My Grandma’s graveside service was on Saturday. She passed away on Christmas and had a visitation in early January. However, her ashes weren’t laid to rest until Saturday with a graveside service with Pastor Michael Carlson officiating.

It was nice to have Pastor Carlson officiate the service because he does have some connection with our family. In addition to knowing my Grandma for years, he also used to be a nurse. He was the on duty in the Emergency Room when my Dad was diagnosed with leukemia. He was also one of the nurses on duty at the hospital when my Mom was transferred to the Boone County Hospital from Methodist when she was fighting cancer.

I wasn’t able to go because coronavirus restrictions currently only allow 10 people to attend a funeral at a time. Here children and their spouses made up the 10 people. Even though I didn’t get to attend the service I got to experience it when Pastor Carlson sent me a copy of the service. I thought I would share it here. So anybody who wanted to experience it, could. Also, so I could always be able to find it when I wanted to find it.

Graveside Memorial Service
Doris Irene (Majors) Paris
August 20, 1925 – December 25, 2019
Pastor Micheal K. Carlson, Officiating
Schroeder – Stark – Welin Funeral Home
May 9, 2020 10:00 am

Song

Welcome, Scripture

Welcome to this comforting and restful place. A place where Lyle and Doris are once again united together. They meet together in the presence of God. A place where we too will one day meet in a glorious reunion.

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me

Erica Shea Liupaeter

When tomorrow starts without me, and I’m not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes, all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry, the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things, we didn’t get to say.
I know how much you love me, as much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me, I know you’ll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,
That an Angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready, in heaven far above,
And that I’d have to leave behind, all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye,
For all life, I’d always thought, I didn’t want to die.
I had so much to live for, so much yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible, that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared, and all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday, just even for a while,
I’d say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized, that this could never be,
For emptiness and memories, would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things, I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven’s gates, I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me, from His great golden throne,
He said, “This is eternity, and all I’ve promised you”.
Today your life on earth is past, but here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last,
And since each day’s the same day, there’s no longing for the past.
But you have been so faithful, so trusting and so true.
Though there were times you did some things, you knew you shouldn’t do.
But you have been forgiven and now at last you’re free.
So won’t you take my hand and share my life with me?
So when tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me, I’m right here, in your heart.

1st Corinthians 13:11-13

11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Romans 8:31-39

31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer

Dearest Jesus, the Great Physician, let your presence manifest in this place. As we gather here to mourn our beloved, Doris, may you bring healing into our hearts. Be our alpha and omega in this memorial service. Let the things we share about our beloved Doris bring joy and healing in our hearts. We know it will be hard for anyone to fill the gap that has been left in our hearts and minds. But we also know that in days, weeks, months, and years to come, you will heal us, and what we will be left with are the fond memories of the times we shared with Doris. We thank you for giving us a chance to spend time with Doris while she was on earth. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Obituary

Doris Irene (Majors) Paris, 94, died peacefully on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 at the Boone County Hospital in Boone, Iowa.

Doris, the daughter of Robert Lee and Goldie Gay (Patterson) Majors was born in Old Centerville, Iowa, August 20 1925. She attended Hickory Grove School and received her GED from Des Moines Area Community College.
On March 7, 1942, she married Lyle R. Paris in Bethany, Missouri. She retired following 29 years of service with Bourns, Inc. located in Ames.
In 1937 she was baptized at the Central Christian Church and served as deacon, member of Christian Women’s Fellowship Group # 1, Home Builder’s Sunday school class and choir. She also served many years as the church’s kitchen leader for its annual Harvest Dinner, funeral luncheons and monthly lunches for senior church members. In addition to her church work, she actively participated in two quilt clubs and Jill’s craft club.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Lyle R. Paris and by four sisters; Margaret Lykens, Gladys Paris, Betty Walker and Marjorie Lau; six brothers; Donald, Harold, James, Robert, Raymond, and Thomas; daughter-in-law Charlene Paris; two son-in-law; Gerald Bennett and Dean Walter; granddaughter-in-law Olivia Bennett and great grandson Samuel Bennett.

Survivors include five daughters and three son-in-laws. Charlotte Bennett, Delores (Dee) and Richard VanDePol, Sheryl (Sherry) and Terry Johnson, Dianna (Annie) Walter and Lori and Roger Sebring; two sons; Lyle (Butch) Paris and Gary Paris; three sister-in-law; Denise Majors of Ankeny, Mary Jo Woodard and Jan Pulver both of Boone; 15 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.

Doris’ love of God , family, sense of humor, sweet spirit, gentle nature, hard work ethic, good cooking and the kindness she showed to others will truly be missed, but never forgotten.

Message and Memories

I remember Doris in many ways, her cooking at funeral and Harvest dinners. Her and Lyle at the fair stand and her chili for the chili dogs, I still use that recipe. I’m sure Doris and Lyle are in heaven right now dancing and enjoying being in the presence of Jesus Christ. If you have any memories or would like to say anything I invite you to do that now.

Since tomorrow is Mother’s Day I have two poems that I would like to read. Since Doris raised 7 kids I’m sure she was chief cook, nurse and wife. I find these poems appropriate.

These are two poems that reminded me of Doris and I hope that they spread a little of her love around.

Your smiles can brighten any moment,
Your hugs put joy in all my days.
Your love will stay with me forever
And touch my life in precious ways…
The values you’ve taught, the care you’ve given, and the wonderful love you’ve shown, have enriched my life in more ways that I can count. Your smiles can brighten any moment,
Your hugs put joy in all my days,
Your love will stay with me forever
And tough my life in precious ways.
The Values you have taught, the care that you have given, and the wonderful love you have shown, have enriched my life in more ways that I can count.

You can only have one mother
Patient kind and true;
No other friend in all the world,
Will be the same to you.
When other friends forsake you,
To mother you will return,
For all her loving kindness,
She asks nothing in return.
As we look upon her picture,
Sweet memories we recall,
Of a face so full of sunshine,
And a smile for one and all.
Sweet Jesus, take this message,
To our dear mother up above;
Tell her how we miss her,
And give her all our love

Song

Committal of Ashes

In placing the ashes of Doris in this hallowed ground, we think again of all that our dear mother, grandmother and friend meant and means to us. We dedicate this simple plot, amid these natural surroundings, to every beautiful and precious memory. We lay these ashes in that gentle earth, which has been the chief support of humankind, since first they walked beneath the sun. To all human beings, to all living forms, the soil have ever provided the sustenance that is the staff of life. To that good earth we now commit the ashes of our mother and friend.

As we place the ashes of Doris in the ground next to Lyle her beloved husband. I invite you to come forward and place a handful of dirt on the vault. Dirt from 702 Fremont where Lyle and Doris spent 40 plus years of their married life. Let the music fill your heart and the words your soul.

Now the work is left to us, the living, to carry forth the beauty and joy of that life which has been taken from us. Where we weep, Doris would have us laugh. Where we mourn, Doris would have us rejoice. But we know that she will forgive us our grief, for to grieve is to love, to love is to cherish, and to cherish is to give praise and thanksgiving for the life which has blessed us all.

To that life we pray courage and strength, that our frailty be forgiven, our sorrows redeemed, that wounds of our loss healed, in the sure knowledge that life moves forward and does not tarry with yesterday, and that the life before us beckons to greater glory as the only memorial that is fitting and just. Let us depart in peace and look to the morning, assured that tomorrow the sun will rise again. Life give and life takes away: Bless be life, above all, forever.

Benediction

May the truth that makes us free, the hope that never dies and the love that casts out fear lead us forward together until the dayspring breaks, and the shadows flee away. Amen.

Now to the One who is able to keep your from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of God’s glory and rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority.

Song

Thank you for your indulgence.