Grant Alma Wolsey's Funeral

Grant Wolsey was a veteran and these kind men gave him a six gun salute
then carefully folded a flag for his family and presented it to them. 

Grant's three sisters (Mary Nielsen, Janene Baadsgaard and Lori Larson
 and his cousins Richard Parrish and Shelly Vromen)

Tributes for Grant Wolsey written by his sisters and son . . .
"We laid our brother to rest today.
Only the Master knows the depths
of our trials, our pain and our suffering.
He alone offers us eternal peace in times of adversity...
whether it is the best of times or the worst of times,
He is with us.
He has promised that this will never change.
Grateful for the gift of life,
for the Atonement of Jesus Christ
and for the gift of eternal life.
The worth of souls is great
in the sight of God." - Lori Larson (sister)



Grant's Book of Poetry titled "Shoved From the Clouds"

"I remember my siblings 
would request my father 
to draw us pictures of dinosaurs, 
we delighted in his creations
as he brought fantastic creatures 
to life from a blank page. 
My father lived a very unique life, 
much of it I still know little about. 
As a younger man he served his country 
and served his God, 
married a special lady, my mother,
and had five children 
before life took us on different paths. 
From what I have learned 
and observed from his life, 
my father displayed the soul of a poet, 
and as such carried his life alongside many troubles 
and stirred up many ripples in his wake, 
including me, his eldest son. 
For my part, 
I inherited some of his artistic talent.
Now I draw for my children, 
and when I do, 
I remember happier times 
when my father smiled. "
- Heber Wolsey (oldest son)

My brother Grant Alma Wolsey died this week.

Though he lived a troubled life and there were times when it wasn't safe for me to be around him,

I never stopped loving him.

Through the years I have enjoyed many pictures of Christ.

This particular painting of the Savior touched me profoundly

because it looked like my brother.

Grant often wore a beard and long hair.

Every time I looked at this image of Christ I wept because I love my brother and I miss him.

I have since come to understand that Christ lives inside each of us

and when we see the Savior in each other we catch a glimpse

of the grandeur of each soul

and more fully understand

the price that was paid

so that we can all return

to our Heavenly Parents some day.

Goodbye Grant.

I love you.

Janene Baadsgaard (sister)

Obituary

 

Grant Alma Wolsey was born to Heber and Fay Parrish Wolsey 

on September 6, 1948. 

He passed on through the veil of natural causes on July 20, 2020.  

He is survived by 6 beautiful and talented children – 

five sons and one daughter, 

his eight sisters, their companions 

and numerous nephews and nieces, 

his aunt Evelyn Wolsey, 

many cousins, 

his friend Sue Fogel 

and other friends at the Eyers Manor 

in Northumberland, Pennsylvania 

and his ward family 

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

Grant, served his church in the French East Mission.  

He also served in the Army ROTC 

and will be buried with military honors.  

He was talented in music, writing and in creative thinking 

and missionary work 

for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 

often being ahead of his time.   

He had a kind, sensitive and tender heart.  

The world around him was regularly too harsh 

for him to survive in well or thrive.  

Perhaps, with his valiant struggle with mental illness, 

he came to this Earth to test those of us who knew him, 

more than to be tested.  

He will be greatly missed by those who love him 

and by those who learned much from and because of him.

Mary Nielson (sister)

 

Spanish Fork Pioneer Cemetery

I love spending time at the Spanish Fork Pioneer Cemetery when we are celebrating Pioneer Days in July.
This is the monument that we erected with the names we had painstakingly researched and found to be buried here.

Because many of my ancestors settled this area I honor all their hard work and sacrifice that made Spanish Fork what it is today.

Replica headstones mark the places where
pioneers to this area were buried.
Every year for the 24th celebration
each grave is decorated with flowers.

This beautiful statue represents the pioneer families who lived and died here. Many of the burials in the cemetery are babies and young children. When I was discussing with the creator of this statue what I had in vision for this statue, I told him about the babies and young children who were buried here and asked him to include them in his work.  

Notice the young girl looking up at her parents holding her doll while her mother holds her baby and her father holds her mother. It was love of family and the Savior that gave these pioneers the courage to go on amid hardship, deprivations and untimely death.

These are the words I wrote for a talk
I gave at the dedication of this holy place. My husband Ross gave the dedicatory prayer.

My family loves to tell ancestor stories while we are sitting on the bench with this scene in front of us.

Nathaniel Jordan is my ancestor 
who died was buried here. 
His wife Lois Coon 
had recently lost her first husband 
because he was killed
while serving in the Mormon Battalion. 
Nathaniel's first wife died at Winter Quarters
so Nathaniel and Lois married 
then crossed the plains together 
and settled in Spanish Fork.
Nathaniel died two years later.

Celebrating Pioneer Day in our Own Back Yard

Because of COVID-19
the Pioneer Day activities in our town were canceled
so we had our own celebration in our own backyard.
Emma and Christian riding the 4-wheeler
around in the back pasture.

April bringing sunshine where ever she goes.

Christian's smile melts your heart.

Cousin table

Grandpa taught everyone who wanted to learn
how to drive a 1950's tractor.

We served Dutch oven pork ribs, corn picked out of our garden, scones, cobbler, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

Couple of cowboys/pioneers and a little princess.

Daniel on the tractor.

Emma drove the tractor around the pasture by herself.

Beautiful smiles from beautiful people I love.

Lunch outside under our mini pine forest.

Grapes are almost ready to eat.

Jacob and Zander.

Hollyhocks.

Jake on the tractor.

Eating lunch around the camp fire.

John enjoying the day with his brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews.

Kate was the first granddaughter
to drive the tractor for the first time.

It is so nice to have Josh home from his mission.

BYU buddies this Fall.

Princess Ellie finally decided to be brave enough
to take a 4-wheeler ride with Mom.

Beautiful Martha and Ellie.

Ring toss game with Mitch and Matty.

Matthew ready to take off on the tractor.

Mitch loving the tractor driving.

Rachel picking leaves.

Sunflowers from the garden for a centerpiece.

Happy Grandpa.

John made the fresh scones.

The oldest pioneers . . . Ross and Jan.

Dallan on stilts.

Grant Alma Wolsey - Christ Lives Inside Each Of Us

My brother Grant Alma Wolsey died this week. 

Though he lived a troubled life and there were times when it wasn't safe for me to be around him, 

I never stopped loving him. 

Through the years I have enjoyed many pictures of Christ. 

This particular painting of the Savior touched me profoundly 

because it looked like my brother. 

Grant often wore a beard and long hair. 

Every time I looked at this image of Christ I wept because I love my brother and I miss him.

I have since come to understand that Christ lives inside each of us 

and when we see the Savior in each other we catch a glimpse 

of the grandeur of each soul 

and more fully understand 

the price that was paid 

so that we can all return 

to our Heavenly Parents some day. 

Goodbye Grant. 

I love you.
Here is a link to the tribute wall on the funeral web page.
https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/17543585/Grant-Wolsey/wall

The following is what the creator, Brent Borup, said about this beautiful painting:

"For my whole life, the one painting that I wanted to create the most above anything else was a portrait of Jesus Christ. I worked on many different portraits of Christ through the years, but I was never quite satisfied with any of them until I painted "Light of the World". I have since based many paintings off of this one image. You may find it interesting that I painted this portrait during a very low point in my life. I had been really struggling to see any success as an artist, and after a few weeks of particularly trying circumstances, I was very close to making some major "career choice" changes. I believe that my Father in Heaven wanted me to stay the course. When I decided to use some new reference material to alter a previous similar looking portrait that just wasn't quite right, everything seemed to fall into place. I do believe that I had Divine help that day, because this was one of the easiest paintings that I have ever created. I feel that what sets this painting apart from any of my previous work, is the fact that I wasn't trying to paint what Christ looks like, but I was trying to paint what He feels like, because although I have never seen Him, I have felt Him, and I believe if you can somehow capture that feeling into a work of art, then you can't go wrong. This is my way of sharing my testimony of Christ with others. He is real. He loves you. I want people to look at this painting and know it." 

Grant Alma Wolsey

Grant Wolsey with his mother Fay Parrish Wolsey.

Grant Wolsey with his father Heber Grant Wolsey.

Grant with his parents at BYU graduation.

Grant playing the guitar and singing with his sisters Lori and Dawnene.

Heber and Fay Wolsey family in the 1960's.

Fay Parrish Wolsey with her four children: Diane, Mary and Grant.
Janene is the baby is Fay's arms.

Mary Eliza Wolsey with her grandchildren: Diane, Janene, Linda, Mary and Grant.

Heber and Fay Wolsey with their children: Diane, Janene, Linda, Mary, Grant and Joy.

Grant, Mary, Janene, Diane and Linda Wolsey.

Grant, Mary, Linda, Diane and Janene Wolsey.

Grant, Diane, Janene and Mary Wolsey.

Grant, Diane, Mary, Janene and Linda Wolsey.

Grant, Diane, Mary, Janene, Linda, Joy and Dawnene Wolsey.

Grant Wolsey Year Book photo.