When we die, we become "stories" in the minds of other people.
Last month my mother died. I inherited her "genealogy." Hundreds of file folders, a computer file, and a thousand or so pictures. It has become my job to somehow make sense and order of all this. Mom apparently saved every genealogy note she wrote. They are filed in multiple and duplicate files. Mom did leave a Legacy Family Tree file which she updated until several months ago. I consider that her "finished work."
Mom was baptized into the LDS faith in November 1952. Soon afterward she began researching her family tree. Doing genealogy became one of her life's passions. It was from her that I learned to love doing family history. I remember on Sundays she would get out her genealogy and spread it out on the dining room table. To keep me busy, she gave me charts. I would fill out the family trees and family group sheets in my best handwriting and learn the names of my ancestors and their "stories." Her passion became my passion.
Mom's Obituary is posted at the Lake Powell Chronicle:
Patricia Lula Hickman returned home to her Heavenly Father on Feb. 8, 2011, at age 81.
She was born on April 11, 1929, in Brownwood, Texas, to Richard Taylor and Vernie Beatrice (Crabb) Bailey, who preceded her in death. She graduated from Basic High School in Henderson, Nev. She was a prom queen, the “Sweetheart of Basic High.” It was there that she met her sweetheart, Raymond Dee Hickman. They were married on Dec. 26, 1947 in Kingman, Ariz. On Sept. 12, 1961 they were sealed for time and eternity in the Los Angeles Temple.
Patricia became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1952 and has served faithfully in many callings since. Patricia loved her work in the local Family History Center, where she and her good friend Ida Tenny faithfully served every Tuesday for many years and helped many friends trace their family histories, as well as working on her own. Her love of the Savior and the gospel has influenced many in generations past and in generations to come. Patricia was a very caring and compassionate person who often went the extra mile to help friends and families. All who knew her loved her for a kind and caring nature.
She loved to read and write stories. She collected porcelain dolls and grew beautiful roses in her garden.
Patricia was the mother of eight wonderful children who survive her: Michael Hickman (Mindy) of Altadena, Calif.; Karen Bush (Samuel) of Page; Laura Dupaix (Leslie) of Kaysville, Utah; Grant Hickman (Anna) of Clearfield, Utah; Richard Hickman of Page, Merry McGuire (Patrick) of Mesa, Ariz.; Melody Adams (Daniel) of Washington, Utah; and James Hickman (LaDonna) of Page. She was the grandmother of 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren who dearly loved her because each and every one was her “favorite.” She was preceded in death by one great-grandson, Kaleb Hutchings Williams. Also surviving her are her two brothers, Melvin D. Bailey of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Richard T. Bailey of Dallas, Texas, and many nephews and nieces.
The family gathered on Feb. 12, 2011 at the Page Cemetery to lay their wife, mother and grandmother to rest, each giving her a pink rose. Her little great-granddaughter, Brianna, perhaps said what we all feel: “Grandma told me she worked all her life to go to heaven. I am really happy for her.”
She was born on April 11, 1929, in Brownwood, Texas, to Richard Taylor and Vernie Beatrice (Crabb) Bailey, who preceded her in death. She graduated from Basic High School in Henderson, Nev. She was a prom queen, the “Sweetheart of Basic High.” It was there that she met her sweetheart, Raymond Dee Hickman. They were married on Dec. 26, 1947 in Kingman, Ariz. On Sept. 12, 1961 they were sealed for time and eternity in the Los Angeles Temple.
Patricia became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1952 and has served faithfully in many callings since. Patricia loved her work in the local Family History Center, where she and her good friend Ida Tenny faithfully served every Tuesday for many years and helped many friends trace their family histories, as well as working on her own. Her love of the Savior and the gospel has influenced many in generations past and in generations to come. Patricia was a very caring and compassionate person who often went the extra mile to help friends and families. All who knew her loved her for a kind and caring nature.
She loved to read and write stories. She collected porcelain dolls and grew beautiful roses in her garden.
Patricia was the mother of eight wonderful children who survive her: Michael Hickman (Mindy) of Altadena, Calif.; Karen Bush (Samuel) of Page; Laura Dupaix (Leslie) of Kaysville, Utah; Grant Hickman (Anna) of Clearfield, Utah; Richard Hickman of Page, Merry McGuire (Patrick) of Mesa, Ariz.; Melody Adams (Daniel) of Washington, Utah; and James Hickman (LaDonna) of Page. She was the grandmother of 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren who dearly loved her because each and every one was her “favorite.” She was preceded in death by one great-grandson, Kaleb Hutchings Williams. Also surviving her are her two brothers, Melvin D. Bailey of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Richard T. Bailey of Dallas, Texas, and many nephews and nieces.
The family gathered on Feb. 12, 2011 at the Page Cemetery to lay their wife, mother and grandmother to rest, each giving her a pink rose. Her little great-granddaughter, Brianna, perhaps said what we all feel: “Grandma told me she worked all her life to go to heaven. I am really happy for her.”
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