Merrill Jay Brown 1917 - 2011

I will admit that I've been putting off doing this post.  It's intimidating to feel like you have to do credit to a person's life in something as trivial as a blog, but I know I have to say something, so hopefully the writers' block will subside.
    
Merrill passed away on Saturday, February 19th, in his home, as a result of advanced colon cancer.  His death was something of a shock to our family.  During our last visit, he seemed to have improved so much.  He had been holding off the cancer for years, and seemed (to us) prepared to do so for many more months.  Of course, in family prayers, we would always ask that Granddad not suffer.  In many ways, it's a blessing that he didn't have to linger.  That wouldn't have suited him.
    
I've known Ryan's dad for about ten years now.  To me, Merrill has always seemed a man whose every motivation, at it's core, was in giving to others.  He was certainly a workaholic - he never retired - and spent little time in leisure.  I think work was simply what made him happy, and he did it so he could provide for others.  He provided for his family, certainly, that was his first priority, but he seemed to always be giving things to friends, employees, or acquaintances at the doughnut shop.  Often these were items he acquired at job sites, that he knew (or assumed) people would enjoy.  He was very stubborn in doing things his own way, and nearly always carried with him a sort of unimpressed sense of humor.
    
The kids loved (and still do love) their granddad.  To my kids, Granddad was doughnuts.  He was trips to the wrecking yard to ride on forklifts, and hours spent playing on enormous castoff amusement park slides.  He had things that were both scary and wonderful, like the office skeleton toy, his dogs, and his bird.  Visiting Granddad was an adventure to them.  
    
For my husband. . .  well that would be presumptuous of me to try to sum up Ryan's relationship with his dad.  But I know he taught his son to work hard, and to care for his family.  So much of who Ryan is has been shaped by the influence and example of his father.
    
I combed through our pictures to find our favorite moments with Merrill.  I think they do a good job of expressing what he meant to us.
   

Connor's First (Unauthorized) Solid Food at 5 1/2 Months

     

   

     

     

     

     

     

       

Granddad Meets Baby Elise

     

  

  

  

     

  

  

  

  

    

  

  

    

    

  

   

   

  

Human beings are not temporary.  We are too complex and too conscious to be here by accident.  We are eternal, and children of a loving God.  That's what I believe.  And I take joy in that, even when sad things happen.