Until We Meet Again

My dearest Grandma Mimi passed away on November 15th in her home, surrounded by her children. I don't even know how to express all I feel or explain how wonderful she was in just a few paragraphs. I will simply say that my grandma was truly one of the most beautiful people, inside and out, and I hope that I can honor her legacy by living and loving with the same strength and spirit that she possessed. 

I will miss her birthday cards, doing puzzles at her house, going out for lunch, telling her about my days through letters, and hearing her sweet voice.  I am heartbroken that she is no longer on this earth, but know that many sweet reunions, some long overdue, were awaiting her in heaven. I know this is not goodbye, but until we meet again. Thank you so much for being the most wonderful grandma.

There was not a formal funeral due to Covid, but hopefully the family will be able to gather together this coming summer to celebrate and remember her wonderful life. We were able to view her graveside services over Zoom.

The white roses on the bottom left were from my siblings and me, as a way of being there, when we could not actually be present.

Not the best picture of me, but Grandma knew how much I loved Harry & David pears and had a box sent as a surprise just the month before she passed. I sent her this picture of the golden pear to let her know how excited I was about her gift!

Grandma in her youth

Grandma with Roger, with whom she is now reunited after so many years apart

Grandma and me in New York in 1989, with the Twin Towers in the background

In grandma's beautiful backyard

Grandma dressed as Professor McGonagall for one of the family Harry Potter parties

Grandma at our wedding in 2006

Grandma was able to meet 3 of my 4 children in person. They all loved her so much! She was also able to see Griffin over Facetime just a couple weeks before she passed.

Four generations - I am part of a great legacy of women

One of our many, many lunches at Chuck a Rama. We loved seeing her often during our time in Utah and she was also so good about treating us to lunch.

Saying goodbye to Mimi before moving to Texas

After moving away, I was able to go back and visit her twice. Once with Charlie when he was about 6 months old, and again the next year for her 90th birthday celebration.

Her obituary, to have here for my own records:

Jean Romney Parkinson Isaacson Lee

February 24, 1929 ~ November 15, 2020

Jean Romney Parkinson Isaacson Lee passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her children, on Sunday, November 15, 2020 due to natural causes. She was the matriarch of a large and wonderful family. She lived a long, beautiful life.

Jean was born to Vivien McDonald and Owen Thomas Romney on February 24, 1929 in Provo, Utah. She was the youngest of three girls. Soon after her birth her family moved to Guthrie, OK; then to Tulsa when she was four. As a young girl she learned the value of hard work. At the age of 14 she started working at the public library near her home. She had a passion for books and loved to read, a legacy she passed on to her entire family. She was a gifted seamstress, sewing all of her own clothes from Junior High age through her college years, including her own wedding dress.

Jean attended Brigham Young University where she was a Cougarette, Homecoming attendant, and active in Y Calcares Honor Society. It was at BYU that she met Roger West Parkinson. From the moment he first saw her, he knew Jean was the girl he wanted to marry. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 6, 1949. After their marriage they moved to Bethesda, MD so Roger could attend George Washington University Medical School. Jean worked as a secretary at the Department of Agriculture in Washington D.C. for 4 years supporting their family. In 1954 they moved to Salt Lake City where Roger was an intern and resident at LDS Hospital. In 1958 Roger was called into the Army Medical Corp. and the family moved to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. In 1960 they moved to Salt Lake City, UT where Roger started his OB/GYN practice. They had been married for only 16 years when Roger was tragically killed in November 1965 in an airplane crash leaving Jean to raise their 5 children.

In 1967 Jean married Richard A. Isaacson. Together they raised her children, traveled the world and were actively involved in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A devout member, Jean served in many capacities in her Ward and Stake. She served for 4 years as a Hostess at the Church Office Building. Jean was a life-long learner and instilled in her children the value of education. She loved to sew, quilt and do needlepoint. She expressed her love through service, especially to her family. She enjoyed gathering extended family for fabulous dinners at her home and in Park City. She was famous for her pound cake, Valentine sugar cookies, brown sugar rolls, and caramels. Affectionately known as Grandma Mimi, she cherished her time with her grandchildren and always tried to engage in things they found interesting. She hosted memorable Harry Potter parties. She was a long-time member of Ex Libris Book Club and the Salt Lake Country Club. Jean was an avid traveler, visiting over 30 Countries and journeying around the world twice.

Richard passed away in 2003. Jean married John Franklin Lee in 2005. They enjoyed taking road trips and cruises. They were married for seven years before he passed away in 2013.

Jean’s greatest love was spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren as well as numerous friends, many of whom she had had since kindergarten. She will be deeply missed.

Jean is survived by her children David Parkinson (Cynthia), Alan Parkinson (Christina), Susan Jackson (Robert), Karen Blake (David), Mari Anne Lambert (David), 25 grandchildren and 73 great grand-children. Preceded in death by her parents, husbands Roger Parkinson, Richard Isaacson, John Lee, and sisters Marilyn Beck and Shirley Pardoe.

Five Years

Today we are celebrating five years of marriage. Five wonderful happy years. Life right now is perfect. Day to day things aren't always perfect, but I can't think of anything I'd want to change (except adding some kids to the picture). We are best friends, always challenging each other to be better and go farther, and more in love every day. We've made so many memories together, and I am so looking forward to our future together!

Looking back at July 29th, 2006 - It was difficult to sort through 1000+ photos of the day to choose just a few favorites, but I did my best:

The happy, newly married couple

Our family and friends

Dave with his boys

It was a gorgeous, picture perfect day

The "mother-son" dance - I had to throw this one in because it makes me smile every time I look through our pictures

 

"And for always, forever, Beyond here and onto eternity
For always and ever, You'll be a part of me

And for always, forever, A thousand tomorrows may cross the sky
And for always and always, We will go on beyond goodbye"

 

** The lyrics are from the song "For Always" that Dave sang at our wedding dinner

A Passionate Sixth Grade Boy Speaks to His Love

On our most recent trip back to Texas, Dave's mom brought out boxes of old school work that she had saved for each of her kids. It was hilarious to look the at grade reports (Dave rocked at kindergarten), the artwork, and read through stories they had written.

In Dave's box we found these two gems, and since Valentine's day is just around the corner I thought I'd share:

 

 

We googled the first line and found that the assignment must have been to write a poem based off The Passionate Shepherd to His Love, but I personally like this version better.  I still can't decide what my favorite part is - the hike/bike date, the famous picture of a dove, playing in a meadow, or the 20 lb bag of gummi bears. What a funny kid, and what lucky girl I am that he's mine :)

Tribute 3

The contents of this post have been on my mind for the past week, but I didn't know quite how to put what I have been thinking into words. But since Tribute and Tribute 2 have now been written, I guess now it's my turn. Without further procrastination, here is "Tribute 3":

On Saturday, January 29th, we got word that Dave's oldest brother, Bill, had passed away. His passing was completely unexpected and the kind of news that no one is prepared to receive.  How could this happen? What do we do now? We went and got Liz, the only other Howe here in Utah and spent the day together, while the rest of the family gathered at home in Texas.

We went through the day in shock and then when the night came, so did the overwhelming sadness. It was one of those nights where you sleep with the Kleenex box between your pillows and then throw the used tissues over the side of the bed onto the floor because you just don't care.

But a few days later we were able to fly back to Texas to be with family. How thankful we are for understanding professors and employers who made it so easy for us to just get up and leave right in the middle of the week. And how thankful we were to make it there without any delays to our trip - crazy, crazy weather down there!

Snow in Plano the day of the service

Although we wished we were there for a different reason, it was a great trip.  It was so good to see family that we hadn't been able to see over Christmas. So good to cry and laugh about all the good memories we had of Bill. So good to be reminded over and over again of blessed we were to have known such a generous, funny guy that loved his family and friends above all else. It was a chance to receive confirmation that Bill was gone from his body and gone from this world, but also a reminder that he is not gone, that families are eternal and we will see him again.

One night Dave mentioned how sad and strange it was that our kids would never know Bill. I agreed. And I'm not sure exactly how it all works on the other side, but I hope that now that Bill is done with his time on earth, he might have some time to spend with our kids before they start journey here. Because Bill truly was a fabulous uncle - the best a kid could ask for.

We'll miss you Bill.

The Howe Family, February 2011