A wonderful man

Last week on October 29th, our dear friend Gerry Whipple passed away.  Nate got a call early in the morning from our friend Marshall Pratt and told us that Gerry had a heart attack.  We are really good friends with his family and Nate is actually like 2nd cousins with the wife Marcia.  When we first got the news, I didn't really know what to.  I knew there was plenty of family and friends in Show Low so they would be taken care of, but all I wanted to do was drive over and just give all of them a big hug and then leave.  It hit us pretty hard all day and then we just kind of accepted it and moved on with the rest of the week until we could leave and go to Show Low.  

This man was so awesome.  He was our bishop when we lived in Show Low earlier this year and Nate and I went to school with some of their children in Show Low.  He owned his own electric company and was heavily involved in the city.  He was on the city council and served as mayor for a few years, he was on the school board, and he and his family did an annual bisquit and gravy breakfast on Groundhog's day for anyone in town.  He was such a generous man and was never selfish.  Even the day he died he had gotten done with church and then he went to do his bishop visits and then did his home teaching and then he went home later that night.  He always thought of others and was so sweet.  Something we will always remember him for is that we were able to have our wedding reception on their backyard and they were totally ok with it and he got the yard so gorgeous for us and were very generous in helping us and getting the food ready.  He even got some plywood and made us a dance floor in the grass.  I didn't get to know him as well as I would have liked to but I do mourn for his loss.  Nate thought of him as a father figure in his life and so he was much closer to him.  He lived with them for a summer after his mission I think and he asked Gerry to be one of the witnesses at our wedding which is normally a dad thing.  This man left such a big hole in the town and in that family and I can't help but feel for them everyday.  

The funeral services were beautiful.  We went to Show Low on Friday night and then we went to the viewing right before the funeral and then stayed after.  They had a few of the sons speak, and the oldest one spoke about his life, and then there was 3 musical numbers by youth in the ward and the other ones were by his children.  After it was over, they went to the gravesite in Clay Springs and then there was a luncheon after which we attended.  We were really glad we were able to go and be there for the family and see everyone.  We went back home on Sunday but before we left, we stopped at the Whipple's house to say our goodbye's and Marcia insisted on us staying for dinner.  She had that look in her eyes like if you tell me no one more time I will take you out back and whip you.  So we stayed for dinner and enjoyed the night with their family.  They are so sweet and we love that family and Gerry will be missed immensely.

I feel bad, but I am pretty sure that this is the only picture I have of him.  It was taken at our wedding reception while he was helping in the kitchen and his wife is on the right.