Our Beloved Mother and Grandmother

"The death of a righteous individual is both an honorable release and a call to new labors." -Ezra Taft Benson

On February 26, 2013, at about 7:00 in the morning, we received a phone call from Neil's parents' home. We both had a foreboding feeling as we saw the name on the caller ID. It was Neil's dad. He was distressed. He told us that he thought Grandma had had a heart attack. That was all he had time to tell us.

Neil rushed to meet the ambulance at the hospital. Less than an hour later, Neil called to tell me that his dear mother had passed away. One moment, she was getting up to use the restroom, and the next moment, she was on the other side.

She was 80 years old. She had lived life to the fullest up to the very end. She was on a snowmobile just two weeks before. She had taken all of the granddaughters requests for hats that she was going to knit them, just 36 hours before. She had just purchased a new embroidery machine and was ready to begin classes on how to use it. She was anxiously engaged to the very end of her life.

This last week has been a whirlwind that has brought a flood of thoughts and emotions. I will eventually share these thoughts, but today, I just want to celebrate the beautiful life of an extraordinary woman. Her death leaves a large hole in our lives. We love you Grandma Watson, and will miss your sweet presence.