Sharing My Story

My mother Lucille (Holden) Ensign passed away on March 3, 2002 at age 91. Here is the eulogy I gave at her memorial service in Bellingham, Washington.

Mom made the most wonderful shirts and other pieces of clothes for us kids when we were growing up. I thought that all mothers did that for their children. We always thought that the clothes she made for us were better than any store bought merchandise. She was a good—no excellent seamstress. After the children were grown she transferred her sewing skills to making wonderful multi-colored and durable patchwork quilts and crocheted what-nots.

Mom was a good cook. Nothing frilly or fancy culinary speaking. Broiled or mashed potatoes, home grown green beans, fresh carrots and other vegetables were stable fairs. Our small farm, the only home I knew for 23 years raised its own beef. I have the way Mom cooked it. We kids used to complain that we had steak too often—we preferred the juicy hamburgers and Mom’s special bread rolls. We had an apple orchard with three or four kinds of apples—some good for eating and some for baking. Mom knew the right combination. She was a master at making apple pies and delectable apple dumplings with a special syrup that was so good.

Mom and Dad took us to church and Sunday School. They didn’t just drop us off and leave us but they participated in the life of the church. Mom and Dad were Bible people. As a youngster I remember Mom’s Bible was falling apart through much use. One Christmas Dad gave her a brand new Scofield Reference Bible. Wow, that Bible with its reference notes had to be the cadillac of Bibles. For that time I’m sure it was. Mom taught the Beginners class here at Immanuel for many years. I remember her faithfully cutting out flannelo-graphs of Bible stories and faithfully studying her Sunday school teaching lessons. Eventually she turned her duties over to younger hands, but many children undoubtedly profited spiritually from her faithful giving out of God’s Word through those wonderfully compelling Bible stories. Mom and Dad were charter members here at Immanuel. Whaile I was born several years before Immanuel came into being it was the only church I knew before i left Bellingham. Momm and Dad were humble pillars of the early days of Immanuel. Humble, but pillars nonetheless.

When I was in second grade I was very sick—perhaps pneumonia. I stayed home from school for over a month. During that time Mom nursed and bathed me everyday as only a mother could. I was a very sick little camper. As I improved I was able to do second work at home with Mom’s assistance and made it back to finish out the school year. Sometime ago I mentioned that special time to Mom. To my surprise she had forgotten that incident. Well, Mom, I haven’t forgotten it and I pray I never will.

I am sure that without Mom (and Dad’s) tender care and constant prayers i and my brothers would have lead far different and less God honoring lives. Mom had a good long life on this Earth. She is now in the arms of her heavenly Father and His dear son, Jesus. I’m sure my father and her earthly husband has given her a grand welcome to life superb and without end. Mom, we miss you and are eager to join you when the labors that the Lord has entrusted us with on this eart are finished.

Mom, I and my brothers and family love you. We will only be parted for a short season.