Flow Gently, Sweet Afton

A sweet friend, Afton, died a short while ago. Hers was one of the happiest funerals that I had ever attended. She was 96 years old and alert enough to wake up from the throws of death to ask who was playing on Monday Night Football before she passed away Tuesday morning.

One of the things I love about attending a church is the fellowship found there. I love that I can become friends with people that I might not otherwise meet in the realm of work, family, and neighborhood. Afton was one of those people. I'll wager that our paths would never have crossed otherwise.

Afton was really more saucy than sweet being a strong personality who spoke her mind. But one of the things I love about funerals is that I always learn. I learn new things about the departed one's life and it's a time for introspection to determine if I am on the path I want to be.

Afton had pioneer spirit. Her son told how the family moved to Texas when she and Grant had 3 children so that Grant could attend veterinary school. They lived in a 2bedroom, 800 sf house, and rented out the other bedroom to 3 college students. Afton cooked and cleaned for the whole crew. During that time, she had baby number 4! Imagine 6 people in one room and 3 college students in the other. Now that's bravery!

Afton was also generous. While in the Golden Living Retirement Village, she would tell her daughter-in-law, "My TV is broken. I need a new one." They would bring in the new and she would tell them "Wheel that old one down the hall. Jim's TV is on the fritz." Or "My walker is broken. I need a new one." The old one would go to Ellen in the next room. What a way to outfit her bunk mates!

But my favorite story was told by a family friend. He looks to be in his late 50's or early 60's now. He told how he had grown up very poor in a mining town in the west desert. His family wanted a better life for him and sent him at the age of 15 to attend high school in Salt Lake where he met Afton's son, Wayne. They were good friends all through high school and after. This young man attended two years of college but the financial strain was more than he could handle. He was ready to quit and consign himself to a life driving a truck when Afton called him and said, "Wayne is on his mission and will be gone for two years. Come and live in his room." The man said that offer of free room and board for two years enabled him to continue his education and forever changed his life.

He said that as an engineering major he took classes in Applied Science and Applied Math, but to him the Boam family always lived Applied Religion. Great phrase, "Applied Religion."

What a lesson! I want to be a student in Applied Religion and when the class is done I hope I get a big, fat A!

Thank you, Afton. Adieu!