At the end of February, Nate's Grandpa Webb passed away at 97 years old.
Natalie had a very special relationship with her great-grandpa. She loved him sooo much. Great-Grandpa lived with Nate's parents for the last few years of his life, so Natalie was able to spend some time with him. Whenever we couldn't find Natalie, we always knew she was in Great-Grandpa's room. She would choose spending time with him over playing with her cousins. She would spend hours in there with him every time we came to visit. She loved to talk to him, read to him, draw him pictures, and most of all, she loved taking care of him.
About a year ago, when his second wife, Cheryle, died, Natalie sat right next to him during the funeral. Afterwards, he told Natalie, "the next time you see me, I will be dead." I guess this is a line he would tell people often. Natalie happily responded, "then we can be friends in heaven!"
We did get to see him many times after that. And thanks to a spur of the moment trip to Snowflake, with the main purpose of me being able to scout out our girls camp site, we were able to see him right before he passed away. I was so grateful we (especially Nate and Natalie) were able to see him so shortly before he died. I think it made it easier for Natalie because it made it seem more like she got to say goodbye. As we were about to walk out the door to leave Snowflake, Natalie and Great Grandpa were about to do a puzzle together. He was asking Nate's mom where they could put it together and she told him we were leaving right then. He said a disappointed "oh." Natalie gave him a big hug which made him smile. Natalie said "It's okay. I will see you soon." It was just five days later that he died.
This picture is actually from last March, so it is a year old. But I couldn't find another one.
We went to Snowflake for the funeral on March 8th. Natalie was okay, but pretty sad. She understands that she will see him again, but she misses him now. I asked Natalie to smile and this was the best I could get. She told me she didn't feel like smiling.
Our family. Arie was napping at my parents' house.
Grandpa Webb's living children, and spouses.
Here is his obituary:
Maurice Eugene Webb
(September 13, 1916 - February 22, 2014)
Maurice Eugene Webb of Snowflake, Arizona, died February 22, 2014 at the age of 97. He finally used up all of his 9 lives – he should have died at least 8 other times in his life because of injuries or illnesses! He leaves behind 4 living children: Eugene Webb, Keith Webb, Patricia Larson & Joyce Brimhall, all of Snowflake, 3 sons-in-law: R.H. Larson, Dennis Wilkins and Chris Brimhall, 3 daughters-in-law: Mary Webb, Pam Webb and Rita Webb, 41 grandchildren, 35 grandchildren-in-law, 139 great-grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren-in-law, 4 great-great-grandchildren and numerous step children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Luella Ballard Webb who died in 1977 after 39 years of marriage, 3 children: Barbara Webb, Steven Webb and Janet Wilkins, and his 2nd wife Cheryle Sandall Webb who died in 2013 after 35 years of marriage. His posterity at the end of 2013 numbered 241!Up until the time of his death, he read constantly, climbed stairs dangerously, and he could name all of his grandchildren and most of his great grandchildren. If he couldn’t name them, he could at least tell you who they belonged to. He was pleased to be in several 5-generation pictures. Reese was born in Pinedale on September 13, 1916 to Jonathan Henry Webb and Della Ray Webb and was the 5th of their 10 children, all of whom preceded him in death but two brothers, Jay Webb and June Webb. Reese was raised in a happy home, with his parents taking in several cousins to raise as their own and had happy memories playing with cousins and friends in the Mesa/Lehi/Apache Junction/Pinedale/Lakeside areas. He had a beautiful singing voice and performed many solos. He was taught by his mother and aunts to dance very early, and was known for sweeping many ladies and young ladies off their feet on the dance floor. He was also famous for his donkey call. He loved to visit with his future mother-in-law, the widow Julia Ballard, while his future wife Luella Ballard curled her sisters and friends hair before the dances. He knew that his future wife would be as good a cook and friend as his future mother-in-law. As a young man, he played many baseball games, but during one fateful game, he threw the ball from centerfield to home plate and suffered a severe injury that resulted in osteomyelitis in his right arm. The doctors at that time wanted to amputate his arm, but his Dad told the doctors that he had lived a good life so they should do everything they could to save the arm. He had many careers throughout his life: bus driver, welder, mechanic, saw-mill worker, log truck driver, partner in Webb & Sons Sawmill, finance manager, big machinery operator, carpenter, town councilman, member of the irrigation board, beaver rancher, cattle rancher, custodian, sprinkler salesman, landscaper, long-haul truck driver, tractor driver, sheep rancher and hay farmer, but the most important work he did was within the walls of his own home. During all of this time, he served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a Counselor in the Bishopric in Vernon, Snowflake Stake Clerk, Ward Clerk, missionary, Branch President (during his mission in Bogalusa, Louisiana)and Home Teacher, but his favorite church calling was Nursery Leader. He also loved to give quarters gifts for special occasions. His children remember their happy home life. They didn’t take many vacations but were always working together and playing together. They were raised in a home where love, service and the Gospel of Jesus Christ were taught by example. A viewing will be held Friday evening, March 7, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Pioneer Park LDS Chapel in Snowflake, Arizona. An additional viewing will be from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 2014 in the Pioneer Park LDS Chapel in Snowflake, Arizona, with the funeral servicesbeginning at 11 a.m. Silver Creek Mortuary in Taylor, Arizona handled the services.
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