Gerda Pratt Haynie

(from Joe Haynie)

Dearest Family,
At 6:45 p.m. mountain time this evening Gerda Pratt Haynie slipped quitely from her tired body and returned home to that God that gave her breath. She slept peacefully to the end. Her breathing slowed and became quiter, she took a final breath, and then she stopped. Somewhere on the other side of the veil of forgetfulness the waiting ones rejoiced as their sweet angel returned with honor--having fought the good fight and run the good race. Those of us on this side of the veil were blessed with tender feelings that she had finally been released and that we had been priviledged to have belonged to her. As many of us gathered around she and dad this evening I got a glimpse of the joyful reunion convened just beyond our sight (but somehow close enough that we all seemed to feel a reflected glow of its tenderness).

She was a good mom. She was a remarkable woman. Lucy told me of a time when mom had visited her in Boise years ago. They were having a Relief Society lesson about establishing and preserving family traditions. At some point in the conversation about little family rituals mom leaned over to Lucy and whispered "in our family we don't really have any traditions except service". Meeting the needs of others seemed to be like breathing to her. So many people came through mom's door over the years and felt immediately adopted into the family. Becky mentioned that her friend Scott once told her that our house was the only place he'd ever been where his offer to help was always gratefully accepted. Mom didn't stand on ceremony. She just loved and accepted each addition to her life as a new friend. She blessed the lives of her husband, her children, her parents, her siblings, her co-workers, and her friends. Her legacy is that no one I ever met that knew her had a bad thing to say of her, and that everyone whose life brushed against hers came away better for it.

I've cried a few lonely tears tonight, but most have been celebratory and joyful.

The funeral will be at dad's stake center (400 W 1200 S in Orem) this coming Monday (the 8th) at 11:00 a.m. with a viewing starting at 9:30 a.m (in addition to one the night before). I don't know how complete my lists are so spread the word.

I hope someone on the other side took family videos of their reunion because I'd love to watch them some day.