Dad was born May 21, 1926, to William Rollie Cole and Grace Downing, in Whittier CA, the youngest of four children.  Bill and Cora preceded him in death and sister Elberta is here today. He loved his older brother and sisters.  He was named Carl Robert after Carl and Robert Tyler, a father and son who were instrumental in bringing his parents into the Church.  When he was about four years old the family lost their worldly possessions to the depression and moved to Phoenix.  Their lives were hard in Arizona and his parents both worked more than one job most of the time to support their little family.  As a child dad was very thin and he and his sister Elberta were placed in a special government class for malnourished children.  He remembered snacks and naps at school. At the end of 4^th grade, he received an award for gaining the most weight in his class.  He weighed 43 pounds.

     Growing up in inner city Phoenix provided many adventures.  He told of getting a ride to the Salt River, to Granite Reef Dam, where he and his friends would get in the canal and float on inner tubes back to Phoenix.  Once he says they got in the wrong canal and ended up in Chandler and had to hitchhike home.  His father died when he was 16.  He graduated from Phoenix Union High School where he was involved in ROTC and school choir.

     Dad enlisted in the Navy as he graduated from HS and got in on the very end of WWII.  After training he was assigned to the aircraft carrier the USS Bunker Hill, as a radar operator.  They saw action in the Pacific and in the battle for IoJima the carrier was hit by two Japanese suicide planes.  300 men on board died, but the Bunker Hill limped back to port, and the war was over.  Dad loved his country and was proud of his service.  Although grateful his sons and grandsons have not been required to serve, he is extremely proud of son-in-law Brett Bassett and Heather’s husband, Aaron Clinger for their military service.  

      Dad met Mom at ASU.   He was tall and thin, with lots of dark hair.  Her roommates teased her about her “Movie Star Boyfriend”.  Two things attracted mom to him.  He could sing and was a great dancer!  He literally swept her off her feet.  And she added, “he was a returned missionary and a war hero”.  They dated about a year and were married in the Mesa, AZ Temple.  Together they raised 10 children and were married for 62 years last week.

     I would like to talk about the “Legacies” dad left for his family. These were the things he valued and tried to teach us. 

       Legacy of Education.  Dad graduated from ASU a few months after I was born, took a teaching job in Snowflake and we moved from Tempe to Taylor.  He commuted to Flagstaff over the next few years to acquire his Masters of Education.  Mom was also a teacher and together they valued learning, and the importance of education was emphasized in our home.  They insisted we use correct grammar and modeled it.  We never ever were allowed to miss school, and going to college was always a goal promoted.  Dad encouraged and cheered every educational achievement of his children, and was especially proud of the Masters Degrees earned by Bob and Linda.  One school year we moved to Tucson so dad could go to school.  The school district sent him to obtain a “Reading Specialist Certification” at U of A. 

     Legacy of Hard Work – Dad knew how to work hard and he taught us.  The way he worked; hard, long hours to provide for his family; it’s a wonder he didn’t wear out years ago.  He worked from early morning until late at night and always had a summer job for months when there was no school.   Sometimes he even had side jobs during the school year which he worked Saturdays and evenings.  I remember him chopping and hauling wood, thinning timber, building houses, selling corn.  He knew how to do just about everything and taught his boys. He worked on our cars and could repair plumbing and electrical problems.  We always had acres of garden – to give his children work to do.  We all remember hoeing endless rows in the garden all summer long. Two separate summers cousins John Tatum and Rick Kober came and stayed with us, and they had to work hard.   We raised cows, pigs, chickens, and rabbits, which required work to care for.  Mike remembers dad teaching that caring for the animals came before caring for us and if you forgot that you were in trouble.

   Bob remembers a summer of working shoulder to shoulder with dad thinning timber.  They camped out in a tent in the pines.  He says “I don’t think we made near as much money as we anticipated but dad was teaching sons and we learned about chain saws, trees, camping, cooking and working.  It was hot and dirty and hard work, but what a choice learning experience.”   Scott remembers more than once going out after school to cut a cord of wood before nightfall.   I would call dad a builder.  I think he would like to be thought of as a builder.  He built our house on the hill in east Taylor and later the much needed addition.  15 years ago they sold that home and moved into the home downtown.  Scott and Tim helped him build the large addition that made it a great gathering place for our family.

    Dad leaves us a Legacy of Music.  He had a beautiful tenor voice –strong and clear and easy to listen to.  He blessed many lives and many meetings and touched many hearts with song. He studied music in college and at one time considered making it a career.  He sang a vocal solo at the dedication of the ASU institute building in 1950.  On the program were University president Grady Gamage and President Joseph Fielding Smith, president of the quorum of the 12 apostles.  He performed in many stake and community plays and musicals; I remember Oklahoma and Promised Valley. He sang in numerous stake and ward choirs and enjoyed directing the ward choir.  At Christmas he sang “O Holy Night” and at Easter performed “The Holy City”.  I loved learning his favorite “oldies” love songs sung around our piano.  “Because You Come To Me”, “Oh Promise Me”, Celito Lindo” and “Besame Mucho”.  One of Becky’s favorite memories is accompanying him as he sang.   He played the harmonica and the guitar well.  He and mom made amazing sacrifices to provide all ten of us with music lessons.  Every one of us played the piano and had lessons as long as they could get us to practice.  Then each one of us played another instrument.  The amount they spent on private music lessons for 10 children over the years is staggering.   Dad was so very  proud of CeCe and Viviane and their music education and accomplishments.  From the rest of us – even though we did not develop our musical talents to become accomplished as he thought we could have – We say “thank you dad and mom”; those music lessons and music knowledge and appreciation have enriched and blessed our lives immensely.

          One of Dad’s greatest Legacies is that of Service.  Dad was a boys’ man and being a scout leader came naturally.  He was leader to dozens of boys, many of them also his students.  He led scouts at every level of scouting He also served in Council leadership.  He was Philmont trained and part of Camp Raymond faculty for many years, including Camp Director, and was credited for helping save camp Raymond from closure and sale by keeping it open “one more year.” As close as we could figure he was a scout leader for 37 years.   He was awarded Scoutings prestigious Silver Beaver Award by the Grand Canyon Council in 1990.  Dad believed in scouting and loved to work with boys.  He was proud of his sons who achieved Eagle Scout.

      Dad’s church service began after the war with his mission to Argentina.  His mission call was signed by President George Albert Smith. Through his mission dad learned to love the Spanish language and maintained and used it his entire life.  He loved opportunities to speak Spanish.  When he had his heart attack a few years ago the EMTs who transported asked if Spanish was his primary language. He spoke only Spanish for a couple of days in the hospital.  Sometimes he would hone his skills by reading Spanish classics and Spanish scriptures.  He held a great variety of church callings.  He served as a seminary teacher, Branch clerk, Stake Explorer leader, Elders quorum counselor and president, Mutual President, Scoutmaster. He was a Seventy, stake missionary twice, High counselor a couple of times, and High Priest Group Leader.  What I remember is that he was always busy serving.  I remember him helping with rodeos and fundraisers.  He and mom have set a great example of gospel service for their family.

         Dad and Mom loved the opportunity they had to serve in the temple.  They were temple workers in the Mesa temple for 6 years, traveling down and doing a shift on Friday and a shift on Saturday.  For a while they traveled to Mesa every week and then later every other week.  They served in the Snowflake Temple for 5 years. 

         Dad and Mom filled a life-long dream when they were able to serve a full-time mission to Bilbou Spain, (Dad loved it that Mom had to learn to speak Spanish) Later they also went on a mission to Dallas, Texas, and a Temple mission to Cochabamba, Bolivia. On their way to Bolivia dad was set apart as a Temple Sealer, by Elder Russell M. Nelson. After their mission Dad was able to perform some of our family’s temple weddings. 7 of his own 10 children served full time church missions.

          Dad loved the town of Taylor and the people of these communities. Taylor became home and Mom’s many relatives became his family.  He loved working with you, serving with you, and teaching your children. He served on the volunteer fire service, was an EMT, and was elected to the City Council.  He taught school for 35 years; 2 of them in Snowflake, one year in Page AZ, and 32 of them in Taylor. Five of his children had him for a year as our school teacher.  Dad was my 5^th grade teacher.  I remember him being a demanding teacher, one of the best of my teachers. I continually run into folks with roots in Taylor who ask about my dad and tell me he was their favorite teacher. One year he was the Principal of Taylor Elementary and also the 8^th grade teacher. There was no school secretary, no playground aides, classroom aides or cafeteria aides. He kept the books and school records, was the wood shop teacher, the PE teacher and the after school sports coach. This week in looking through some of dad’s things I found several notes written to him by former students. One read, “I pray my children each get at least one teacher like you.” Another, “Thank you for forcing me to work on my writing skills. You were the best teacher I ever had.”

     Dad served those around him.  James said, “My dad taught me that helping others was something you could do even if all you had to give was your time.  There are many times I watched dad give freely without a thought.”  Viviane said she knew of more than one time when dad forgave others their debts to him.  Mom and dad never had much, but it seemed they always gave more than they had, in so many ways. 

     Dad leaves us a Legacy of Love –Daughter-in-law Gale said “I felt so totally loved by Dad.  My parents were gone too soon and he filled their spot. He made me feel like one of his own.  I knew he loved me!”

     Dad loved his grandchildren – All of them have a memory they could share. Only have time for small representation.  Viviane tells about trying to teach Nelson to drive.  Her nerves were frazzled and she was frustrated.  Dad told her to let him try and he patiently taught Nelson to drive his little black pickup truck!  My Son Lafe says his best memory of Grandpa and Grandma is when he was in the MTC.  He had been there about a week when they arrived.  He knew they were coming but had no idea how to connect with them.  They managed to look him up and he says he can remember the boost it gave him when he spotted their two beautiful white heads across the room.  They managed to share some MTC meals and some much needed hugs while they were there.  He says the other missionaries were jealous.

     Dad invested time in his children, and I don’t know where he found the time to make all the memories we have.  Scott remembers playing basketball with him at 5:30 am with Charlie and Brother Evans.  He coached all the boys in baseball at one time or another.  He was always there to cheer us on as we performed or competed.  Dad liked to play games and Sunday night was a night to play games and eat popcorn and apples.  An internet tribute this week by Grant Solomon, a neighbor and a cousin said, “Thank you Carl . . .  A big bowl of seasoned popcorn on a Sunday night and a game of Rook to you”.

     Family outings were frequent.  Dad loved the outdoors.  He liked to take us swimming at the old Taylor Swimming pool on the hill west of town.   We did Dutch oven cooking at Dippin’ vats, hiked Mt. Baldy many times.  All of us hiked the Grand Canyon with dad at least once except Viv.  Memories include Mexican lake to catch blue gills, cooking fingerling trout at Hannigan Meadows, and a trip to Canyon de Chelly.  Linda said she remembers being jealous of the scouts because they got to have more outdoor adventures with dad.   The younger kids remember lots of trips to the Snowflake indoor swimming pool with a stop at Fernies’ for ice cream on the way home.  We all remember trips to the valley – 10 children plus parents- that’s 12 in the station wagon.  We did this many times over the years; to Tucson also.  I can’t even imagine what our relatives thought when they saw us drive up.   I remember it as an adventure that we loved.  The last family trip we took, just before Bob left on his mission, was to visit relatives in Colorado.  Bob and the boys rebelled.  They kind of refused to ride with that many peeps in the car (they really wanted to stay for a football game that night) and Dad consented to let them drive his pickup.  Bob, James and Mike stayed for the game and then got to Colorado before we did.  As we traveled, we sang songs and played road games.  Cecelia remembers playing “whose lifesaver can last the longest”.   We sang “Polly Wolly Doodle,” and “Strawberry Rone”, “I’m an Old Cowhand”, and “Sing Your Way Home”.  Singing in the car with mom and dad– at the top of our lungs – is a happy memory.

     Dad loved our mom, and we all knew he loved her.  The surest way to get in BAD trouble was to show disrespect for mom when he was around.  He would not tolerate it at all – the fastest way to get a swat.   She was always so very busy – every bit as hard a worker as dad – and I can remember him coming up behind her and putting his arms around her and trying to get her to sit down and rest for a minute. I don’t ever remember them fighting.  He set an example to us by always eating everything mom put on his plate. It surprised even mom when, after Scott left on his mission, dad declared, “I don’t like broccoli and I don’t like green beans, and I never have, and I don’t think I will eat them anymore”. 

       Dad left us a Legacy of a Testimony of the restored gospel and he tried diligently to live it.  He had a great testimony of tithing.  He had proved the blessings by living it.  I remember when I was not very old having my parents tell us about our church building assessment, which was in addition to tithing.  Back then when the church built a new chapel, they assessed the members a certain amount until the building could be paid for.  My parents never had the money in their budget, but they always paid as they were asked and felt more than richly blessed for doing so.  I remember mom saying once that they had just completed paying their assessment in Taylor when they moved to Page, AZ just in time to help with a building there.   Dad set a great example of priesthood service and faith.  He exercised it many times in our behalf in the form of priesthood blessings when we were sick.  I have no doubt in my mind that we were cured many times of potentially severe illnesses. There is no other way to explain how this family of 10 children experienced so little illness, virtually never went to the doctor and avoided medical expenses.    

          We consistently had family scriptures, family prayer and FHE.  And it was not done without dad very often.  He insisted we get up very early for scriptures.  It was his example and his insistence that got it done. He and mom were building testimonies in their children.  Becky said, “Until I got my own testimony, Mom’s and Dad’s testimonies were mine, and when the time came for me to know for sure for myself, I so appreciated how theirs had carried me through to where I was.”

     Dad was not a perfect man and was not without his share of trials.  But his testimony grew as he worked through his trials.  Some came in the form of financial setbacks, lost investments, and career disappointments.  Others came in just recognizing his own weaknesses and striving to overcome them.  He was not unacquainted with sorrows.  Dad and Mom’s first child, a boy lived only18 hours.  As they shared this intense grief they grew together in their young marriage and were prepared to joyfully welcome the next ten of us who came quickly in the next 17 years.   Mom believes that the first person dad saw when he reached the other side was their baby William Rex.    

     Dad never had wealth and he and mom lived frugally and had to make do with what they had. Accepting the reality that wealth and excessive worldly possessions would never be his was another growing experience for dad.

    Dad believed in corporal punishment.  He gave swats as punishment to his students and thought that this form of motivation was needed in a school setting.  I remember when he was teaching 8^th grade that he had a “display” of paddles on the wall behind his desk, some of them made by wood shop students.   He also spanked and swatted his own children as he felt we needed it.  This was something mom tells me they discussed and disagreed about.  Several years ago, he and I were talking about it one day and he told me, “I was wrong.”  There are better ways to teach children.” 

I saw him learn and grow from his strivings and his disappointments.  I saw him refine and polish his own personality and character over the years as he sincerely strove to be more Christ like.  The service he performed for others molded and shaped him.  Over the last two decades dad became more patient, more loving, and more kind.  He seemed to love his family more.  He reached a contentment with where he was and what life had given him.  He knew that living the Gospel of Christ brings joy and peace and gives purpose to life. His greatest desire was to have his testimony endure to the end and live in a way pleasing to his Heavenly Father.

Thank you for the legacy you left us dad; a legacy of Hard Work, of Education, of Music, of Service, a Legacy of Love and of Testimony.   ITNOJCA