Handsome Man

By Cam

I couldn't help but cry by typing my father's name in the subject line.

My relationship with Dad, Joy O. Sevy, was good. What did I lose by Dad being broken when his camper was rear-ended by that trucker? I lost a great friend and business partner. I lost a counsellor and mentor. I lost an example of how to treat my grandchildren. We lost a pleasant visitor and supporter of our family. I lost my father.

Dad and I did a couple of successful business deals. He helped me learn the real estate investment business and worked with me a number of times. I was considering another deal to talk with him about but our time was cut short due to the accident.

All of my children and grandchildren loved it when "Santa Claus" Grandpa Sevy came to town. He'd tell stories and poems and give all the kids kind and positive words and the occasional gift. Dad was a lot of fun and uplifting. His visits were always looked forward to, enjoyed and all to short.

Osoyoos will never be the same without Dad. He kept the place up with his constant puttering about: keeping the lawns watered and mowed, the trees trimmed, etc. Not only that but he kept our visits pleasant and enjoyable. We loved visiting with Dad and Mom with the rest of the family around the table or the lake-side fire, eating, talking, laughing, singing. Dad's jokes, stories and poems added a great joy to the family reunions. That part is now taken away.

We anticipated having Dad around for at least another 5-7 years. He was healthy, active, and concious about what he ate. Dad was careful about his health because of his severe hatred of hospitals and deep fear of and determination not to become dependent upon anyone. Dad could not have lived in a wheelchair with no control of his bladder, needing someone to change his diaper for him. No way. So he kept himself healthy.

Anyway, the sudden loss of my Father was a real shock. The harm done to my Mother was very serious and damaging physically, mentally, and emotionally. The serious emotional damage to my sister, who blamed herself for Dad's death because she was driving when they were rear-ended, may not heal as quickly even as my 85 year old Mother.

Cameron Sevy

Age 55

Joy and his family appreciate all those who came to Osoyoos for his graduation ceremonies and farewell. However, we knew that Osoyoos is only slightly more accessible than the Amazon, and Alberta said that Joy would be the last to want his friends and family to expend large amounts of time and money traveling for a 2 hour party. So here is the funeral and graveside service, together with a video collage.

It's the 21st century, and you can attend this funeral in your own home and say good-bye. Mom will enjoy your phone calls, emails, faxes, letters, flowers, or hugs if you are close enough.

To watch the video on VIMEO click HERE

Perhaps His Favorite Poem

Dear Family by Sister Brianna Harris

I received a voicemail from Dadio on Friday night and I went thru a rollercoaster of emotions as he said, “Grandpa, Grandma and my Mom were in a major accident Wednesday Morning. They were on their way to the Mesa Temple and got rear ended by a Semi truck.” He explained the situation of Gramps being the one who didn’t bounce back out of it well, and that he probably wouldn’t. “Grampa probably will not make it…” The phone message cut out right there, and that didn’t sit well with me. After crying with my companion’s arms around me, I got permission to call back, and Dana comforted me by explaining everything and then I got to talk with Dad again.

Maybe it’s because I’m kind of far away from everyone (in proximity, I’m one of the closest, but I’m really in this missionary world.) but I want to share with you all how I have had comfort enough to go on with the work and teach. Tonight we will be teaching the Plan of Salvation to Alejandra Huerta and her kids, and I’m excited to testify that there really is hope in every trial we go thru. That’s why we can call it the Plan of Happiness, b/c it gives us a sure hope for a better world, and the chance to see our loved ones again. That hope becomes faith when we put it into action. And then when we build on our faith by making and keeping sacred covenants, we then can expect miracles. And when I prayed about Grandpa being alright and everyone else in the family who is hurting, I did receive a miracle, b/c I received a peace. A warmth, that filled me and fills me now, telling me that he’s alright. It’s true. Yes, I’m sad that my children will not be able to know him, or hear his poems and stories, or feel of his big bear hugs, or see his beady blue eyes hidden behind his bushy white eyebrows, but they’ll meet a better Grampa Sevy one day. One day we will all be together, if we live right. If we put our hope into action, and continue on living by faith, we’ll see him.

I’m thankful for the restored Gospel b/c it gives me evidence that this hope of mine is not just a “selfish wish,” or, “a good idea, so that I feel good”. But it’s a fact. It’s the way it is, and we just need to choose to accept it and then make it happen for ourselves. We’re so lucky to have the testimonies of the prophets whose faith was changed to a sure knowledge. From times of old, even until today. We get to read them in the scriptures, and then we even get to hear and learn from living prophets. We have all the tools we need: the scriptures, the priesthood, the temples, General Conferences, church callings classes and of course personal prayer. I’m working on making my prayers more meaningful and listening for at least half the time and I’m feeling the difference.

The family is the most important. My companion Sister Thomas had the lyrics of the song “No Empty Chairs” by Janice Kapp Perry and Orrin G. Hatch. And I thought of our family.

Look around our family table, every person in his place.
Memorize this happy moment, and each familiar face.
Look around our family circle, feel the love that we all share.
Life is sweet, and so complete with each loved one gathered here.

There are no empty chairs at our table,
No empty feelings inside,
When all those we love are together,
Here side by side.

Time will fly and all too quickly, some will leave to try their wings,
Empty places at our table will tug at our heart strings.
But the number at our table will increase as children come,
Bringing to our family table, sweet innocence and fun.

We'll add a few more chairs to our table,
A lot more laughter and love,
As our joy is multiplied daily,
To fill our cup.

When there comes a time for parting, there will be no tears because,
We will set a grander table where all may live in love.
There we'll wait for all our loved ones, who will come to take their place.
At the feast that lasts forever, in God's eternal place.

We'll have no empty chairs at our table,
No empty feelings inside,
When all those we love are together,
There side by side.

May the circle not be broker, may each on return to be,
Safe within this peaceful haven, through all eternity.

We'll have no empty chairs at our table,
When all are gathered above,
No more empty chairs at our table,
In heaven's home of love.

I hope and pray that you’re all well, and we’ll all keep living the Gospel according to our knowledge and testimonies that God has given us. We are truly blessed.

You’re in my prayers. I love you all.

Forever,
Sister Harris

A Tribute to Joy

These are the songs I compiled for the funeral reception as requested by Alberta.

Song Title	Artist	Year
Sentimental Journey	Doris Day and Les Brown and His Band	1945
Blue Skies	Frank Sinatra, Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra	1941
In the Mood	Glenn Miller	1939
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy	The Andrew Sisters	1941
The Trolley Song	Judy Garland	1945
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree	Glenn Miller	1942
Take the "A" train	Duke Ellington	1941
Cheek to Cheek	Fred Astaire and the Leo Reisman Orchestra	1935
I'll BE Seeing You	Bing Crosby	1944
You Are My Sunshine	Jimmie Davis	1940
Don't Fence Me In	Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters	1943
There Are Such Things	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra	1943
Love Somebody	Doris Day	1948
For Sentimental Reasons	Nat King Cole	1946
There'll Be Some Changes Made	Benny Goodman	1941
Frenesi	Artie Shaw	1940
On the Sunny Side of the Street	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra	1945
Till the End of Time	Perry Como	1945
We'll Meet Again	Vera Lynn	1939

A few unforgettable memories of Joy

Our apartment in Seattle was on the annual migration route of Joy and Alberta.  Every spring they would leave their snow bird home in Yuma, Arizona and head north along the pacific coast to their summer home in Osoyoos, British Columbia.  In the years before we had moved there, they wouldn’t stop but continue farther west to the sleepy little town of Sequim along the Strait of Juan de Fuca where they have a rustic one-room cabin that Joy had bought sight-unseen from a friend in Yuma years ago.  Their visits were always wonderful and their gracious invitation to Sequim was always a treat.  My favorite part was that Joy always brought a huge box of dates that I loved to share with him.

On one visit, we awoke at 5:00am to say our farewells (Joy was always keen to leave at the crack of dawn).  Brooke and I were still groggy and barely awake, but Joy, as usual, was bright-eyed and ready to tackle the day.  That morning he was especially chipper.  He quickly huddled the four of us into a tight circle and said with great energy and seriousness, “Last night I had a dream and I believe…,” we waited in suspense, “… it is time to give my sail boat to Brooke and Mike.”  Wow! Talk about a surprise.  A few days earlier I had mentioned to Joy that I took a free two-day dinghy class from the University of Washington. I guess he thought that showed my initiative to become a sailor. Now I’m the proud owner of a beautiful 30 foot sailboat!   

That kind of spontaneous giving is just one of many personality traits that I admire about Joy Sevy. Every moment with him is interesting, exciting, and inspirational (including the 2 day road trip we took to haul the sailboat from Osoyoos to Sequim). 

The most adventurous experience occurred a few summers ago on a hot summer evening.  Maryjoy asked me to go to the grocery store to buy ice cream for everyone.  I quickly ran to my car because I knew the store would be closing soon.  Joy, who was working in the yard, noticed my haste and said he’d join me, I think for the thrill of it.  We arrived at the grocery store just as they shut off the automatic sliding glass doors.  I turned to Joy to lament that we were too late, but he was already out of the car running to the doors. I followed his charge, “Come on! Come on!”, he said, “We’ve got to get in there!” He was oblivious to me telling him they were closed as he pried open the doors and slipped inside.  Right away the cashiers yelled at us, but Joy was determined. He ran straight to the freezers in the back. I think he thought he was in the war evading the Japanese as we ran in and out of the aisles to escape the teenage baggers that were hot on our tail.  When we arrived at the counter we were surrounded by store employees.  The energy was high and my blood was running as Joy argued our case.   I stood by his side feeling like a solider backed into a corner, poised to never surrender.  Despite Joy’s valiant effort, we were denied that carton of ice cream. The victory for me was the experience of Joy’s fun-loving excitement and indomitable tenacity.

On another occasion he took me golfing at the country club in Osoyoos.  As we walked past the club house, he assured me that octogenarians, and their guests, didn’t need to pay.  We proceeded straight to the fourth hole (because it was his favorite) and then played eight more holes in a random order that suited him.  Best yet, we were hitting three balls each and only counted the one with the lowest score!   

Joy’s audacity isn’t my only memory of him.  I will always remember his other admirable qualities, like his relentless patriotism, strong work ethic, genuine sincerity, unyielding love of the gospel, and candid friendship.  Joy was a wonderful man. I am grateful to have known him and I am glad we named our daughter after him (and Maryjoy).  I hope she will develop their best qualities.