May Part B

While we were out of the country, my Grandpa Brock passed away. We were so glad we got to see him and visit with him the day before we left, four days before his passing. I even have a video from that day of him and Reese exchanging kisses. He was alert and looked really good. He told me at one point that he would be going home soon, but he was looking pretty good, so I didn't think much of it. Reflecting on our conversation, I think sometimes people really do know when it's their time.

Here is his obituary.

Edward Earl Brock, Sr., age 82, passed this mortal life peacefully in his home on May 16th 2013 after an 18 year battle with cancer. Born July 14, 1930 in Mount Olive, NC, Earl Brock was the son of  William Carson and Effie Wise Brock of Grantham NC.  At the age of 19, Earl served a mission for the LDS church in the central Atlantic states. His mission molded him into a service-oriented christian of the highest caliber. Besides being a missionary as a young man, Earl also served for our freedoms in the Korean War. Afterwards, he attended Brigham Young University and majored in Biochemistry. He later attended NC State University graduate program in Animal Husbandry.
Earl married Joan Elizabeth Lockhart on Oct. 17, 1959 in Goldsboro NC and was sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on June 9, 1960. Together they raised six children. Earl considered his role as a father and husband to be the most important and rewarding endeavor of his life. In the summer of 1960, he took a summer job in Raleigh to sell kitchen cabinets for Marsh Furniture Company.  He later founded Marsh Kitchens of Fayetteville which is now Brock Cabinets. Through his efforts, Brock Cabinets is now a thriving business serving four cities in North and South Carolina.  Earl was an exceptional human being.  All who knew him have been inspired by his grace, his kindness, and his boundless generosity. Earl was the type of person who lived life to its fullest--enjoying work, loving his family and friends, serving his Church and community, and giving himself to those in need.  He loved the Lord and was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Earl's wish would be that all who read this would know the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, lives.
Earl Brock is survived by his wife, Joan Elizabeth Lockhart Brock, two daughters and sons in law, Donna Kaye and Ricky D. John, Jane Elizabeth and Jerry S. Draper, four sons and daughters in law, Edward Earl Brock, Jr. and Marnell Dustin, Nephi William Brock and Wendy Wilson, Ammon Ray Brock and Jamie Bingham,  Aaron Helaman Brock and Caroline Crockett , his sister Betty Faye and brother in law David E. Dale, 30 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren.

The funeral will be held Monday at 11am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 3200 Scotty Hill Rd in Fayetteville.  Burial will be following services at Lafayette Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 6 -8pm this Sunday @ Rogers & Breece Funeral Home in Fayetteville. 
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate your donations to be made to LDS Charities (Humanitarian Services) and/or Perpetual Education Fund.

Reese and Lillie played and fed each other snacks at the viewing. It was really incredible to see all the many people that knew my Grandpa and those whose lives he had touched. It went on for about four hours! (5/19/13)

 My Grandma picked out these bright yellow and pink dresses with fish on them for the funeral. (5/20/13)

 Devon, Reese, Me, William, Mom, Riley, Dad, Cammie, James, Hayley

Grandpa left behind a great legacy... 'Til We Meet Again!

 Thirty-two roses from each of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren 

We love talking about our memories of Grandpa, like how he would sit in his chair at the end of the dock to watch us out on the lake and as we'd come in to park the boat and the wave runners. He would holler at us..."You're comin' in too fast" or "You're comin' in too slow!" "To the right!" "To the left!" "Don't hit the dock!" It's difficult to park perfectly under such pressure! :) 

When James, Teresa, and I were younger Grandpa was the boat driver. He would take us out all day long if we wanted. We would ski, kneeboard, tube, slalom. And then we got a trick board and a wakeboard, and he would take us to do all that too.

He would work out in the lake for hours and hours days and days, cutting out tree stumps and scraping out the lake weed so we had a nice white sandy area to swim in with clean clear water.

His preferred daily attire included cargo shorts from Walmart, a white short-sleeved button down dress shirt, white socks, and dress shoes...and his straw hat if he was out in the sun.

He made the best blueberry pancakes and banana pudding!

At the point where he had to stay on his hospital bed out in the family room area (it was a special air mattress that helped prevent bed sores), he would talk about how hard he'd worked all his life so he could get a nice comfortable king-size bed, and Grandma wouldn't even let him sleep in it. He said. "She's got me sleepin' on wires!" Then, he looked at her and said, "Why are you so mean to me?" 

Grandma tells the story the best and gets us all cracking up. I could go on and on with funny stories!