On the Front Porch With You–By Matthew Morrill

Mom passed away late last week peacefully in her home. She was surrounded by her children and her tender husband. Mom was a very special woman. She was a very special soul and one of the most amazing people I ever knew. I’m going to tell some of my favorite stories of mom and hope that I don’t embarrass her too much. One of the most prominent characteristics of mom is that she loved big hair:

This was a common sight in our household. She would spend forever ratting out her hair and then, just at the last moment, she would pull it all together and make it look like a million bucks. Mom had a wonderful sense of humor. She was usually the brunt the family’s teasing, but she would always poke back. She was one of the guys and could heckle with the best of them.

Yes, I know that dad looks like he’s about to pop in this one, but it’s one of my favorites. Mom was as tough as they come. I do have to admit that the only time I ever really saw a fight from start to finish was when I saw mom defending herself. She had the nickname growing up as “The Glenwood Brawler”. Dad always said that she came by it honestly. One time when Shauna and I were on our way back from ditching Sunday School (*gasp!!* That’s right! We didn’t have perfect attendance okay) we ran into mom driving home to get something for her Relief Society lesson. We stopped in the middle of the street to talk. All of the sudden some crazy woman came screeching up behind mom just yelling at the top of her lungs. Mom got out to see what the problem was and offered her apologies to anything that she may have done wrong. Just when I was thinking this was getting a little ridiculous, crazy lady took a swing at mom. I was concerned for a brief moment that someone was attacking mom. But in the time it took crazy lady to take one swing, mom had dodged the poorly thrown assault and answered with three well placed strikes of her own. Mom grabbed crazy lady and pushed her back in her car and the last thing mom said to crazy lady was “now get in that car and take care of that baby.”
Mom had a heart of gold. She was willing to go out of her way, sometimes far out of her way, to be there for her family. She would travel at all hours of the night (or early morning) to be there when her grandchildren were born.
Mom always said that Bailee looked like a little porcelain doll when she was a baby and she enjoyed giving Bailee very "pretty" gifts. It’s understandable since out of 19 grandchildren, Bailee was the 1 of only 3 granddaughters. Every year Bailee looked forward to the new Christmas Dress that Grandma Cindy carefully picked out for her.
Education was always very important to mom. All throughout high school she and I had many conversations about the importance of school. I was so proud when I was graduating with my Bachelor’s degree because I knew that mom was in the stands watching me accomplish one of the goals that she and I had set together many years before.

Mom loved being together with her family and she loved having fun together with her family. She loved going places and sharing new things with her family.

Mom taught me to be gentleman. There were many times when Cory and I would go walking through a door to a restaurant or building of some sort and we’d stand around waiting for mom to come in. After a while we’d go back outside looking for only to find her patiently waiting by the door for her sons to open it for her and allow her to pass through first. She also taught me about being respectful around the ladies and especially my wife.
We enjoyed quick little dances and I would sing Burl Ives to her. “On the Front Porch,” was one of her favorites and I would sing it to her over and over again.

She was spunky and full of life. She had a sense of propriety and grace. She left this world peacefully, with her dignity, and surrounded by her loved ones. I don’t think she would have ever expected any less of us. I love you mom. I will miss you terribly, but I do know that I will be able to be with you again. Until then, I’ll carry you always in my memories and in my heart. I know that someday, I’ll be able to dance with you again!