Grandpa Paul Whitesides

On the morning of July 27th, Grandpa died. We are so sad to loose him but we know that he is MUCH happier with Grandma Whitesides in heaven. We will miss him, the kids really loved grandpa and have many memories of their time together. We are so glad that we got to live close to him and make so many memories with him, even in the hard times. Mike, I and the kids were the primary care givers to Grandpa for two years here in Rexburg. At times it seemed like alot, but we would never change any part of it even when Jeni was sick. we are so grateful for his patience with us and hope we were able to help. We are so grateful to the care givers at Homestead Assisted living center and also Rexburg Rehab nurses, they were so senstive and caring as we went through this tough time.
The last night he was conscious, Sunday, we went to visit him and he just looked at me(Jeni) with those eyes that said help me... I just kissed his head and told him he had done good and to relax, it was okay. We each said our goodbyes and then left, the next morning we got the call that he was close to going.

Dad and I got very close, I really felt like I got to know an amazing person. We had a special connection, I could understand what he was saying and feeling without much spoken words. I will miss our conversations and lauging together. His family meant everything to him, especially his grandkids-sorry sons and daughter-in-laws.

This is what the kids said about grandpa:

Grandpa was a great, strong, and gentile person
• Grandpas was funny
• Wore a towel for a bib at the dinner table
• Enjoyed a good joke. Especially the one about a fly and a steak.
• Grandpa walked to our home in the cold weather without a gloves or a warm coat.
• I liked when he had the genie pig – Britt.
• I got to fly toy airplanes with him - Nathan
• Grandpa took me for rides in his yellow bug.- Kayla
• It was fun to see grandpa out riding his bicycle around town.
• It was sad to see grandpa riding his trike around town. Then, as I thought about it more, he was inspirational. Despite his inability to drive, he still got out and did stuff.
• Grandpa had fun trains that he pulled out at Christmas time.
• Brittany enjoyed making cookies for Grandpa.
• Brittany and Grandpa were Cowboys and Cowgirl together for Halloween.
• Brittany liked to hold Grandpa’s hand.
• While looking over the Rexburg valley at the rest home and really struggling, Grandpa said that the nurses were trying to kill him. Jeni and I told him that it was okay to die. He said, why would I want to do that? I responded that then he could go see Mom. He calmed down immediately and really until he died.
• Grandpa enjoyed playing tag with Cami. Then he would get me and carry me. We giggled together. It was fun.
• Grandpa and Kayla wrote notes back and forth to each other.
• Kayla was called McKurrla and Grandpa was Cookie Monster.
• Grandpa could always locate dessert with his radar senses.
• "The faster you go to sleep the faster morning comes".
• Families are the key priority.
• We support each other in our activities
• He came to our soccer games and events
• He sacrificed his own pursuits to be with us.
• Shortly after we moved to AZ, Grandpa and I crossed paths while commuting to work. Grandpa was very touched and grateful that we moved to AZ to be near them.
• He was really happy all the time - Kayla Whitesides
• I don’t remember him being sad – Kayla.
• I remember him trying to scare be (like boo!) – Kayla.
• He showed me that he cared for me by the way he greeted me – Nathan.
• I remember that he came to my baptism – he gave me a hymn book.-Kayla
• I remember him coming over for Sunday dinner in AZ and he brought the newspaper full of ads for mom.
• He wrote notes in the scriptures he got for us when we were 12 / 8. Kayla and Nathan.
• He got us all excited at Christmas and Birthdays and made us feel special.
• He dressed up like Santa Clause one year.
• He was really compassionate – he checked on Grandma Chugg frequently.
• He was an amazing listener and that he cared without judging.
• He tried to make everything fun.
• He liked to go out to eat and liked ice cream, hot cocoa.
• He always had mints and gum to share with us. He taught us to share and he felt bad when he didn’t have any, and he rode his bike in the cold to specifically get gum and mints.
• Kayla razed him when he missed Sunday dinner.
• One of his favorite parts of the scriptures was the beatitudes. He really tried to live those set of scriptures. We think that he did an amazing job and that they really are what grandpa was/is to us today.

Grandpa was buried in Rupert. We love going to Rupert and we love our family in Rupert. We love visiting with them and feeling their love and support, we have a great family we thank God for them. We got to see Jason Natalie and the twins, also Justin and Jenni made the trip to Idaho just for the funeral and to spend time with us. Bryan and Ashley came and it was great to catch up and make fun memories on the river water skiing. Kayla and Ashley played and sang at the funeral and did a very lovely job we know that Grandpa loved it.