Grandma was an artist. As a child I never appreciated it fully, partly because, well, I was a child, but also because her art not flashy. It was knitting Christmas stockings for every grandchild and great-grandchild. She made porcelain dolls that were truly of heirloom quality. All her kids had handmade nativity scenes.
Grandma always remembered birthdays. Until I was 12, she always gave me clothes, impeccably wrapped with the boxes taped closed. This was annoying. When I turned 12 I started to really look forward to getting clothes -- and she switched to money. She sent me money for my birthday well into my 30s. She always sent a card that I could tell she took time to pick out, with a message that began "Granddaughter."
Grandma and I shared a birth month -- October. She loved opals, and therefore so did I. As The Oldest Granddaughter Born In October, I was lucky enough to inherit her mother's opal engagement ring. The gold was thin from years of being worn, but Grandma got the stones reset. The jeweler apparently explained that opals are very fragile. Grandma said, "You'd better be careful, then!" He was, and the ring is perfect.
When I was young, Dad was a teacher so we had lovely long summers together. We'd often go to Grandma's house for the day or to sleep over. I still love to go to the dentist because, when I was young, our dentist was in Tooele, and we'd make a big production out of going to sleep over at Grandma's, go to the dentist, and go to the Fourth of July parade. For all I know we only did this once, but it obviously made a big impression. When we slept over, I always had Fruit Loops (yum!) and grapefruit juice for breakfast. I had this combo once as an adult. Once. But it was very nostalgic.
Although Tooele got farther away the more children I had, I always loved to go to Grandma's annual Memorial Day picnic. No matter who she was married to, the whole Buys clan came over for puffed rice balls, lemonade mixed with grape juice, fried chicken (later years it became wings), and a visit to the cemetery and Grandpa's grave.
Grandma had a huge park behind her hedges. At least, that's what it seemed like to us grandkids. I was disappointed in recent years to realize it was a tiny water conservation lot. She also had a great basement with a secret passage between a bedroom and the playroom. To say nothing of the paneled walls that figured heavily in the play that Michael, David, Benn, and Lindsay and I created. My childhood, that's what my grandma's house looks like.
I love you Grandma!
1924 ~ 2013
Geneve R. Buys Gubler, 88, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Feb. 10, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
She was born to George Thomas and Margaret Catherine Rasband on October 3, 1924 in Heber City, Utah. She married Roland Lindsay Buys on August 18, 1945 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Solemnized in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 18, 1953. He passed away on December 10, 1977. In July 1989 she married married Earl G. Bain, who passed away in February, 2000. She later married Dr. Kelly H. Gubler on March 31, 2001.
She was active member of the LDS church and served in many callings. She was a leader for many decades with the 4-H program, the Civic Club, and the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, ceramics, and making porcelain dolls. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will enjoy the Christmas stockings, dolls, and nativities made by her loving hands.
She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, two sisters, her loving husbands, and son James C. Buys. She is survived by her children Marlene (Jerry) Pulsipher, Joseph L. (Dr. Saundra) Buys, D'Anne (Ed) Tonn, Ronda (Dr. Bruce) Lee, and daughter-law Carole (James C.) Buys. She is loved and respected by her children and her 20 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren.
Friends may call from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, at Tate Mortuary, 110 S. Main St., Tooele, Utah or from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the 14th Ward LDS Chapel on the corner of 200 West & 200 South in Tooele. Funeral services will follow at 11:00. Interment will be at the Tooele City Cemetery.
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