This is someone I have been thinking about quite a bit lately and who I am very grateful for, so I would like to pay tribute to him on this Thanksgiving day.
George Lloyd Lovell
He always made an appearance at birthdays: rolled up newspaper in his thumb-missing hand, the other hooked around his wife Amber’s shoulder. A grin would break across his sun aged face as he said, “How ya doing sweetheart?”
Five minutes later the birthday child was laying on stomach, spread across his lap as he gave the appropriate amount of ‘birthday spankings’ complete with reasoning for each newspaper swat.
“One because I love you. One because you’re a year older. One because….”
He was known for his wisdom. He was known for his speaking abilities, and later after he lost his speech because of a stroke he was known as the man who’s eyes lit up when a loved one visited. Unable to speak full sentences, he would grasp a hand, give it a kiss and say “Hi sweetheart.”
He was the man who got things done. From an early age he became the man of the house and in his case he became the man of the farm as well. He loved learning yet he sacrificed his opportunity to go to college to support his widowed mother and his siblings.
He knew about hardships and loosing loved ones- first his father, then mother, siblings, friends, baby daughter and later his loving wife. He knew and loved the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so much that he donated years of his life to it.
He loved his old pocketknife story – his one present that was completely unexpected on Christmas morning the year his family struggled so much. Years later he recounted this cherished memory on Christmas Eve to the dozens of little eyes belonging to grandchildren. For some of them, it is the only memory they have of their grandfather’s distinctive voice.
Most of all he was known for his work ethic. Farming was his occupation and for his ‘free time’ he, well, farmed. He made LLL Ranch a place where his family could gather and it was open to anyone in need of a very long slide ride, 4-wheeler excursions, golf, exploring, or just fresh country air. He had innovative farming techniques and was generous with his hard earned money.
He was stern and had high expectations, but his tone could easily change into a joke. Mohawks on grandchildren were greatly frowned on but he was the opposite of self righteous, which he passed down to his children. He could embrace and love people for their differences.
And he did this all while raising eight children, 48 grandchildren and 96 great-grandchildren.
This man who could not say much at the end of his life taught his family more with his actions than could have ever been said verbally.
This great man is my Grandpa.
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