Grandma Winnie 1919-2009

Grandma Winnie was a strong, adventurous woman, who showed her love for you through her toughness. She had high expectations for her children and grandchildren which I contribute to much of the family’s success. Grandma had a way of driving you to do your best. You wanted to be your best around her and make her proud. When you did she would give you a little wink with a smile and you just knew you were on her good list. She was not shy to let you know when she did not approve of someone’s actions and she would elbow you and whisper something a little smart-aleck about someone and then give you that devilish smile and a little giggle. It was good to sometimes feel like a part of grandma’s inner circle.
Of course if you ever messed up she let you know it too. She had away of keeping you in line. I remember one time when I was very young, maybe 4 or 5 years old and I was not getting what I wanted, so I was throwing a fit about it and Grandma had enough of my crying and just quietly leaned down and told me that I was too pretty of a girl to cry and that when I cried my face got very ugly. I don’t know if it was the command of her voice the strength of her character or my desire to please her but from that time on, I could never really cry and throw a fit without thinking what grandma told me, how ugly my face became when I cried!
I don’t know if all of her grandchildren felt this desire for Grandma Winnie’s approval but I did and I think it made me a better person. It is sad to me that as generations pass that honor, respect, and doing our very best is replaced with other more modern ways of thinking. My children often tell me to RELAX mom. Grandma Winnie commanded respect and honor and she deserved it. I think Grandma understood that respect would lead you to a sense of your own self worth and confidence.
She was one of the most talented women I knew. She could sew exquisitely, needlepoint, crochet, make stain glass; there really was nothing she could not do. Who can forget the “Go Go” boots and hippie leather vest we got one year for Christmas! I remember staying with Grandma for a week by myself to learn how to be a good homemaker. I was about 9 or 10 years old and she taught me everything from how to dust properly, crochet, cook and I spent a lot of time washing her hair and curling it which became my responsibility whenever she came to visit!
Grandma was the best homemaker. Her house was always neat and perfect, she was a wonderful cook, she canned fruits, baked pies and we still have not been able to perfect her thanksgiving gravy, although Kenny is getting close. Who could forget getting fudge every year for Christmas especially the year we were all starving because mom would not let us eat until dinner was ready and when we opened grandma’s gift of fudge we dove into it like hungry pigs before we realized she had made the fudge too early in the season and there was mold on the fudge! Who can forget her homemade pizza which ended up all over the side of the car from me throwing up because dad would not stop when I got sick on the road trip home from Kanab.
Of course there was many things I enjoyed and remember about grandma, trips to Kanab, going on Tim’s boat at Lake Powell, having Grandma live with us, Family Reunions, spending holidays together, the racetrack, always having to stop in Vegas so she could gamble, camping and TR Reunions! My most personal favorite memory is her always calling me “Janie.” There are only a couple of people who still call me “Janie” and I will miss her sound of her voice calling me by name.
Grandma was an extremely hard worker and when she had a task to do she would not rest until that task was done. This is most evident in her family history work. She worked for years, hour upon hours working on family history; again we have much to be grateful for because of her diligence and hard work. What an example to all of us!
The most important thing she did can be seen in the life of her two daughters.
She raised two of the sweetest and unselfish women I have ever known. My aunt Marilyn is one of the warmest, kindest people you will ever meet. Not to mention intelligent, creative, and fun. And of course my mother Carolyn who was a very patient and loving mother spent her life serving her family. I couldn’t have asked for a better mother and I’m sure Grandma Winnie had something to do with that. Grandma was a mother of two beautiful daughters Marilyn and Carolyn and I was always amazed how much these two sisters loved each other. I never heard my mother say an unkind word for her sister. She loved her sister very much and their relationship has always been a great example to me of what sisters should be. Again I’m sure Grandma Winnie has to take some credit for them, and the type of women and mothers and friends they were. Grandma did not always show her emotions she would rather just tell you exactly how she felt. But when mom died, I watched her grieve for her daughter it was clear her emotions ran deep and truly losing her daughter broke her heart. It was almost too much for her to bear. She told me quietly that sometimes she just lays in bed and still cries about mom.
When I heard of Grandma passing on, I immediately thought of her reunion with mom and what a sweet moment that would have been. I wish I could have been a witness to that reunion.
Grandma Winnie was a woman who taught her descendents that the most important thing in life is love of family. She was a loyal TR patron; she loved her descendents as well as her ancestors. She was able to “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6)