Arley Wayne Fox

On Friday my Grandpa Fox passed away. We knew it was close and the last two weeks he could keep nothing down and his body was starving so we knew it would be any day. But even being a little prepared for it did not seem to take away my feelings of shock and sorrow. My Grandpa and Grandma Hendricks passed away when I was so little that I only have a few memories with them. For me Grandpa and Grandma Fox have been all I have known of Grandparents until I got married and luckily got more wonderful Grandparents. But even with all that, I have never met anyone like Wayne Fox. He is the most compassionate, loving, and humble man. He was incrediblly slow to anger. In fact I am the only child he ever yelled at or spanked. That's right I was so naughty that my sweet Grandpa had to yell at me and swat my butt. I had climbed up to the top of the fence and was walking along the top and he caught me. He was so terrified he yelled. 

My Grandpa did everything he could by his own two hands. He built their home, managed their yard, planted and grew an incredible garden, made sure and feed everyone in the neighborhood with fruit and vegetables from the garden, provided for his family, served in the church, took care of my Grandma their entire lives together. For most of his marriage did most the cooking and housework, and then always showed his love by giving everyone his time. My Grandpa grew up in a simple and humble way. He continued to be that way all his life, but he worked hard and lived right. 

To me the most special thing about him was his eyes. He had piercing eyes. They actually look so much like my Mother's. He would hold you in his arms and then lightly let you go just enough so he could look you in your eyes. It was like he saw everything and at the same time you felt how deeply he loved you. Another neat thing about his eyes was when he would cry he would have these great big huge alligator tears that quietly would fall from his cheeks. Sometimes when he would hold you in his arms you would see him tear up. He never said very much, but when he spoke we all listened. He was a brilliant man who had no idea just how smart he truly was. 

The best part about visiting Grandma and Grandpa was following Grandpa out in the yard. He always wore his jeans, a polo short, and a straw hat. He always had a pair of tan gloves hanging out his back pocket. He always carried a handkerchief so he could wipe away the sweat and blow his nose. No matter what he was doing in the yard he never seemed bothered to have you there. He would let you follow him and talk his ear off. Then he would take you in the house with something he just picked and we would eat it. He would make hot cakes and we would put fresh fruit or jam on them. He would have vanilla ice cream topped with fresh fruit and their was always the best vegetables you ever tasted. Just being around him make you feel peaceful and happy.

I know he made us all feel this way, but so many times he made me feel that I was really special to him. He asked me a couple times to sing for him, when I would sing I would look over and tears would just stream down his face. I remember being little and coming in and trying to play my Grandma's piano and sing to it. I don't know how to play and can barely plunk out a part so it sounds terrible when I try, but Grandpa would come in quietly sit on a chair and listen just like I was giving the performance of my life. 

He wrote me a letter once for my 16th birthday. He shared with me some personal stories of two woman in his life he felt I was like. One was his Mother who died when he was still pretty young, and the other was his sister who after his Mother died stepped in and took care of my Grandpa and all his siblings. I don't know how many times I have read this letter, but it is something I have always cherished. Both these women endured very difficult trials and they did so in a way of tremendous faith and always had such a happy attitude. When he said I reminded him of them I have always tried to live in a way that would make that true. 

I hope with all my heart that some miracle will happen and I will be able to make it to the funeral in Bountiful next saturday. I want to be able to sing for him just one more time, to show him how much I love him and hope to honor his name. I am not sure this pregnancy will let me go, and I am having a hard time with that. But I have thought time and time again about our sweet Brinley getting to share these last few days with Grandpa. I am sure he is holding her hand and in his quiet sweet way assuring her that she will do great here on earth. He is probably just listening to her questions and letting her talk and talk just like he has always done with me. I know when it is time for her to come he will hold her in his arms and look into her eyes and she will see how much he loves her just like he has with Porter, Nickelle, and Bennett. So even if I don't make it to the funeral next weekend I am sure I will feel him this week. 

I feel so lucky to have had my Grandpa in my life. He has always been someone I want to emulate. He will be sorely missed, but I am glad he was finally able to move on and start his new journey. I love you Grandpa!