Favorite memories of Gramps

I already did a little tribute for my Gramps but I am just overwhelmed with emotion today and remember some fond memories I have of my Gramps.

I remember when I was really little- in the summer we would go over to my grandparents really early- my gram wasn't even out of bed yet- and we would spend the entire day with them! Sometimes Gramp would fry up some bacon and eggs, or Grandma would get out the shredded wheat. I would always go climb in my Gramps side of the bed and lay with my Gram until she got up.

I remember me and lee following behind my Gramps when he dug his corn rows and putting in his corn seeds in for him.

Gram would send us out to the yard to pick raspberries for Grandpa's breakfast, but we always ate more of them than we brought in.

We played in the canal water whenever Gramp watered. His yard was magical. He always had a green thumb, and frequently remarked how he would have loved horticulture and owning a greenhouse/garden nursery.
I love yard work too, I get that love from my Gramps and my Mom. I even have starts of 3 different flowers straight from his yard in mine.

I remember when my Grandpa worked for the church cleaning buildings. I remember going with him on occasion to "help" vacuum.

I remember when they would come and visit us, they would take us kids with them to the mall, just to walk. We would walk the mall with my Gram and Gramp, and sometimes get ice cream or a treat.

My Grandpa's recliner used to sit right inside the family room from the hallway. I would run down the hall, and he would reach out fast and getcha!!! He also used to keep a collection of rubberbands by his chair, and he would shoot us or rather at us with his rubber bands. Many a giggly day was spent dodging rubber bands and running down the hall.

Grandpa had a gumball machine and always kept it stocked. Everytime we went over, almost first thing my brothers and I did was go to Gramp and ask him for a penny. He would pull out his pocket change and give us a penny. Sometimes that gum machine would spit out two gumballs for one penny! That was a lucky day.

I love that my Gramps got to know Cameron. He always lit up when the small kids were around. He loved them all!
Everytime he saw Cam, they had this sweet, and knowing smile exchange between just the two of them. Gramps was always telling Cam, "Grandpa's good boy!" "Grandpa's big boy!" I am so grateful for that memory to pass to Cam. It means so much to me.

Having both my Grandparents and my Mom gone really feels final- but I know that this is just a temporary goodbye. I am so glad he isn't suffering anymore, and that he has been reunited with so many loved ones who preceded him in death.

Love you my special Gramps!

Ervin J. Butterfield September 22, 1928 - April 17, 2014

My kind, quiet, strong, and loving Grandpa passed away this morning. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life. I am so grateful that he is not suffering, and that I know he is with my Mom and Grandma.
I am so lucky I got to have a special and close relationship with him. It meant the world to him if you were there- just simply there. Time was a one of the greatest gifts he could receive.
I was lucky to be able to live with him and my Grandma for a while.
After Dan and I were married, we spent one night nearly every week for a few years having pizza and game night with Gramp and Gram. We have beautiful memories.
My Gramps loved hunting and fishing. He loved to paint. Gramps loved his yard, and always made it a magical and beautiful place to be.
After my Grams died, I took the time to go to the temple with my Grandpa, until his hip bothered him so he couldn't sit through a session any more. It was special to do endowments with him.
I feel a bit scattered about all my memories. I have so so many. I have treasured stories he shared from his life.
I loved to kiss his bald head, and give him hugs. I loved his comb over. No one had a cuter comb over than this Gramp. It was the kind of comb over that was just a few hairs. Not much there, but he would carefully comb it over and protect it in the wind.
My Gramps hated snakes. I will never forget about 11 years ago he and I were working out in the yard one spring and all of a sudden my Gramps was running and jumping and pounding a shovel on the ground. I looked up and ran over and asked what was the matter. He said, "There's a damn snake!!" I quickly picked that poor garter snake up and took it to the field, then giggled at how fast my gramps had moved.
I am so glad that even though Cameron won't remember, he got to know my grandpa. As a newborn, Cameron responded to my Gramps in a magical and special way. He would just look at him and listen to his soft voice.
I am going to share a ton of pictures. Til we meet again Grandpa. I love you. Give my Grams and Mom some big hugs for me.