Remembering Scott Keyser

Today was our friend Scott Keyser's funeral in Draper. He passed away last Tuesday, Feb. 12, after having had multiple myeloma for three years. Two years ago he had a stem cell transplant and went into remission for a year, then the cancer came back a year ago. His wife, Chris, and I had been trying to get together in December and January but she had to keep cancelling because she needed to take Scott to the doctor. She kept sounding hopeful. She said, "We're going to beat this." He started a new agressive treatment at the Huntsman Cancer Center in January; but I guess he went downhill from there. It was his last resort, and it just didn't work for him.

Scott and Chris lived in the Sunset Heights 5th ward with us for quite a few years when all of our kids were little. So we had a lot of good times with them. Chris was Relief Society president and we have been good friends over the years. Lindy and their daughter, Kim, were best friends in grade school. Around Kim's junior high years they moved to Pennsylvania for a few years and then back to Utah, settling in Salt Lake. Scott worked for Geneva Steel until it went out of business. He brokered steel for awhile, then found that was going nowhere. He most recently worked for NuSkin. Chris teaches at the U and has a consulting business. So she will get along all right, hopefully, now that Scott is gone. We have gotten together with them and some of the other old friends socially over the years to try to stay in touch. I dropped the ball for the past few years, so we haven't gotten together. I kind of wondered why I had to be the one to get us together and I always felt like we were leaving someone out; so I decided that it was just easier not to do it. Now I feel kind of bad.

The funeral was very nice. Each of the four children spoke: Stephanie, Michael, Kim and Natalie. They had great times skiing and boating with their dad. He was a great husband, father, grandfather and friend. He had completed his mission and it was time for him to go. He didn't want to go and leave Chris alone, but she told him she would be all right. It was nice to be there and to reflect on Scott's good life and the "good old days" when we were young and our kids were growing up together.

We rode up with Joel and Annette, so that was nice to be with them. On the way up we were behind a small blue car with a big guy at the wheel. I couldn't see anyone in the passenger seat. Annette said, "I bet that's Doyle and Diane (Asay) on their way to the funeral." Joel asked, "Do you know their car?" Annette said, "No. That just looks like Doyle's head." I thought that didn't look like a car they would be driving, plus I couldn't see anyone in the passenger seat. But we passed the car; and, sure enough, it was Doyle and Diane. She was kind of curled up there in the passenger seat instead of sitting up straight, so that's why we couldn't see her. But Annette knew the back of Doyle's head. That's funny. So we saw them up there, plus the Marcovs, Kim and Deenie Asay and, of course, Don and Jaynann Wendt. Jaynann is Richard's "boss" at the temple and she always tells us how much she appreciates him and the good worker her is.

After the funeral, we went with Joel and Annette for bite of lunch at Bajio. That was fun to be with them. Annette always knows how to order Mexican food.

When we got home Richard was watching the new TV (which we got a few days ago), and he was quite displeased with the speakers. They were making a static-y sound. So we decided to box it up and put the old TV back in its place. Richard was quite relieved to have the good old TV back. He said it reminded him of President's Day a few years ago when we had gotten him a new mattress. We had tossed his old mattress in the dumpster at the church. Well, he didn't like his new mattress, so we went back and got his old one out of the dumpster. Thankfully, no on had thrown anything in on top of it! That was pretty funny to get the mattress back out of the dumpster. I told Steven I'm glad we didn't get rid of the old TV as soon as he wanted to!

For FHE, about 4:00, we went over and had a nice visit with the T's in Springville. It was good to see Grandpa and Cathy for a little while. Their mama goat had three babies recently, so Grandma Cathy was out at the barn with their friend, Bro. Lay, milking her. They got a gallon of milk + one pint! Cathy has to feed one of the babies because the mother won't. Another of the babies died; so now they only have two, one of which the mother won't feed. Grandpa seems to be doing pretty well, so we're glad about that. He talked to us about Steven speaking at his funeral and me writing his obituary, however. He does that from time to time, so I don't think it means he's going to go any time soon.

The day had gotten away from me and we were without a cherry pie for President's Day! So Richard and I went by Target about 8:00, and we picked up a couple of little 4-inch cherry pies that were all they had. We came home and cut them in half and had cherry pie and ice cream with Dad. It tasted pretty good. It would have been a shame for President's Day to have gone by without any cherry pie! I told Lindy we'll have some this Sunday since we didn't have any last Sunday.

Dinner with Greg and His Family

Tiffany and Greg had a full day today trying to fit all their visits and activities in. First they went to BYU to drop in on a few people, then over to Sis. Black's to get her "approval" of Greg. Can't do anything without Sis. Black weighing in. One day a few years ago when Tiffany was working for Sis. Black, they were walking across campus and visiting. Sis. Black said to Tiff, "I hope you won't marry Gabe (a fellow Tiffany worked with on the Winter Quarters project). If you do, I won't give you a wedding present." Tiffany told her she didn't need to worry about that. Then when Tiffany left to go away for work and school, Sis. Black said, "You'll probably go back there and find someone tall, dark and handsome and get married." So she was a pretty good predictor it seems. After visiting with Sis. Black, they went to see National Treasure 2 and then over to the T's for a visit. Then it was time for dinner here with Greg's mom, his brother Scott, Scott's wife Laura, and the Barrett gang. It was a pretty good house full. For dinner we had sloppy joes, potato salad, chips and yummy veggies from Lindy. It was a fun evening getting to know Greg and his family better. Richard was at work, so we missed him. After dinner, Greg wanted to visit with Steven (about what, I wonder?), and Steven suggested that we all four sit down in the living room for a visit. That's when Greg said that he would like to marry Tiffany and would we approve? We told him that we thought it would be great if that's what Tiffany wanted and she said it was. So, things seem to be heading towards "official." After our visit, Tiffany and Greg left to go visit with Blake Roney, who is a friend of the Bowles' family. I think they've gotten in plenty of visiting for one day!