The Starits' Clan ~Established January 2004~: My Grandpa

So on December 4th my Grandpa Morgan passed away. This is my mom's dad and the first grandparent (and person) that I have ever truly loved and actually known well, who has died. He was getting older and his health had been deteriorating for years. I was able to drive to Colorado with my brother and his wife for a very short visit for the funeral and a viewing which were held on Friday and Saturday December 7 - 8th. Nothing can prepare you for seeing someone you have known and loved your entire life, lying lifeless in their coffin. It was hard and many tears were shed. However I am so thankful for the testimony that I have that this life is not the end. I will see my grandpa again one day and he will be healthy and strong. I think this knowledge is the only thing that makes this situation better.
I have many fond memories of visiting and staying with this grandpa every summer and Christmas until I was married...and then even a few Summers and Christmas's after I was married. :)
Also, each time my parents separated when I was younger it was with this grandpa that my mom and my brothers would go and live. He was an amazing replacement dad during those times and helped us feel loved and happy despite difficult times.
My grandpa had a very strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and would often share this testimony with his children and grandchildren in many different ways. He would often encourage us to get a strong testimony for ourselves. Church was very important to him and when it came to church matters...you did not want to disappoint grandpa! I have many memories of him kneeling with my grandma in prayer. What amazing examples!
He had no problem reprimanding you if you had been bad. Or letting you know if something was bad or if he did not find something appropriate or in line with the Gospel. Also if he asked you do do something, you had better do it right away! Ha ha I think I learned this more than other grandkids quite simply because I had the pleasure of living with the man. I am sure I pushed his buttons more than I should have. :)
He encouraged my piano playing (even at its screeching beginnings) and if he knew a song I was playing he would often join in singing along. My grandpa loved to watch Jeopardy and other game shows and I enjoyed watching them with him. He was hard to wrestle the remote away from...even when he had fallen asleep in his chair watching TV. ha ha I remember him taking me out to lunch and for ice cream. I have memories of being with him as he took care of his pigs and cows. I also remembering irrigating with him. He was a good grandpa.
Also as he sat in his chair you could not walk past him very often without him reaching out and grabbing your hand to give it a loving squeeze and tell you that he loved you.
Often when I would come into the same room as him he would see me and he would sing, "There she is, Miss America." He would often tell me that, "I sure was a pretty girl." I know this was something he told his daughters and other granddaughters as well.
After I had my own children, my grandpa would even look at them with love in his eyes and he told me, "You know you love your great grandkids and grandkids just as much as you love your own kids."
He was full of compliments for his children and grandchildren. I never doubted the love that my grandpa had for me. Not only because he told me often, but he had a way of genuinely having you feel his love by the way he could look at you with pure love in his eyes and a loving smile.
When he passed away my mom texted me, "The greatest man I have ever known just passed from this life." That definitely sums him up. I sure love that man and he will be greatly missed until we can be together again!