On Saturday, 28 April 2001 we got together as an extended family and shared "memories of grandpa". These are the memories we shared from Doug, Valerie, Bryan, Maureen, Nicole, Autumn, Andrew, Matthew, Savannah, Eric, Julene, Mike, Bruce, JoAnn, Phillip, Adam, Thomas.

Doug Remembers dad:

When I was growing up, I had several TV heroes that I loved: on the top of the list were The Lone Ranger and Zorro. They had several things in common, two of which were: 1) they were always the good guys and 2) they both had horses and knew how to ride. So it should come as no small wonder that I also would have great desires to learn how to ride.

An early vivid memory is about the first horseback ride I ever had. I couldn’t have been any older than about six or seven. We were visiting in Panguitch as we did so often during the summer, and somehow (I don’t remember exactly), we decided that we would go for a ride. You saddled up the golden palomino (as I remember, it was Uncle Keith’s) and got it ready to go. I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. You probably rode him around a couple of times to get the feel of it again and to give the horse an opportunity to get used to you. You then had me climb up on the fence so I could climb on. Your intention was to ride him close to the fence and have me climb on in front of you. We almost made it too! I was so giddy that as I climbed on, I spooked the horse and he bucked us both off. Just like the Lone Ranger used to do with Silver, the palomino reared up on his hind legs. However, we didn’t stay on like the Lone Ranger normally did. We fell off! You landed in the mud, and I landed on you. It was great. I loved it! Fortunately, we didn’t give up. You asked me if I was OK, and finding that we had only injured our pride, we got back on and were successful on our second attempt. It was great fun. Thanks for the ride dad.

Valerie Remembers Dad:

One memory of Dad that is my favorite happened twenty-six years ago (almost to this day!). Doug and I had just become engaged. I was over at the Sevy's house one Saturday afternoon. I was standing at the kitchen sink helping Mom with some food preparation. Dad, who had been out working in the garden when we arrived, came into the kitchen. He walked right over, put his arms around me and welcomed me into the family. I truly felt his love and acceptance that very moment, and I knew that I belonged in this Sevy family.
Thank-you Dad!

Love,
Valerie

Bryan remembers Grandpa Sevy:

I remember when I went through the temple for the first time. Grandpa sat by me and helped me and made sure I kind of understood what was going on. When I used to work and go to school in San Marcos, I would stay at Grandpa and Grandma’s house. Grandpa would always go shopping before I got there to get milk and ice cream. He would ask me about my school classes, and he would tell me about when he was taking math classes and some of the things he liked and didn’t like about the classes. Grandpa would always tell me that I could stay up as late as I wanted and never made me get up early.

Maureen remembers Grandpa:

Saturday, April 28, 2001

I remember the first email I ever received from Grandpa. Actually Bryan received the email, but I was the one to respond to it.

Grandpa sent the email in February 1999 to let us know he would seal us if we asked him to. I was really excited that Bryan's grandpa could conduct the sealing ceremony. I believe I responded to the email under the alias of Bryan. I wanted to let Grandpa know we would love to have him seal us.

I was overjoyed when Grandpa told us he had received permission to come to Utah and seal us. I will always remember how comfortable I felt when I was sealed to Bryan. I knew I was now part of the family.

Love Maureen

Nicole remembers Grandpa:

One of my memory's of Grandpa is when he makes his peanut butter fudge. I love this because of the fudge, but also because ofwhat my memory really is. It's when we go into the kitchen together, and Grandpa starts to make the stuff, and as we begin, he digs out of his mind everything that he really is, what he thinks and feels. I have then had the opportunity to learn about his life, from how it was to grow up in Panguitch, to the deep secret ofmaking fudge. That's mostly what my memory is, it's the feeling I have when we have spent time together, the laughter, a feeling that he loves me.

Nicole

April 28, 2001

Autumn remembers Grandpa:

My whole life I remember singing with Grandpa at the piano. I always thought it was neat that he liked to sing almost as much as I did, and was so excited that he was going to sing with me at my baptism.

I remember that when we practiced for A Child's Prayer he had to read the words, which I thought was kind of funny. When we actually sang it together, he had a little 3x5 card with all the words on it and he put his arm around me and held the card out so he could read the words.

I thought it was great to sing with him, and I'm always glad when I am at their house and am playing the piano and Grandpa comes in and sings along while I play.

Only now that I'm a little older I see that his music has been a big part of my life. Thank you for all lthe encouragement you've given me on my musical talents.

I love you!

Love,
Autumn

Andrew Remembers Grandpa:

The Science Museum:
Grandma and grandpa and I have made trips to the IMAX Theater over the years. I remember one time in particular when we were going to see an Egyptian documentary. We got there early and decided to spend some time in the Science Museum before the show started. There were many things to explore in the museum, but I remember in particular a display on building arches.

This display had plastic blocks that you were able to use to build arches. Grandpa helped me understand the principles of how arches worked and helped me to build one that was freestanding. It had no glue to hold it together but it stayed all by itself. He explained about the importance of the keystone and how it holds the entire arch together and that without it the whole thing would fall apart. When we were finished, it stood about three feet tall! It was really cool. I really enjoyed building it with grandpa and I hope that we can explore other science experiments in the future.

I love grandpa.
Andrew

Matthew Remembers Grandpa:

Paper airplanes.
What I remember about grandpa and me is when he made me paper airplanes. He has a special way of making airplanes. First, he makes arrowheads out of the paper. Next, after the plane is folded in the middle, he has a special way of cutting out some of the paper so that it looks like the body of the plane. This way, it has wings, a body and a tail.

It flies really well because the nose is heavier than the rest of the plane. Grandpa says that it gives it better aerodynamics, but I say, it just makes it fly better! One of the other things that grandpa can do with his planes is to adjust the tail or the wings so it will fly in different directions. I remember once when he made one do loops. Another plane flew as if it were twisting through the air. One time Grandpa made me four planes! My mom saved one in her special drawer so I will always have one.

I like grandpa to make planes for me. I love grandpa.

Love Matthew.

Savannah Remembers Grandpa:

Going to the Escondido Performing Arts Center.
I remember going to the Performing Arts Center with grandpa and grandma. We went to see the BYU Young Ambassadors. I had lots of fun listening to them sing and dance. I love going to see performances and plays. I also like hearing and seeing orchestras when they play.

When we went to see the Young Ambassadors perform, grandpa really took care of me. He brought a special pillow just for me, so that when I sat down on the seat, I could see them perform. Grandpa adjusted the binoculars so I could see really well. It looked like I was setting on the third row.

I loved going with grandpa and hope we can do it again soon.

I love grandpa.

Love Savannah.

Eric and MEMORIES OF DAD:

As I have contemplated my memories of dad, it has been hard to think of the things we have done without mom, since she is the driving force behind our family. She always has the plan and the plan of the plan, and the rest of us just follow that plan!

One of the earliest memories of doing something with dad is the time that he and mom had tickets to the ballet. Mom got sick and I went in her place. I don't remember anything about that night, except that I was there with my dad. Another time he took us kids (I don't remember who) to the dress rehearsal of the opera Carmen. For my 16th birthday, he and mom took me to see "Promises, Promises" at the music center in Los Angeles. More recently we have gone to "The King and I" and "The Fantasticts in New York City. "Beauty and the Beast at Gamage (Az.) and the mountain music festival in Asheville.

Music has always been a big part of the family and I remember dad always singing in the car whenever we went anywhere. He sometimes didn't finish the song by the time we got home and kept singing at the top of his voice when we got out of the car. I remember that it was particularly embarrassing when all the neighbors were in their yards on a Saturday and he was singing, "Open the Gates of the Temple". But it was from him that I really gained my love for such songs and still love to hear them sung today.

When I returned to BYU as a sophomore, dad and I made that trip together alone. It was the first time that I have been alone with him for that long and though I don't remember much about the trip (probably because I slept most of the way), I remember that he commented about how he didn't like the Beatles. they couldn't sing and that "Yesterday" was a stupid song! I wasn't until recently that I was able to take another trip like that one. We drove back to Escondido from Bruce and JoAnn's a couple of years ago. It was fun to drive some of the way this time (esp. dad's car!), and to have so much time just to talk.

When we were young we used to go to dad's work for family day. Most of the time everything was "top secret, but on this day everything was opened up so we could see dad's office and have a picnic there. We had the most fun one year when someone had made a raft and we found it in the lake and got on to float it. As I remember, we got in trouble for that!

I also remember camping and going on nature walks with dad and really enjoying that. But most of the time instead of camping we went to Panguitch. We always had the best time there. Dad would always take us to the Rodeo on the 24th of July. Sometimes he would take us to the drug store on Main St. for a root beer float I thought that was great since they were the only times that we got to sit on those stools at the counter.

I remember very little about my baptism, except that my dad was there to baptize and confirm me, just as he was there for all those important things growing up. He always seemed to be sitting on the stand, since it seemed like he was Bishop forever. I also remember family scripture study with dad reading. I remember when dad came home each night that mom would take the phone off the hook so we could enjoy an hour for dinner. We always had such fun talking about our day and telling jokes.

The biggest memory for me is Saturday morning pancakes, Saturday night bacon and eggs (sunny side up!), hamburgers on the grill and PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE. To this day I still can't make that stuff, but I love to eat it especially when it is warm just piled on the plate.

I love you dad.

Julene:

Mike:

I was never much into scouts. By the time it was my turn, both Douglas and Bruce had sucked all the taskmaster drive out of mom, so the real extent of me working on merit badges surrounded what could be accomplished with the scout troop as a whole.

One scout meeting, we decided to work on our finger printing merit badge. Having a scoutmaster who was involved with law enforcement really gave us an added sense of superiority. We felt like we were being provided with the same training that future detectives received.

Radial loop. Ulna loop. Double loop. Each fingerprint is unique. "No two are the same," our scoutmaster told us. (As if we needed clarification on what unique meant!) We learned how to dust for prints, and how to lift them. Each scout had an opportunity under our scoutmaster's watchful eye to show our newfound skill. "Be careful not to smudge that print, or some criminal might get away."

There is a prescribed method for taking someone's fingerprints. One of the criteria for this merit badge was to have our own fingerprints taken. Ink, roller and paper were placed on the table. Each scout came forward and had his prints "taken" to be filed with the state. Left thumb, inked, then rolled carefully in the left-thumb box. Left-index finger pad. Left-middle finger pad, and so on until all the finger pads were printed. Then the entire set of fingers, now the right hand.

Once each scout had his prints taken, he was to go down the hall to wash the ink off his hands in the bathroom.

Following an alphabetical order, I was near the end before it was my turn to be "printed." Walking down the hall toward the bathroom, I noticed smeared ink. Whether maliciously or by accident, someone (or some ones) had wiped his inked fingers on the wall.

In one of my more cleaver acts, or so I thought, I stopped to examine the fingerprints. I could break the case. I ran back to the scoutmaster telling him of the crime, and my forensic discovery. I had found a "clean" one.

With the scout troop in tow, we went to lift the print. All we had to do was simply compare the newly lifted print, with those that had been taken earlier. This would be easy! This print was very unique. As each of our prints were examined and compared to the one from the crime scene, we came closer to finding the perpetrator. And then the match was made. It was my fingerprint!

"I didn't do it," I pleaded with my scoutmaster.

"But, the prints don't lie."

I was accused of a crime I didn't commit. Not only that, I had found my own print! Humiliated and called a liar, I also had to clean up the mess.

When dad came to get me from scout meeting, he was informed of my disgraceful behavior. By the time we got home, I was practically in tears.

As dad tried to comfort me — actually he left me alone, but for the situation, that was what I needed most - the front doorbell rang. It was the scoutmaster. He had come to "set the record straight," and present the prosecution's argument and all the circumstantial evidence against me. With the evidence presented, it was dad's turn for his closing argument. He looked at the scoutmaster squarely in the eye and said, "you're wrong. Michael wouldn't lie. Now get out of my house."

Epilogue

Dad, you were a busy person. You worked all day then were usually fully committed to church meetings all evening long. And although I sometimes wish that you had been around more often, you were there when I needed you to stand up for me.

Bruce:

Dad

It’s hard to remember just one thing that sticks out about you dad. So, let me tell you of a few that come to mind.

When I was about 14 or 15 dad read the Water Closet to me and a group of friends in Escondido. As he started to read, he laughed a little then he laughed harder and harder. Soon, he was crying and wiping his eyes from the tears. I thought he would wet his pants if he kept reading. Over the years, we have talked often and realized that it wasn’t the story, but the reader that we enjoyed.

I remember dad teaching me how to play catch. He taught me how to shoot hoops and around the world. When I was nine years old, we built a kite together and I won third place in the Cub Scout kite-flying contest. I remember dad helping me make my first skate board out of a board and an old pair of steel roller skates on Redding Way.

Last, when I was about eight, dad took me shooting guns for the first time in Panguitch. We shot old beer cans and bottles and a car that was broken down. I thought I was so cool because I shot a rifle and a hand gun like Billy-the-kid.

Happy 75th dad.

Love Bruce.

JoAnn:

Dear Dad-

I have been avoiding this assignment for weeks now. Not that I don’t want to say a few things – only that I don’t know how to say it. Eloquence is not my strong suit!

Our “relationship” is 19 years old now and I have seen many facets to this “Art Sevy” in that time.

I have appreciated the “fatherly” side. I have “absorbed” info at the “knowledgeable” side. I have been blessed at the “patriarch” side. I have laughed at the “Panguitch” side. I have enjoyed the “How Great Thou Art” side. I have played with the “BOOCE” side. I have eaten too much of the “Chocolate Fudge” side. I have cried (with laughter) at the “Water Closet” side. I have served in the Temple with the “Sealer” side.

And I could go on… but to put it briefly, I have had the wonderful opportunity to know you and I have been loved as a daughter – for that – I am the most lucky.

Love JoAnn

P.S. Oh yeah!!!… happy birthday!

Phillip:

Adam:

Grandpa Sevy

The fondest memories I have of Grandpa Sevy, is him making fudge and him just singing around the house.

His fudge, as anyone who has had it knows, is TO DIE FOR. I’d bet the Celestial Kingdom is like Grandpa’s fudge all the time. That’d rock.

I’ve always enjoyed it when Grandpa would walk around the house and just sing all those old songs. I haven’t heard them for a while, and I don’t remember the names for most of them, but the one I remember best would be “Bull-frog on the Bank”.

Adam Joseph Sevy

Thomas:

Hi grandpa.

The happiest memory I have of you and me is, you and me going to the Wild Animal Park.

Happy birthday. I hope you live to be 150 years old!

Love Thomas

P.S. I love you grandpa!