The Last Living Siblings

I've had the opportunity to spend time with both my father's and mother's last living siblings lately. The last of my aunts and uncles, the thought makes you see life in a whole new light. It seems odd to see yourself as the older generation, I surely don't feel like I am. Don't worry it will happen to all of you. My mother was the youngest in her family until she turned 18 and then a baby brother was born in her family. My Uncle LeRoy (he prefers to go by Lee) was born not too far before my oldest sisters, so he actually seems to be more like a nephew on the family tree than the Uncle. Since I am sooooooooooooooooooo much younger however he is much more an uncle to me. :) While we were out to Vernal for Garrett's wedding I had the opportunity to spend the day with him. He has always been so supportive of our family and is good to come to anything he possibly can. I hope that he will be able to attend our Willard Family Reunion this month. I know he will be there if he can. On the side note, Larry and I usually get season tickets to the play at Pioneer Theater in Salt Lake City, and to make a long story short, Uncle Lee and Aunt Kathy have decided to join us this year. I look forward to spending a monthly date with him this Fall and Winter. Love you Uncle Lee
My Uncle Lee and all my sisters
This past Memorial Day Larry and I made a spur of momment decision and went to Idaho to decorate the graves. What a long day, but that's a whole different story. Anyway, my father's sister that is just about an year and a half older than he was was turning 90 years old. I had sent her a card because I didn't think I'd see her. She had a big birthday party that her kids did for her the week before, but her actual birthday was on Memorial Day this year. Anyway, after we decorated graves in Wendell, Aunt June arrived to decorate her family graves. We told her we would help her, but she said "I don't know if I will be here next year and I want to decorate all my famiies graves myself." All but one of her siblings are buried there in the Wendell Cememtary,that would be 8 of them, along with her parents and grandparents. Her sister Beauton is in Twin Falls and actually Aunt June will be buried in Shoshone next to her husband. After we finished at the cemetary went back to my niece Katie's house. Some of the family like to have a little potluck and it became a little birthday party for my Aunt June. She looked very good and was still getting around very well. Still glad to have her around. Love you too Aunt June.
Marla and I with Aunt June on her 90th birthday
Here's just a few other pictures of Memorial Day in Wendell
Mom and Dad's grave

Grandma and Grandpa Willard and Andersen's graves

Emily and her fiance', Ben

Garrett and Kaitlynn!!

!!! On May 11th a dear nephew was married in the Vernal Temple. Garrett chose a cute and wonderful girl from Vernal, Kaitlynn Winn. The funnny thing is that I've known her since she was born also. I lived right around the corner from her parents and we were in the same ward in Vernal. Anyway, she's a very cute girl with a wonderful family. I was so happy for him and it was so evident by the smile on his face that he was an extremely happy young man that day. Amazingly they also had the opportunity to buy home before they were married. Not many young couples are able to do that. It's also fun that he is living in Kaitlyn's and my old ward. I've got spies that can keep an eye on him. Garrett is a special nephew as I was also able to be his 2nd grade teacher, so I spent a lot of time with him. He called me Miss Willard at school and sometimes when I was over at their house I had to tell him he could call me Aunt Patsy and that we were off the clock. I don't know it really mattered what he called me, the class all knew he was my nephew. I really don't have favorites when it comes to my 28 nieces and nephews, I love them all very much. (Don't want any of the others to think I have favorites.) I've had a lot of time to spend with them all and they are all a special part of my life. However, I did have opportunity to be even a bigger part of Garrett's life and I'm happy that he has been successful so far and hope for great things for him in his and his new family's lives. Best of luck to Garrett and Kaitlynn!! May you cherish each other and always remember this special day and how much you love each other. Love to you from me. On a side note, all my sisters were there and so we had to take a few pictures together and so I wanted to add some of those to this post. It is always good to be with my family. I'm grateful that we try to stay in touch and are there to support each other and our families. Love you sisters and hubbies!!