My Uncle Jay

My Great Uncle Jay passed recently. This has given me time to reflect on the memories I have with him. He is my Grandfather's brother. My Grandfather and his brother Jay have cabin's at Bear Lake right next door. The cabin's are seperated by only a drive way. I remember growing up watching my Grandfather and Jay would put on their working jumpsuits and go out and sweep the driveway of all of the sand from the beach. I always thought it was so funny because the minute they got done someone would drive up with a boat and drag the sand back onto the driveway and they would start over again. Always made me laugh. I loved the family pool party at my Grandpa's sister's house (Joyce) swimming and over to my Granny's house for dinner and picking cherries off the cherry tree in her backyard. My whole life is filled with memories with cousins and second counsins, Aunts and Uncles and Great Aunts and Uncles. I am so blessed to have these memories.

I called my Grandpa tonight to tell him how sorry I am for his loss. I had a conversation with him that lasted about 10 min. I was amazed by this because my Grandpa can't hear and never stays on the phone for more than just a few seconds. I love talking to him when he has stories and he had one for me. He asked about Dominick and how he is doing. I am so grateful to him and my Grandmother for being there for me and my family during a time that was so difficult. Once he was done asking about my family I asked him how he was and he said "I am doing just fine. I went against protocall at the funeral. They asked me to say the prayer and I decided that I needed to give a little talk so I did." He proceeded to tell me a story about when he and Jay joined the army together. He had to talk Jay into going down to the office but they went together. The recruitment officer told my Grandpa and Jay that he promised they would never be serarated. This was unheard of because he had no way of fulfilling this promise. They were never seperated. They were together the entire 3 years in the service. He said they were blessed to stay together.

I stay with my grandparents every time I go to Utah. I could stay with my sisters but I enjoy my time with my Grandparents. My children know them. They love them and have memories with them. I feel blessed to have been able to give them this gift. My Grandparents...all of them are wonderful people. I have so much respect for my Grandpa Love. He has so much compassion, he is an amazingly generous man. My husband has said on numerous occasions that he wants to pattern his life after my Grandfather. I love him dearly and this whole experience with the passing of my Uncle Jay has made me realize how very little my time is left with my Grandparents. I am so grateful to know them and have memories to keep so close. Stories that will last a life time. I love you Grandpa and I loved my Uncle Jay.




JAY LOVE
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Jay Leonard Love 1920 ~ 2010 Beloved patriarch, brother and friend, Jay Leonard Love, passed away at 90 years of age on Sept. 26th.Born on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1920, to Joseph Leonard and Hazel Anna Sperry Love, Jay was the eldest of three siblings. He grew to become a respected businessman, with ownership interest in both the Love Machine Company and Automotive Manufacturers' Warehouse (AMWARE). Jay was a life-long active member of the LDS Church, serving a Japanese-speaking mission in Hawaii during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He later served in the Army Air Corps in Europe, returning home in 1945 and marrying his sweetheart Beth Sheffield on Oct. 17, 1945. He was a beloved Bishop in the Monument Park 11th Ward and served faithfully in the temple in his later years. His kind and generous spirit will leave an indelible imprint in the lives of his posterity for generations. We will never forget his silly jokes, his sparkling laugh, the convoluted handshake routines, or his persistent urging that you have either ice cream or candy before leaving his home. He is survived by his beloved wife Beth and five children, Beth Ann (Gordon) Hammer, Jim Love, Claudia Murphy, Scott Love, and Laura (Mark) Fotheringham and by 15 grandchildren and 27 great-grand-children with two on the way. Also survived by his brother Richard (Marian) Love and his sister Joyce (Spence) Jenson. A viewing service will be held Monday from 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. 10600 S. and on Tuesday from 10:30-11:45 a.m. at the Cottonwood 11th Ward, 1830 East 6400 South, where the funeral service will be held at Noon. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Primary Children's Hospital, the Perpetual Education Fund or the Missionary Fund of the LDS Church. Online condolences may be made at www.larkincares.com

Published in Salt Lake Tribune from October 3