Dad's Funeral Program

Myron Hampton Stone

Obituary

Myron (Mike) Hampton Stone, 73, of Graham, Washington, graduated from mortality on July 23, 2019 after his body succumbed to autoimmune liver disease.  Mike was born in Napa, California on May 14, 1946 to Newell Elbert Stone and Lois Ferne Walker Stone.

Mike was raised on a 160 acre dairy farm where he learned the value of hard work.  Mike received a full ride track scholarship to Brigham Young University as a distance runner.  He was able to tour Europe with the BYU track team in 1968 where he set a 2 mile PR of 8:50 in Stockholm, Sweden. Mike still holds the two-mile record (9:18) at Lower Lake High School in Lower Lake, California.

While at BYU Mike met and married his sweetheart and love of his life, Darleen Sabin Stone. Mike and Darleen were married on October 29, 1969.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Provo Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 15, 1990. Mike was so looking forward to celebrating his 50^th wedding anniversary in October. Even though they will have to celebrate their 50^th anniversary from both sides of the veil, their marriage is eternal and they will have countless anniversaries together throughout eternity.

Mike valued family above all else.  This is evident by the way he lived his life.  Mike was loved by all who knew him.  He treated everyone as though they were his best friend.

Mike was called upon to serve Uncle Sam in Vietnam.  He served in the 101^st Airborne Division Screaming Eagles. He served his country courageously and is a true hero.

Mike was an expert welder and worked for many years at Geneva Steel in Orem, Utah. Before and after work Mike would often be found running the foothills with his children. Mike was an avid collector.  He collected antique cars, metal lunch boxes, gas pumps, Elvis records, and anything automotive related.

Mike is survived by his wife, Darleen; Children:  Tammy Stone, Lisa (Rex) Hamblin, Juliet (Aaron) Gerry, Michael A. Stone, and daughter-in-law Derrinda Stone; 13 grandchildren, one great grandchild on the way.  He is also survived by his siblings: Ron (Alice) Stone, Linda Stone, Tim (Jeanne) Stone.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 26, 2019 with a viewing at 9:30 AM at the Graham Washington Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 13612 224th St E, Graham, WA 98338. Interment will be at Fir Lane Memorial Park in Spanaway, Washington.

God be with you till we meet again.

In Loving Memory of

Myron Hampton Stone

May 14, 1946 -- July 23, 2019

Born                                                                                    Died

May 14, 1946                                                                       July 23, 2019

  Napa, California                                                                 Graham, Washington

               

               

Myron Hampton Stone

Funeral Service

July 26, 2019

11:00 AM

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Graham, Washington

Pallbearers

Michael Stone, Jason Covington, Rex Hamblin, Aaron Gerry, Richie Wilson, Dallas Stone, Cody Stone, Elijah Stone

Honorary Pallbearers

Ron Stone, Tim Stone, Kingston Gerry, Brandon Stone, Sterling Hamblin, Parker Hamblin, Jason Balzer

Family Prayer

 Jason Covington

Grave Dedication

Rex Hamblin

Interment

Fir Lane Memorial Park

Spanaway, Washington

Order of Services

Presiding………………………………… Elder Gary B. Sabin

Conducting……………………………… Jeremy Van Gieson

Chorister……………………………………………Loretta Fulk

Organist…………………………………………Taylor Morgan

Opening Hymn…………………………………………………… #86

How Great Thou Art

Invocation…………………………………….Derrinda Stone

Speaker…………………………………………… Michael Stone

Musical Number…………………………………Loretta Fulk

Farther along

Speaker…………………………………………………Juliet Gerry

Speaker…………………………………………….… Lisa Hamblin

Musical Number…………………………… Taylor Morgan

In the Garden

Speaker……………………………………………… Tammy Stone

Remarks……………………………………Elder Gary B. Sabin

Closing Hymn…………………………………………………… #152

God Be with You till We Meet Again

Benediction………………………………………………Ron Sabin

Dad's Obituary

Myron (Mike) Hampton Stone, 73, of Graham, Washington, graduated from mortality on July 23, 2019 after his body succumbed to autoimmune liver disease.  Mike was born in Napa, California on May 14, 1946 to Newell Elbert Stone and Lois Ferne Walker Stone.

Mike was raised on a 160 acre dairy farm where he learned the value of hard work.  Mike received a full ride track scholarship to Brigham Young University as a distance runner.  He was able to tour Europe with the BYU track team in 1968 where he set a 2 mile PR of 8:50 in Stockholm, Sweden. Mike still holds the two-mile record (9:18) at Lower Lake High School in Lower Lake, California.

While at BYU Mike met and married his sweetheart and love of his life, Darleen Sabin Stone. Mike and Darleen were married on October 29, 1969.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Provo Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 15, 1990. Mike was so looking forward to celebrating his 50^th wedding anniversary in October. Even though they will have to celebrate their 50^th anniversary from both sides of the veil, their marriage is eternal and they will have countless anniversaries together throughout eternity.

Mike valued family above all else.  This is evident by the way he lived his life.  Mike was loved by all who knew him.  He treated everyone as though they were his best friend.

Mike was called upon to serve Uncle Sam in Vietnam.  He served in the 101^st Airborne Division Screaming Eagles. He served his country courageously and is a true hero.

Mike was an expert welder and worked for many years at Geneva Steel in Orem, Utah. Before and after work Mike would often be found running the foothills with his children. Mike was an avid collector.  He collected antique cars, metal lunch boxes, gas pumps, Elvis records, and anything automotive related.

Mike is survived by his wife, Darleen; Children:  Tammy Stone, Lisa (Rex) Hamblin, Juliet (Aaron) Gerry, Michael A. Stone, and daughter-in-law Derrinda Stone; 13 grandchildren, one great grandchild on the way.  He is also survived by his siblings: Ron (Alice) Stone, Linda Stone, Tim (Jeanne) Stone.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 26, 2019 with a viewing at 9:30 AM at the Graham Washington Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 13612 224th St E, Graham, WA 98338. Interment will be at Fir Lane 

Memorial Park in Spanaway, Washington.

God be with you till we meet again.

Goodly Parents

 The Book of Mormon starts out with these words:

"I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God..." -- 1 Nephi 1:1

I, like the wise prophet, Nephi, can also say with surety that I, too, have been born of goodly parents. I, also like Nephi, was taught in all the learning of my father (parents) who gave me a great knowledge of the goodness of the mysteries of God.  For this I will always be eternally grateful.

It goes without saying that our family has seen many afflictions in the course of our days.  But then again, that's why we're here.  To progress through learning and growth by overcoming adversity. Sometimes we may not overcome adversity, sometimes we just endure to the end.  But, if we endure it well, the blessings we receive will be unfathomable.

My parents have certainly endured much affliction and adversity in their lives. But they have endured it well.

They have faced much heart ache but also many good times.  They have gone beyond measure in helping me throughout my whole life but especially during the last 16+ years when they have dedicated their lives to serving me and caring for me. Their hearts have been broken by the bad choices of some of their posterity.  But through it all their love is unfeigned and unwavering.

There is no doubt in my mind that when the Lord calls them home he will say unto them, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." -- Matthew 25:21

My Patriarchal Blessing tells me that I "was sent to a home of goodly parents who love me.  Add honor and dignity to their names."

I certainly hope that I have fulfilled that admonition from the Lord to me personally to add honor and dignity to my good parents names.  I know that I am mortal and sometimes fail but I have certainly tried my best to add honor and dignity to my parents' names.

I love you, Mom and Dad!  Thank you for being goodly parents.

That's my two cents.

Healing Power of Christ

This is the Daily Gospel Thought on Instagram today.  I thought it was apropos to post to my blog.

"The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ—whether it removes our burdens or strengthens us to endure and live with them like the Apostle Paul—is available for every affliction in mortality." -- President Dallin H. Oaks

This brings to mind something somebody said to me the other day.  They mentioned that they didn't know why bad things happen to good people.  This seems to be a question that many people have.  Well, lucky for you, I know the answer.  It's actually quite simple.  It is so that we may learn, grow and progress towards becoming more like our Heavenly Father.

I will elaborate a bit.  We all chose to come to earth for two main purposes.  1 -- to gain a body.  2 -- to be tested through trials, afflictions, and hardships.  We had progressed as far as we could in our pre-mortal life, therefore we needed to enter mortality to receive a body and be tested through trials so that we could continue progressing.

How we treat our bodies in terms of respecting this wonderful God-given gift and learning to overcome and control the appetites and desires of the flesh, in part determines our eternal destiny.  Also, the way we respond to our trials, hardships, and afflictions in mortality determines how much we grow in terms of gaining divine qualities of character.  Developing divine qualities through enduring trials well is how we progress towards becoming more like our Heavenly Father and Savior.

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." -- Ether 12:27

Trials, burdens, hardships, afflictions, weakness are all part of our mortal journey.   Through the healing power of  the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement our burdens and afflictions may be removed or we may be strengthened to endure and live with our trials and hardships.

One thing is certain though, if we want to progress and build divine qualities and character, we must endure our afflictions and burdens well until the end. This is why good people must face difficulties, trials, afflictions, or in other words "bad things".  It is one of the main reasons why we are here on Earth in this mortal journey.

It's comforting to know that as we endure every trial and affliction, whether small or big, and as difficult and overwhelming as some may be, we can rely on the healing power of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to strengthen and comfort us.

That's my two cents.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my dad.

Here are some throwback memories.  :-)

Happy Father's Day, Dad!  I love you!