Friday I was headed out to visit mom and to attend the wedding luncheon and reception of TheOrb and Ballerina. On my way to the airport, I drove past the scene of an accident. I didn't think anything of it at the time. When I got off the plane, I had a text message from Samara to call a member of the ward. That in and of itself, is not unusual. It was unusual when the Relief Society President answered the member's phone. The member's husband had been killed in the accident that I passed on the way to the wedding.
The intersection where the accident occurred is on a US highway that carries the traffic of a rush hour freeway at freeway speeds (55-65 mph) - except for the stop lights and the turn lanes, which make it not quite a freeway. The husband was making a left turn across traffic on his way to work and was hit by a truck estimated to be traveling at 60 mph. The witnesses have given conflicting testimony as to whether the light was green, yellow, or red. Police are still investigating, to determine the fault. I'd expect with all the growth that in the next 10 years or so, there will be additional overpasses built turning the highway into a freeway.
I made the whirlwind tour, conducted some church business, visiting mom, siblings, and kids; attended the luncheon, visited with bride and groom & their parents; none for near as long as I'd have liked, then caught the last flight home. In the meantime my counselors and the Relief Society Presidency were on top of EVERYTHING... and not just helping the grieving wife. We also had one of our young women break her leg (both tibia and fibula) playing church basketball.
It was my first funeral as a Bishop; the first death in the Ward in close to 4 years. The ward really rallied to support the young widow and her out of town family. They would have been married for three months this past Sunday. This guy really made an impression with his co-workers - he'd been at the job for only a year, but had really impressed everyone with his cheerful attitude and helpfulness, even dragging the recluses in the IT department into the social structure of the rest of the company.
The work place really rallied too in support of the widow. It was at times almost comical - the ward would think of something to do that work had already done & vice versa.
The memorial service was yesterday, followed by a luncheon. Things went off with only a minor glitch. Some Bishop who was conducting the service (who will remain mostly nameless) got up at the appointed hour and started the service without remembering to invite the family (who had been greeting in the hall) to come in and take their place on the front row. Good thing I had a member of the Stake Presidency with me on the stand to keep me honest.
My next trip out of town is next week.
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