For my Uncle Neldon

The Earl Kids, from left

Ila, Anita, Pauline, Niles Junior, Beulah, Velva, and Neldon

(missing aunt Delmina)

I just got home and checked my e-mail. My Uncle Neldon passed away this morning. Uncle Neldon was my mothers eldest brother. He was the oldest of eight children, raised in the depression, he was also a world war II veteran. My mother remembered him coming home on leave, looking so handsome in his Uniform.


I remember my Uncle Neldon as the one who lived a couple of blocks away, when I was growing up in LasVegas. I will always remember him as one of the influences that brought my dad into activity in the church. He never missed an opportunity to bear his testimony. His knowlege of the gospel was unsurpassed. I will always be grateful to him for not giving up on my dad, and for helping our family become centered in the gospel.



Now my Uncle Neldon, My Aunt Delmina, and my Mother have all passed on. My grandmother raised 8 children. They have all lived to old age, which is amazing in itself. They lived through the depression, war, flu epedemics, polio, the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's. We miss them at our family reunions. I wonder if our yearly family reunion will continue on after a few more siblings are gone. Can my generation keep it going. Will we lose the connections with each other. Right now Uncle Neldon is enjoying a reunion with his sisters, his mom and dad, his wife and son. We will miss them so much. I'm so happy for them.