Lynn Andrew Shumway, Sr.

It’s difficult to believe that you’ve been gone for one week. I have so many fond memories of my grandpa. He made the best wood burning fires in the fireplace of the home he built for his family. I can still hear the crackle and feel the warmth. This home had the best backyard where the grandchildren could run and play. My grandpa had a shop in the back attached to the house. He was always doing for others. I remember that he would sharpen our lawn mower blades in that shop. I admired my grandpa with the care he gave his mom and two maiden sisters. He was basically taking care of another household in addition to his own. My parents valued his opinion in the home buying process as well as the purchase of vehicles. There were many times that on test drives we would drive by grandpa’s to get his opinion. I remember my grandpa watching Hee Haw from his recliner on Saturday nights. Growing up, every other Friday during the school year my family would go out to dinner and then we would stop by grandma and grandpa’s to visit. They always had Pecan Praline and Rocky Road ice cream on hand as well as peanut m&ms. Both sets of my grandparents were friends. Every Christmas Eve we would all go out to dinner and then look at Christmas lights. At the house, my grandma & grandpa each had their own bathroom. I typically used my grandpa’s bathroom and loved the smell of his Zest or Irish Spring Soap. I loved my grandma and grandpa’s little trailer in Pine. While my mom and sister were at girls camp, my dad, brother and I would stay in grandpa’s motor home that they used for road-trips to Kansas & Missouri. They would park their motorhome next to their trailer and that’s where we would stay. I remember my grandpa working at the extraction center near my junior high school. I had hurt my arm and grandpa picked me up from school since my parents were at work. Grandpa attended my HS graduation and was recognized. I was not only the 5th and final person in my family to graduate from Mesa High, but I was also a 3rd generation graduate.. It wasn’t planned this way. It’s just the area my parents were raised and where they raised their family. I’m so grateful for the relationship that I had with all 4 of my grandparents. I’m thankful to my grandpa for his strength, his example of service to others and for the all around good man and grandpa that he was. I love that both my grandpa’s worked for the City of Mesa. I’m sure that I was hired by the City because I mentioned this in my interview. It was a special connection. Last fall I took my grandpa for a drive in my all-electric vehicle. He was amazed to be riding in an electric car. We drove around the part of Mesa that he was raised in and then the area where he raised his family. We drove by the church he helped build. We drove by the house he raised his children in. We drove all over west Mesa. He was amazed by the changes. We then got shakes at DQ and then I drove him home. This was his last time to be in a car. His legs were tired. They’ve kept him going for almost 102 years. It was time for them to rest. I’m thankful for the 5 times I was able to stay with him for a few hours while he was bedridden. He had a sound mind up to the end. I loved our visits! He will be missed. I love you grandpa! Always & Forever!

Grandpa we will miss you!! I had the best grandpa. When I was 13 he gave me the job of mowing aunt Bonnie and aunt Annette’s lawn. He came everytime and would inspect everything to make sure I did a good job. He taught me to take pride in my work and every time he would pay me he would talk about the importance of being good with my money. He called me “toughy” and called my brother Robert “toughy two” and we thought those were the best nicknames. I remember the day my sweet mother died, I was 10 and when I saw her laying in the hospital bed my world seemed to fall apart. I walked out of that room and there was grandpa. He grabbed me and just hugged me for a long time. Later he would talk to me about the blessing of having an eternal family. He was always an example to me of living a dedicated life. He was dedicated to his family, to his faith, and to his community. Love you grandpa!!!