I love you Aunt Ava.

Ava Huff

1957 ~ 2010

Ava Jean Rawlinson Huff, 53, died Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at her home in Spanish Fork. She was born on March 23, 1957 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the daughter of Neil C. & Verdene Finlinson Rawlinson. She married LaMar Elmer Huff on June 22, 1979 in Delta, Utah. They were later sealed in the Manti LDS Temple on April 3, 1998.

Survivors include her husband, LaMar, of Spanish Fork; one son: Jacob Elmer (Heather) Huff and one daughter: Jamie C. Huff, both of Spanish Fork; four grandchildren; four brothers and three sisters: Darryl (Claudia) Rawlinson, of Fremont, CA; Karen (Bruce) Curtis, Delta, UT; Gordon (Mickie) Rawlinson, Kanecohe, HI; William (Emma) Rawlinson, Las Vegas, NV; Duane (LaRene) Rawlinson, of Delta; LeAnn (Doug) Smith, of Garland, UT; Janell (Eric) Whitney, of Fayette, UT; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother: Gary Lynn Rawlinson.

Funeral services will be Monday, October 4, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the Spanish Fork 6th Ward Chapel, 585 North Main Street, Spanish Fork. Friends may call at the Walker Funeral Home, 187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork on Sunday evening, October 3, 2010 from 6 until 8 pm or Monday morning at the ward relief society room one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.

I am still in a bit of shock. She was only 53. Her death has caused me to consider my own mortality. At the funeral, her bishop talked about her unfinished paintings in her studio. He talked about the things she had started but hadn't completed. He said that if we knew when we would die, we may not begin anything. He mentioned that she was not ready to go.

At the cemetary, it rained...hard. When they brought out the casket, it was pouring. The pallbearers were dripping wet. The microphone stopped working and my dad was going to dedicate the grave. The bishop made the comment that Ava must be crying. When my dad went to say the prayer, the rain immediately ceased.

Ava was a very spirited person. She loved her family and grandbabies. She wasn't ready to go. For me, the total downpour symbolized that she was pissed--pissed that her life was cut short. The rain stopping was her accepting it.

I have thought a lot about being ready--being ready spiritually and physically, raising good kids, doing the things that are most important, taking every opportunity to love the people around me.