt Bernice ~ Joanne

 Aunt Kay ~ Pat Parker

We had such a wonderful day as we came together to honor Uncle Carl, everyone enjoyed the afternoon visiting and catching up.

We share in our family!

My brother Lloyd was hurting, he will miss Uncle Carl so much.

Uncle Carl's brand on the cupcakes, very clever.

 Carl's two wonderful children, Chad and Carlene

Sharon with her daughters Tina and Tammy and her son Ted

To those who loved him most... I hope you find comfort in your memories.

"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. 

All that we love deeply becomes part of us." 

~ Helen Keller

I believe that death is not the end of our association with one another. It's hard to be separated from those we love. We have hope in Christ that all will be resurrected through His atonement. We can look forward to a joyous reunion with those we love.

Thanks for all you have meant to us Uncle Carl, you will be missed!