This is a post I never thought I would have to write.... When you are 33 your Dad (and my father in law) is not supposed to die..... You should not have to tell your kids that their grandpa passed away when they are 6 and 4... My heart hurts for Ry and the rest of the family.
On November 15. Ryans Dad passed away from kidney cancer. He was only 59. In april he was not feeling well, in July we found out it was cancer and had metastisized to his bones... We knew the outcome was grim and for 4 months we were able to spend lots and lots of time with him. We will forever cherish that time just sitting in his bedroom that had been decorated by picturest that the grandkids had drawn.
Ryan spoke about his dad at the graveside services- He did amazing and said he hopes that is the hardest thing he will ever have to do. (I hope so too) This is his talk that really shows who Craig was.
"Good Morning-
On behalf of our family we would like to thank you all for the love and support and for being here today to pay final respects to my dad. My dad didn't want a big event and so I hopefully will keep this short and sweet.
Craig Timothy Devenish passed away peacefully on November 15, 2010 at his home. He was born on February 25, 1951 in Spanish Fork, Utah, to Br. (Tonny) and Verl Olsen Devenish. He married Barbara Schroder on June 25, 1976; their marriage was later solemnized in the Provo LDS Temple.Craig was raised in Springville and graduated from Springville High School in 1969. He was a journeyman welder and an avid "tinkerer" of electronics. He loved to fix all the grandkids noisy toys (much to their parents dismay). Craig loved spending time with his family on vacations, picnics, camping, and shooting.He is survived by his loving wife Barbara, his children: Ryan (Megan), Jon (Sharlyn), Paul, and Becky. His beloved grandchildren: Karden, Whitley, Alex, Cadie, and Josh (Squishy).The family wishes to thank Intermountain Home Care Hospice for their love and care. Special thanks to Margret, Dave, Marsha, and Rebecca. A special thank you to Irene with serenicare for helping us get through this trying time.My dad was a kid at heart, he was fascinated by model trains, hot wheels cars and anything he could take apart and put back together. I remember waking up on Christmas morning to find all of our Lego sets and other toys fully assembled because he couldn't stand the thought of them in the box. He HAD to play with them first. Dad loved to fly kites and always had to have the biggest fanciest model available only to be frustrated an hour later because he couldn't get it off the ground. He would swear that next year he was going to use the plain triangle ones, only to show up with the new and improved model that he still could not get to fly. Dad was always game for shopping. He would go anytime and to look at anything. Unless it involved going to Target. Dad also loved our weekend getaways to logan, and St. George. It was amazing how much fun we could have in 2 days. We also got the opportunity to go to San Diego and Disneyland in the last few years and the memories we have of those trips are priceless. Dad was a fitter and a welder and I have many fond memories of him coming home from work hot and sweaty sitting at the kitchen table and taking off his boots. He would sit there for a while to unwind and to talk to mom and us kids about our days. He was a hard worker and taught the value of work.Dad was good at lots of things but fixing cars and lawnmowers was not his strong point. If there was a contest dad would have been the gold medal winner of the lawnmower throwing contest in the yard work Olympics. The next week he would be out cussing us boys because the wheel was bent and we needed to stop hitting the fence with the lawnmower- Not that the across the yard catapult could have anything to do with the bent axle.Dad may have been big and looked gruff and some might even say he "could yell at you with his eyes" but in real life when he loved you, he loved you with all of his might. He really really loved my mom and showed us how to treat a lady, I know he loved me, Jon, Paul and Becky, He treated Megan and Sharlyn like his own daughters but when the grandkids came along. That was a whole different story. We all had to move down the bench!! He was the baby whisperer and could put the crankiest baby to sleep. When the grandkids were down it was common to have a kid in both arms just rocking with grandpa in the recliner and watching QVC. He was proud of their every accomplishments and in his eyes they could do nothing wrong. Dad could fix any broken toy they brought down and loved to see their faces when the broken toy was restored to the beeping , rattling noise machine that us parents had worked hard to make silent! There was many Christmas trees that feared my dad and garbage cans that always got there revenge, there was movies that "could of been better" but in all seriousness we will never forget or stop missing the man we call Husband, Dad, Grandpa and Friend. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
We took the kids to the cemetary later that night and let them write a note that we attached a balloon and sent to Grandpa Craig in Heaven.
It was very tender.
Craig will be missed but never forgotten!!
