Gram B

On May 23rd 2012 my sweet mother in law Connie Barnes, passed away. We knew it was coming, but that didn't make it any easier. She fought a long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was diagnosed over 2 years ago and she beat the odds! The doctors told her when she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer that she would maybe live 6 months. She lived over 2 years! She had such a positive attitude, the doctors told Cathi that it kept her alive. Connie moved in with Cathi a few months after she was diagnosed and we only expected her to be there a few months! Cathi's family was so wonderful to have her for 2 years. I think if she had stayed alone in her little apartment that she would not have lived so long.

This picture was taken soon after she was diagnosed. We went to Idaho to see her.

After her husband passed away 16 years ago we did our best to plan some fun family reunions with her kids and their families. For some reason we never got everyone together, but we usually got at least half and we had a good time! We know it was hard for her to be alone all these years.

These pictures were taken at a reunion in Newport beach back in 2006. 

John, Edie, Gma, Debbie and Cathi

Ashley and her Grandma

Allison, John, Ashley, Mitchell, Tanner, Kade, Grandma, Kyle, Candace, Cathi, Debbie, Edie, Carter and Luke

For most of these trips Grandma would fly from Idaho Falls to Las Vegas on Allegiant airlines and then drive with us the rest of the way. She could always get a good deal to Vegas. We loved having her with us.This next picture was at Candace's wedding in Mesa.

Barb, Cathi, Edie, John, Debbie and Grandma

A few years ago we spent a few days at the Jarman's beach house for spring break. It was great! We all had a good time together.

Back row: Blake, Debbie, Kris, Cathi, Carter, Luke, Caden, Edie, Cienna, Gma, John, Allison
Front row: Max, Kade, Keaton, Kurtis, Kyle, Ashley, Mitchell and Tanner.


This was the best trip! We invited grandma to our house for her 75th birthday and then Cathi and Edie came and surprised her! Look at her face!! I love it!

She couldn't believe it!

We took her to see the Phantom of the Opera! She had always wanted to see it!

We went to The Grand Luxe for dessert after the show.

One thing you could count on when Grandma came to visit was playing a good game of upwards. It was her favorite and she usually won.

I love this next picture! When we went to see her after she was diagnosed, John cleaned out her garage. I looked over and she and Ashley were deep in conversation. It was so sweet.

Ashley talking with her grandma.

Ashley loved her grandma! She was good about calling her once in a while to see how she was doing. She talked to her a few days before she passed away. It was very sweet. Ashley called John in tears after the call because she knew it was probably the last conversation she would have with her and it was. We were so happy she was able to travel to Ashley's wedding! That was so special.

Ashley wrote a very sweet blog post about her grandma after she died. You can read it here.

This picture was taken at Ashley's wedding and it was the first time that all of her kids were together since John's dad died 16 years ago!

Edie, Cathi, Debbie, Connie, John, Barb and Annette

We will all miss Grandma Barnes! She had amazing faith right up to the end. She had an amazing testimony and I am so glad she shared it with us. I will miss her phone calls. She called a few weeks ago just to talk to me. It had been a while that I talked to her. She was very thoughtful! She sent a card in the mail for every occasion! Easter, Thanksgiving, Anniversary's, Birthdays, Halloween and anything else she could think of. She always signed her cards: Gram B. She had a great testimony of food storage and would always send us coupons to bulk up on stuff and she would send recipes and any kind of food storage tip she could find. She was very frugal and we often joke about the things she would save! But she was just being smart!

It will be hard to have both of John's parents gone! But we are so happy to know that they are together again! 16 years is a long time to be apart! I am sure they had a great reunion!

We love you and miss you!!