Graveside Service

Dad served in the Army and was stationed in Korea before the Korean War.  Taps were played and a 21 gun salute were performed at the cemetery graveside.

And then it Poured

 Just as the doors of the chapel were opened to take the casket out the heavens opened and poured.  Dad always had a subtle sense of humor.  The rain only lasted a few minutes and then the clouds parted and sunshine returned.  The pallbearers (who were mostly sons, son-in-law and grandsons) were soaked

Boyter Clan

A picture of our family outside the Corvallis Stake Center.  Evan, Charitie's husband, is serving in Afghanistan in the hospital as a pharmacist.  Charitie brought her five little ones.  Her in-laws were such a strength.  Bonnie and Dale Romrell helped Charitie but also opened their home to three of our children and their families.  There was an OSU football game that weekend and all local hotels were filled.

William Despain Fryer Viewing

 We had the viewing for dad before the funeral.  Dad chose his own casket years before.  It was a dark forest green with fir trees imprinted in the metal part of the casket.  It fit dad.  He loved the forests and found solitude and peace within them.

Richard, John and Bill adjusting dad's clothes in preparation of closing the casket.  Richard gave the family prayer before we went into the chapel.  The chapel was filled with family and friends which gave mom great comfort to know she and dad were loved.

William D. Fryer Funeral

Dad died the morning I arrived in Corvallis, Oregon on October 24, 2013.  I missed seeing him by a few hours.  Dad was unresponsive after he went into the hospital so he would not have known I was there.  I have had mixed feeling about not being there before he died.  I feel like my mom really wanted me to see him but my memories of dad will be how I remember him when I left on our mission.  I did not see dad until I saw him at the funeral in the casket.  Mom thought he was holding onto life until I arrived.  I like to think that he wanted me to remember him in better days but was pleased that I was there for mom after he died.

David and Cherry Blake offered their home for us to stay in while we were in Corvallis.  They live a few blocks away from mom's home and that left mom's home available for my brothers and their families.  Sister Blake knocked on our door early Thursday morning.  Mom was on the phone to tell me dad had just passed away.  Brent and I went over to be with mom after we showered.  Richard had been able to get time off work and was there to help mom during this difficult time of dad declining.  John and June have been up often.  And Bill and Mary and some of their children were able to visit dad before he died.

A few days before dad died Uncle Zealand (Dad's older brother) and his wife, Dorothy came to visit dad.  The next day Dorothy suffered a massive heart attack and died.  Her funeral was held the Wednesday before dad's funeral.  We were able to go to Salem for her funeral and see family and then 3 days later we saw family again at dad's funeral.

I had started working on dad's obituary earlier and so I finished it up and we got it into the newspaper.  We decided on having the funeral the following Saturday, November 2nd, when more family members could get off work.

This was a difficult time for mom.  She felt like things were spinning and like there was so much to do and did not know where to start.  Brent and I just started doing what needed to be done and clearing everything with mom and my brothers as we went along.

I next started planning the program and contacting family about when the funeral was going to be.  We were fortunate that our children and their families were able to come. Charitie's husband, Evan, is overseas in Afghanistan until March.  He was greatly missed. John and June's children were able to come except for Alicia's husband.  He also was missed.  Bill and Mary's children were not able to come. They were able to come earlier and saw dad before he died but could not get off work for the funeral.

Brent started working on notifying insurance companies and government agencies.  He got a good start on the business side of death but we had to turn it over to John and June to finish when we left.

I'm so grateful that we were able to come back for these funerals.  Working to help my mother helped me through dad's death.

The Boyter Women at William D. Fryer's funeral

All of our children were able to come to Dad's funeral.  It was a time of renewing friendships with cousins and brothers and sisters remembering the good times.  Here I am with my daughters: Charitie with baby Melissa, Annie Laurie, myself, Sabrina and Nichole.  Our oldest granddaughters: Katherine (Charitie's), Katie (Sabrina), Mackenzie (David) and Rachel (Sabrina).

Hike with the O'Malleys

We went to see Sabrina and her family in Lake Stephens, Washington.  They took us on a beautiful hike.  It brought wonderful memories to me of my father.  He loved the outdoors and we spent many vacations camping and hiking.  The smells of pine needles, the sounds of the water flowing in the creek we hiked along...it was a special memory sharing this hike with my grandchildren.

Sister Crichton

Sister Crichton flew home from her mission the week after we left. She served in Kuching with us.  Her brother, Scott plays for OSU football.  So when her family came to the football game, she called us and we were able to come and see her. This is her mother with her.  Sister Crichton looks great for having jet lag.  She is from Tacoma. Washington.

Mandy

We were able to enjoy our little dog Mandy for a few weeks.  She found her favorite place to sleep on our legs.  The leaves were turning while we were there.  Then John's dog, Charlie, got jealous and found her way onto Brent's lap.

Alta, Megan and Mac

Mac loved serving in the church and in his community.  After his cancer treatment over 20 years ago, he established a foundation to help families that had children with cancer.  After he had turned the foundation over to a group to run it and just before he died, the foundation was renamed Mac's Gift.  At the funeral the families and children that were helped by the foundation lined the sidewalk and as the family followed the coffin to the hearse they sang "I Am a Child of God".  Mac served as a BYU Student Ward Bishop, a counselor in a Stake Presidency, MTC Bishop and Patriarch.

Megan's Family

Megan's baby came the day after Mac died without complications.  It was a great blessing to have her at the funeral and for her to be with her family.

Sherrie, Scott, Brent and Marie

Mac Neil Boyter Funeral

We received word that Mac was dying.  Brent was able to visit with Mac by phone and say good-bye.  All of Mac's children were at his bedside, except for Megan who was due to have her baby the following week.  Brent called Megan.  He knew how hard it would be for Megan to not be with her daddy and family.  Mac died on October 13, 2013, Sunday.  We were at the church listening to general conference when the call came in.  Mac told us before we left on our mission that he felt he would not be here when we return home from our mission, but it was hard to have him gone.  The following Wednesday we received word that my father was given one to two weeks to live.  It was decided to return home for Mac and my father's funeral.  We left Thursday and surprised Alta, Mac's wife and their family when we arrived Saturday at the viewing before the funeral.

All of Mac's children were able to attend his funeral even his youngest daughter, Megan, who gave birth to her third daughter the Monday after Mac died.  It was wonderful to be with Mac's family.