On Friday, April 21, we had the sad experience of attending the funeral of Michelle Garrett-Shrader, oldest daughter of our dear friends John and Deanna Garrett. This beautiful 49-year-old wife and mother of three succumbed on April 18 after a courageous 7-year battle with cancer, including 30 surgeries, extensive chemotherapy and numerous rounds of radiation. The funeral was beautiful, the loving tributes heartfelt and the opportunity to see friends we only see at weddings and funerals made the day memorable despite the reason for the gathering.
Her father noted in comments before those in attendance, "Michelle did not want us to mourn, but I never thought I would ever have to say goodbye to one of my children. Michelle was beautiful and something really, really special. She was strong-willed, stubborn, resolute, a fighter, tenacious, spunky, bull-headed, strong, determined and faithful to the end. She touched many lives in many ways and accepted trials with courage and grace."
Her husband Rick reminisced about meeting Michelle as a young college student he eventually nicknamed "Beez." He also noted, "she loved camping, fishing, planning vacations, education, Pie Day when all her sisters would gather the day before in preparation for Thanksgiving, scrapbooking, her children and "grands" She graduated with honors from this life ... she went through the refiner's fire and it made her more soft, more loving."
Regional representative McKay reminded us, "God has a plan and the resurrection is certain. Michelle knew and understood these truths and was an example of enduring to the end saying, as Paul the Apostle testified, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith'. Michelle defeated cancer. It did not make her angry, discouraged and she did not lose her love for her Savior. In the end, she skipped back to her Heavenly Father who gave her life! She has been taken from our view but not from our presence."
We also enjoyed the chance to meet up with some of those we knew in Thousand Oaks, including the Garrett's and their remaining five offspring with whom we enjoyed summers at the beach; the Ludlow's and the Horne's.
We appreciate our location on the I-15 freeway, midway between family and friends in both California and northern Utah. Were it not for a comfortable bed and a hot shower, we might never have company. Just kidding! Last month, we had Dave and Janene Bills overnight on their way to some of our beautiful national parks … last night we had Tiffany and her son Ben, recently returned from his mission in Uraguay, now on his way to BYU. Stacy came over after work at the hospital. The cousins enjoyed girl talk until about midnight, after which Tiff – a mother of 7 – had a good night’s sleep (“I hardly ever get to sleep all night,” she said).
