Nathan did not leave us any instructions regarding what he wanted for where his ashes would be. I searched out Mill City and the area where the family used to go camping, but that felt far away. Warrenton, whre Nathan's dad is buried also felt far away. After time, Bill felt more strongly that he wanted a place to see Nathan's name, and one day it became very clear. It should be in the same cemetary as his mom. Nathan spent the last part of her life looking after her, and that suddenly felt close enough in Newberg. Newberg has always been the family homeplace of his mother's family, and so it was decided.
One day after school I called up the cemetary and asked if I could meet there on my way home. I was told that the section where his mom's ashes are buried, was filled, but there was a new areal When I arrived, It was perfectly right to find that the spot was open in the "new area" right across the sidewalk from his mom. This is where Nathan's ashes landed, at the Valley View Memorial (aka Hillcrest) Cemetary.
This plot came with a Green granite box for the ashes. I picked it up and took it to the Grandkids for explanation of the process. The box also made a stop at Bill and Kathi's and Tim and Mary's.
While with the grandkids, Shana and I put cars in it and talked about a sticker. Corin and Ember discussed it and smelled it and Corin decided that it didn't smell good and so he sprayed it with better smelling air freshener. It was blessed and then returned for the Cemetary for burial. We then planned a family visit.
Often times on Fridays I go to Corin and Ember's and I stay with them while their folks are working. On this Friday, we learned to tie knots. We took the Silver hearts and put them on strings and tied knots. Then we went out and found a branch in their back yard and tied the strings to them. We made a "Love Tree" and made a plan to take it to where Grandpa Nathan's Name is. We talked about it and decided it would be safest from being broken if Grandma took it in her car.
We met at the Thriftway store in Newberg on Main street. We talked about how we would drive south on Main street until we see a HUGE line of trees on the right hand side. That is where we will turn to go up the entrance in the Tree Tunnel to see Grandpa's name. All four cars followed the directions and found it. We visited together.
Spencer brought Diet Cokes to Toast Nathan. It was Nathan's favorite drink. We all decided that Diet Coke is as awful as it ever was. But we toasted him. :)
Nathan's grave is directly across the sidewalk from his Mother, Darlene Opal Ware Helwig
Cousin Baby Josi (Colleen and Jeff's baby) is also buried at this cemetary. Here Bill and Spencer are discussing how and when she died.
