Pioneer Day

I used to live in Utah and remember Pioneer Day as quite a holiday with parades and get togethers. Outside of Utah, we celebrate (not a day off from work!) without grand parades, but still we remember just the same, those who followed the prophet, and came west, some not knowing how far or how long the journey would take. They only had the necessities, and some less than that. But most possessed a faith that never wavered. As I ponder today, and will celebrate on Saturday, I will be eternally grateful for those men, women, and children, who we call the Mormon Pioneers. Some made the journey to Salt Lake in the 1840's and 1850's. And today there are many modern day Mormon Pioneers, who, like those in days of old, are exercising their own faith, and joining with us! Hurrah for Israel!

Buying Time

It seems to me that the word time is a part of many phrases, and when you stop and think about them, many are interesting to consider.
Take buying time for example. I haven't seen it available anywhere, but I'm a discount shopper, so maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. If I buy a watch or a clock, am I buying time? Or does buying time mean that I am a procrastinator, or unorganized, or over scheduled?
What about the phrases: "haven't got time", "out of time", "saving time", "wasting time", "spending time", "making time", "marking time", and lastly, "time is money". I came accross this quote by M. Scott Peck,"Until you value yourself, you will not value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it". It has been a "long time" since I "took time" to write anything. I just "haven't had time". The reality is that this really hasn't been a priority, because I truly do value my time, especially when I can give it to others! I will try and spend more time keeping you posted, that is, if time allows!

GPa's Viewing and Graveside Service Schedule

The viewing will be held from 2:30 to 3:30 pm on Tuesday May 6th at McDougals Funeral Home located at 4330 S. Redwood Road in Taylorsville, UT. A graveside service will be held at Murray City Cemetary immediately following the viewing (starting at approximately 4 pm and concluding no later that 4:30 pm)

Status on GPa Scott Day 11, Saturday, 4-26-08

We came in at 7 again this morning and talked with the nurse who said that she had removed the pillow from under his head and kind of put his head over the edge of the bed to help with the breathing airway. We went into the room to find him breathing easier than yesterday, without the moaning exhales or the congested coughs. We stayed about an hour and then went back to the motel where we have been staying the last week, for breakfast. It's about 2 minutes max away. After breakfast, we returned to dad's room to find things unchanged from when we had left about 45 minutes earlier. Greg woke up this morning feeling better than the day before, but after breakfast, didn't feel good at all. He layed down on the chair-to-bed they have there in the room to rest. The doctor stepped into the room and spoke with me briefly and then went and checked on dad. He indicated that this type of breathing could go on for quite some time. He also made mention of us being there and was impressed by our kindness and consideration and faith. It was a sincere and completely appreciated compliment. I was reading the paper and quite tired from a short nights rest and I kind of dozed for a few minutes. Suddenly, I felt something very warm on the back of my neck that got my attention. I sat up and looked over and listened to dad and his breathing. It had become quite shallow from only 30 minutes before. I went over and stood close to him. His breaths were extremely shallow. I woke Greg up and told him that I thought that he was getting really close to departing. He stood on the other side of the bed and felt that the end was near as well. We both let him know that we loved him and that we would miss him, but that it was okay for him to go, and that we would be with him again someday. A few more shallow breaths, an attempt at another breath, then another breath, and then two last attempts to breathe, but his strength was gone, and and at 9:26 a.m., so was he.
William Raymond Scott passed from mortality on April 26, 2008 in Spokane, WA, after a lengthy battle with liver cancer. He was born in Denver, CO on November 12, 1933 and raised by his grandparents James and Julia Scott in Glenwood Springs, CO. He was a hard working man, having been raised on a farm. He worked in the oil fields and in construction in his early years. However, he really found his niche in exploration drilling, working in the Western states, primarily in Utah -- in search of gold, silver, and coal. He relocated to Kennewick, WA in 1981 and worked at the Hanford Nuclear Facility on a drilling rig for a couple of years before returning to Utah. He then worked in a stone quarry during the renovation of the Manti, Utah temple. For the last twenty years of his career he turned to driving truck, traveling across the country -- preferring to stay in the 11 western states so he could visit family scattered across the West. He finally turned in the keys and retired at the age of 71.

His retirement years were filled with short vacations to visit family and in giving service to others. Service was a significant part of his life and was an indicator of who he really was -- a loving, caring man. He enjoyed the great outdoors and being able to fish or shoot guns occasionally. The most important things to him were his faith in Jesus Christ and his love for his family.

He was preceded in death by his wife Betty. He is survived by his sons and their wives: Gregory and Amy Scott, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA and Bradley and Brooks Scott, Kennewick, WA. Scott family grandchildren: Robert, David B., Christopher, Alesha, David M., Derek, Alexis, and Dustin. Scott family great grandchildren: Elise, Eva, Ethan, and Nicholas.

A viewing will be held at Muellers Funeral Home, 1401 S. Union in Kennewick on Tuesday, April 29, from 6-8 pm. Another viewing will be held in Utah Tuesday May 6, (with more details to follow) immediately followed by a graveside service and interment held at the Murray City Cemetery.

We love you dad and will miss you.

Status on GPa Scott Day 10, Friday, 4-25-08

Dad is resting peacefully this morning. During the night he was given some morphine and adavan (sp) to relieve some pain and anxiety. Although he seems out of it, there were a couple of things that happened this morning that he said to let us know that he is still aware to a degree. He opened his eyes for a moment and looked at me, like he was trying to wake up, but soon closed them. I stood by him for a moment when Greg suggested that we have a prayer with him. At the conclusion of the prayer he kind of groaned a little which we interpreted out loud to be his Amen. And then very clearly he said, "Thank you." Then as we were leaving to go get some breakfast, we told him we would be back shortly and that we loved him. Again in a very clear voice his response, "I love you too". His breathing is different than yesterday, with breaths anywhere from 15 to 30 seconds apart. Seems like he always had a cough, and now is no different, although the clearing cough that he has been so accustomed to isn't there, he just breathes through it. The doctor indicated that the secretions in his mouth will increase which causes some of the coughing. He is very comfortable and appears to be catching up on rest! It seems fitting that he will be gone long before the next presidential election, since he really wasn't happy about who was left to pick from.

Status on GPa Scott Day 9, Thursday, 4-24-08

We came to the Hospice House here in Spokane hoping that we might be able to transfer him to Kennewick. It doesn't look like that will happen due to his decline. He received some medication for some back pain yesterday. It must of taken the edge off enough that he has been able to sleep and rest easily. We woke him enough to give him a little water using a sponge straw. We offered him a priesthood blessing of comfort which he accepted and Greg voiced. We once again expressed our love to him and he responded in kind. We met with the social worker to determine if it was possible, or even viable to move him to Kennewick. She deferred to the nurse who took his vitals and looked at some other indicators as to where he is at in his progress towards his next goal. She recommended against it because of the stage where he is at and the fact that moving a patient takes a toll. We asked that they keep him on the waiting list in Kennewick just in case there is another rally. We're not expecting one, and feel tremendously blessed for having had the last few days to spend some quality time with him. His breathing has become pretty shallow and the frequency has slowed to about 4 or 5 breaths per minute, not uncommon under these circumstances. They gave us a pamphlet to read which has been helpful that talks about some things that are involved in the dying process. Some things that we can look back on and see that the process may have begun even before we arrived in Spokane. We didn't realize that this would come quite this soon. But the reality is the Lord knows when it's time.

5pm update....he has woke up and has been visiting with us. For the last hour or so he has been awake and has spoke on the phone to a family friend and to his great grandchildren, Elise and Eva. He still is quite tired though and dozes easily. He is definately enduring to the end and enduring it well.

Status on GPa Scott Day 8, Wednesday, 4-23-08

Seems like dad will continue on for quite some time based on what we have witnessed for the last few days. Today he is once again awake and alert, but there are appearances that he is slowing slightly. The doctor who will be at the Hospice facility stopped by again this morning. We met him briefly yesterday. When he stopped in yesterday he wanted to get to know dad a little. One of the things he asked dad was what was important to him. His first response was his faith in Jesus Christ. His second response was his family. The doctor then asked him what else was important to him that they could help him with. He said that he wanted to be clean and that he wanted to be comfortable. Pretty simple request from a pretty simple man. He's my dad.
They moved him to Hospice about noon today. A very nice facility that is only about 6 months old. The staff here has been very nice. This is a different kind of place, where people come to die. With that in mind, it might seem very depressing, but to me it seems a pretty nice way to finish up mortality with your dignity in tact. Dad took us up on an offer for a popsicle and then chased that with an orange creamsicle. This was the first thing he has eaten in over a week. He said that he never knew a popsicle could taste so good! He doesn't have an appetite, he said it was just refreshing. He has been drinking water regularly for the last few days and has appreciated Greg's chapstick to keep his lips moistened. They shaved him early today and combed his hair before the ambulance came to transport him. Looking good, and still has great color. He gave the slightest complaint tonight of some lower back pain. We asked if he wanted something for it. For the first time, he was agreeable. There just hasn't been enough pain for him up to this point. They came and gave him some morphine about 530 this evening. It's now a little after 10 and he is still sleeping. He said this morning that he didn't sleep at all last night. He's catching up now!