Uncle Ray Barton's Funeral

With the passing of my great-uncle Ray, (for those who don't know who this is, he's grandma Child's sister Helen's husband) I was honored to have been in attendance at his funeral. He was a man beloved of all who knew him and I, having not known him well in life, hope to take an example from the things I've learned of him today. I wanted to share a few of those things here.

Some quotes from his life (as well as I could jot them down):

"Why do you chase yesterday's light? Don't look into the darkness but turn around and face east."

"Choose success rather than time debilitating habits." Or "time vampires" as he called them.

"You are a miracle. Look at your finger. There is no one else with your DNA sequence, no one else with your fingerprint match."

"Children are our hope for the future."

"1) Pay tithing first, then pay yourself savings. 2) Get your extended family together as often as possible...howl a little bit. 3) Read the Book of Mormon every day, then go out and do battle! 4) Take command of your time. Carry an appointment book. Be at meetings and appointments at least 5 minutes early. 5) Freely express gratitude. Write little thank-yous. 6) Pray always."

"I'm proud of you."

Among the thoughts and memories shared about the life and legacy of this great man were these:

Uncle Ray always had three things with him each morning: two bowls, one for his cereal and one to prop open his scriptures. This was to remind him every day of the need for both proper physical and spiritual nourishment. And third, a picture of his wife. He kept pictures of her everywhere.

Uncle Ray played the violin beautifully. He kept a picture of his wife in his violin case. They met playing together! He was also a physician for 40 years, delivering some 2,000 babies and caring for untold thousands more.

The stake president gave his remarks and among them he shared, "I will miss hearing weekly that someone was proud of me." Uncle Ray was always complimenting and praising others. Always saying, "I'm proud of you."

And, Uncle Ray always made everything fun. In everything he did it always seemed he was having the time of his life.

"The spirits of the just are exalted to a greater and more glorious work...They are not far from us." -Joseph Smith