Uncle Keith's Funeral-Connecting with Cousins

A Day at the Oregon Coast

Seaside & Cannon Beach

 Monday, May 16, 2011

This week Mom and I traveled to Portland to my Uncle Keith's funeral.  It was sad knowing he's gone from this earth.  

Tamira at Camp 18

The good part was getting to see cousins I rarely see.  The really good part was staying with Tamira who was so much fun and such a wonderful hostess.   Her humor keeps things light and makes hard things better.  It was so much better being with her than staying in a stuffy motel.  We arrived late Sunday night and talked for awhile. Monday, Tamira took us to Camp 18 then to the Oregon Coast to Seaside, then down to Cannon Beach to view Haystack Rock.   At Cannon Beach we treated ourselves to taffy, sharing a caramel apple,and licking ice cream cones.  We couldn't have asked for a more pleasant, perfect day.

The Funeral of Keith Leroy Johnson

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Belinda & Perry Johnson with Darrell

Keith's Harmonica & Painting Business Card

The funeral was lovely with recordings of music Keith loved, Uncle Darrell conducting and speaking, his son-in-law speaking, and Darrell and his girls singing.  I said the closing prayer.  I believe my cousins were comforted as I said, "We know Keith is rejoicing meeting with Muriel, his children, parents, and brothers and sisters in the spirit world.  But here his family is grieving at not having him here anymore.  Please bless them with peace and comfort."  I felt peace had descended on them as many thanked me for the prayer.

Military Honors

Keith's Children:  Perry-11, Belinda-9, LaRita-3, Tamira-12, Kathy-1, Shelly-4, Dan-7 & Gary-6

We had a long police escort to the cemetery where a beautiful military honors ceremony with gun salute and taps was held. After the ceremony we went to the grave site where Darrell dedicated the grave.

The Funeral Luncheon at Kathy's Home

Kathy Johnson

Afterward we traveled out towards St. Helen's to Kathy's home where we had a wonderful meal.  It was great to get to know cousins a bit more as well as be with Utah aunts and uncles.  Her home and yard were beautiful as well as the furniture her husband had built.

Keith's Children

Paula & Tamira Johnson

Paula, Dan's Wife

Shelly

Rita Johnson

Dan, Gaylene, & Gary Johnson

Keith's Siblings

Norma (9-Ray) & Gaylene Johnson

10-Darrell & Anna Laura Johnson

Lisa & LeeAnn Johnson

13-Therald & Betty Quayle

12-Merlene & Wesley Johnson

              
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
A Quaint Lunch & Heading Home

Tamira showed us the airport where her husband flies from and had lunch at a cute old house bistro.  The chairs and tables were all different.  Mugs and small buckets held napkins.  I love those types of places and the food was great! Mom and I left Oregon at 3 p.m. stopping quickly at Multnomah Falls. 

We arrived in Boise about 11:30 p.m.  We really slept in until noonish, just waking long enough for me to cook & eat a hot waffle and Mom a bagel.  We loved that fact that this Best Western's checkout wasn't until 1 p.m.  We left about 12:30.  We ate lunch in Twin Falls at Perkins at 3 p.m. and visited Aunt Vesta about 7 p.m.  We headed home at 8 p.m. arriving a day earlier than our original plan.