Nonnie

As a young child, I would often hear my grandmother, Nonnie, bellow "saintspreserveus" in a moment of total exasperation.  It wasn't until I was much older (30 years) that I realized the phrase was actually Saints Preserve Us!  Now that I spend a good portion of the week feeling exasperated myself, I have come back to my roots!

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of my grandmother's passing.  Often I find myself longing to have a conversation with her, seeking her advice.   Tell her the latest story that my son, who name is not Dennis, has done now.  I know, because I saw with my own eyes that she is in heaven and we will meet again.  Until that reunion I get to reflect on the times we had together.

Carol Ray Jost Born March 26, 1930

Carol Ray Jost ~Visiting California c. 1950

Carol Ray Jost was born in Utah into her mother's well to do family and her father's hardworking spirit. I think of the stories she would tell about the Great Depression as a young girl going out to eat.  Common practice was to order ketchup, hot water, and crackers to have tomato soup.   Helping her grandmother scrub the wallpaper with "gum" in her large home that looked like a gingerbread house. Working in her father's family fruit orchards.  Getting scarlet fever when she was ten, and learning to walk again.  Going to Weber state school, and learning to become a secretary.  Getting engaged to man she never wanted to marry.  Calling off the engagement, and moving to California.  Meeting my grandfather, marrying him and living in an efficiency flat.  Birthing six children the doctors said her heart could not endure. Raising only five children and the loss she felt.  Her life as a mother to five, raising them as a single parent the majority of the time.  The husband that she had fallen in love with worked on the road and spent on the road.  The poverty that she experienced having come from so much.  Trying to give her children a better life, while pondering her own. When I was born, my youngest aunts were still in high school.  Spending the first six years of my life under her watchful eye.  Getting into sassing matches with her.  She would win, but I always had the last word. Having her call just to "touch base" and seeing her at my sporting events.  Visiting with her while I wrapped the Christmas presents she could never seem to find.  Introducing Nonnie to the man I would marry.  Unfortunately, she never made it to my wedding.  The Lord called her home six weeks before. Oh, how I miss her!  Her life was so much more to me than these words.

At her funeral I had the privilege of giving her eulogy.  I still have what I wrote, and would like to share it again.

You Never Know

Wedding Day February 6, 1953

You never know when someone

May catch a dream from you.

You never know when a little word

Or something you may do

May open up the windows

Of a mind that seeks the light-

The way you live may not matter at all,

But you never know – it might.

And just in case it could be

That another’s life, through you

Might possibly change for the better

With a broader and brighter view,

It seems is might be worth a try

At pointing the way to the right-

Of course, it may not matter at all,

But then again it might.

By Helen Lowrie Marshall

It Mattered

As many of you already know Carol or as I knew her Nonnie lived a full life.  She faced many trials but in the end was a faithful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.  To her it mattered!

Nonnie was a caring and loving wife who stood by  Poppie’s side no matter what life threw their way.  Now of course I know she expressed her opinion, but when it was time she was just supportive.  To her Poppie mattered.

She remained devoted to her children and desired to teach them what was wrong and right, but more importantly how to be a good person.  Her five children sit here today living this out because to her it mattered.

Nonnie was a wonderful grandmother who was supportive in all kinds of ways, many of which we many of which we may not have realized.  She prayed for us all faithfully and always desired the best in our lives.  She would come to support us by watching us play sports, perform in school and church programs or by taking care of us when we were sick.  Because to her we mattered.

She loved her sister dearly and was able to share her life with her even though they did not live close by because to her she mattered.

Nonnie was a model citizen who developed many friendships in this town through her clubs and civic duties she was involved in.  To her friends mattered. 

Nonnie was a faithful follower of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Her desire for all who knew her was to have that same relationship.  To her knowing Christ mattered.

It is a comfort to me to know that her legacy will live on because she left a part of herself with all of us because to her Life mattered!

This poem was from a book given to my great grandma Lewis by Nonnie.  Under this poem Nonnie wrote: “I believe this.  Carol”

The Privilege of Living

50th Wedding Anniversary - 2003

Thank God for the privilege of living,

The privilege of breathing the air,

The privilege of being alive in the midst

Of such beauty everywhere!

Thank the Good Lord for his mercy

In giving me eyes to see,

A mind to learn and a voice to speak

And faith in Eternity.

Thank God for the privilege of living-

For sharing His earth and His sky-

That a gift so rare as the gift of life

Is given to such as I.

By Helen Lowrie Marshall

For those of you that knew her well know that she was standing at the gates of heaven waving and saying “Yoo-hoo!”

Nonnie & I c. 1980

Nonnie & I c. 1978