From the Steven and Pamela Gee Family

August 8, 2000

     Great Grandma and Grandpa are a wonderful blessing to our family.  We are thankful for the opportunity our children have had to be with one set of Great Grandparents here on earth.  They have been blessed to hear their stories, feel their love and see their devotion to God.

     We are thankful for our Gee family heritage.  We feel a special bond to Great Grandma and Grandpa as we visit and care for the Paris House.  Our children had the blessing and privilege to have their Great Grandparents there almost every time they went.  In their mind going to the Paris house meant visiting Great Grandma and Grandpa Gee.  Our little Emily Pearl calls it “the parent’s house”.

In this beautiful home our oldest daughter Rebecca gave Great-Grandma walking lessons at age three.  Great Grandma was recovering from her first broken hip and still needed the help of a cane.  Rebecca saw how slowly she went and offered her tutorial services.  Great Grandma Gee still laughs as she remembers her saying “this is how you walk”, and proceeded to run, skip, walk across the living room floor.  Sarah’s eyes light up with joy to see her Great Grandparents.  She is our family historian.  She listens carefully to the family stories and she shares them again and again.  She is very good at placing people in their proper family relationships.  They were very disappointed the first time they came to visit the Paris House to find no Great Grandparents.  Now they have been to Lander Wyoming and know where they really live.

     The attributes of Great Grandma and Grandpa have blessed us as the parents of their great grandchildren.  Steve has been blessed with the talents of his Grandfather along streams and lakes.  Fly-fishing has been a blessing as it helps him relax and enjoy the world God made.  His daughters look forward to tagging along as much as possible.  Steve has a deep sense of duty to his family and the gospel.  This is also a blessing from his family.  He remembers receiving a Leigh of flowers from his Grandparent’s mission homecoming so he would feel special at his mission farewell. 

    Pamela feels blessed to have married into the Gee family.  It is a large circle of love.  Two physical gifts of their love are a beautiful quilt and a videotape of our wedding.  The quilt has warmed our bodies and hearts as our family has snuggled underneath it.  The whole family has enjoyed Great Grandfathers unique photography as he interviewed and photographed family and friends at our wedding.  The girls will watch it on Sundays and enjoy seeing all their relatives in a much younger state. 

     They also gave us a spiritual gift.  They also gave us the example of their lives.  We had been married three months when we moved to Logan, Utah.  The first Sunday we attended our new ward, Ruby Haws asked us if we were related to an Ivan and Pearl Gee in Lander Wyoming.  When we confirmed they were Steve’s Grandparents, she told us of her love for them.  She had family traveling through that part of Wyoming when they were in a terrible accident.  They had to stay in the hospital for a very long time far from their family and support.  Great Grandma and Grandpa visited her family in the hospital until they were able to go home.  She was thankful that they had served them so selflessly and made a difference in their lives.

     We are so thankful for the difference they have made in our lives.  Thank you for the heritage you have given us.  Thank you for the examples you have set for us.  May you know of our deep love and gratitude.