From Vyla's journal:

Sunday the 29^th. I spent all day at the hospital. All of the kids were here. Daddy was failing, just staring at the ceiling. He passed away at 9:20 p.m. I am so grateful that all of family were there except for Celia (who was living in California) and Jay. Rhonda, Bonnie, and Renee were also there. He went so peacefully. I am sure loved ones beyond the veil were there to welcome him as we watched him pass from this sphere to the great beyond. I am so thankful for him and my wonderful family.

Tuesday the 31^st. Monday and Tuesday were very busy making arrangements. I turned it all over to Gerald, bless his heart. Eunice and Thelma are back here helping me. I am so grateful for them also. They, I mean all of my kids and in laws, are so very good to me and help me so very much. I am so so thankful for every one of you. I picked out the the flowers and the casket. The family went with me to the mortuary.

Wednesday the 1^st. We're just all very busy. The family went to the mortuary to see Daddy. He looks so nice. Just the family went, the viewing was in the evining. Many friends came.I was very tired standing so much. Celia came today .

Thursday the 2^nd. It was a lovely winter day. No storm and not very cold. Everything was so nice. It (the funeral) is on tape. The Relief Society served a very nice dinner for the family and friends. Gerald, Verlee, Kelly, and I went back to the cemetery and put some flowers on Mom and Dad's graves. Most of the family left this evening.

Friday the 3^rd. The Reads left about 10:30 or so. Celia and Gordy were here, then he took her to Twin Falls to catch the plane. Kathryn and Irma are here writting thank you notes. I had lunch with Gerald and Verlee. Washed up all the sheets. Kelly and RJ slept here. Rearranged all of the drawers and made things more convenient.

        After devoting so much of her time and energy to caring for Ira, Vyla now had time for herself. Later in February she went to Los Angeles with Gerald and Verlee and her brother Slim to see her other brother, Myrl. Then in March she went to see Judy and in July went to Colorado Springs with the Turners to see Darla. There were two more trips to Salt Lake in June and September. In July she went on a church tour along with 44 other people on the Sun Valley Bus, stopping at the Church Office Building for lunch. Spent the night in Provo, and then to Manti to the Pageant.

At Celia's Wedding: Jack, Celia, Vyla, Connie, Gordy, and Bonnie. Kneeling, Cindee and Russell

        Celia announced that she and Jack Gilmour were getting married in California. At the last minute arrangements were made for Vyla to attend their wedding. The benefactor was Gordon Buttars, Celia's ex-husband. He bought a ticket for Vyla and Connie. Also going with them were Gordy and Bonnie, his fiance. On November 23, 1978 the four of them flew to California and were picked up at the airport by Cindee and her husband and went directly to Celia's apartment.

        Celia had no idea they were coming and was so surprised to see the four of them standing on her door step. They stayed in her one bedroom apartment so there was hardly any room for four unexpected guests. Vyla slept on the couch, Connie slept on the loveseat and Gordy and Bonnie slept on the floor in sleeping bags. The next day was Thanksgiving. Cindee and her husband came over and they all had Thanksgiving Dinner together. The following day was their wedding. The day after they were married, Celia and Jack drove them around showing them the Bay Area. Then on the 27^th they flew back to Burley.

        Ever since 1945, the Burley area was part of the Idaho Falls Temple Distinct, but in 1978 with the announced renovation of the Logan Temple, they were shifted to Logan. In anticipation of the re-dedication, Vyla crocheted a lovely lace alter scarf for the Logan Temple and sent it to the Temple where it was used on an alter in one of the sealing rooms.

Kathryn, Lorna, Vyla, Celia, & Thelma at Celia's in 1981

        As Vyla approached her 80^th birthday she remained active and busy. As can be seen, she traveled a lot. As the grandchildren served missions she attended their farewells and homecomings. There were grandchildren's weddings to attend. With all of the weddings, great grandchildren were being born and she attended their blessings. As the great grandchildren turned 8 years old she attended their baptisms.

Vyla on her 80th birthday

        There was one very special baptism to attend which required another trip to California. After several years outside of the Church, Celia was ready to come back and she was bringing Jack with her. Vyla, Kathryn and Dick, Thelma and Jay, Lorna, and Gordy and Bonnie made the trip in Goodfellow's motor home and arrived at Celia and Jack's home on the January 9, 1981. There was barley time to go from there over to the church where both Celia and Jack were baptized by Gordy. The following Sunday they all piled into Goodfellow's motor home and went to Church with Celia and Jack in their ward. Early Monday morning they left to make the long trip across Nevada and home.

        Vyla turned 80 on June 4,1981 and on Saturday, June 6^th an open house was held at the home of Irma and Don to honor her 80 years of well lived life. Friends and family attended to pay tribute to this noble woman.

        January 16, 1982 was a very special day as Vyla gathered in the Salt Lake Temple with all of her children and their spouses as Celia and Jack were sealed. Undoubtedly Ira and Myron was there too.

The Frost Family 1982: Kathryn, Irma, Marion, Lorna, Celia, Thelma, Eunice, Vyla, and Gerald.

This picture was on the front page of the March 16, 1982 edition of the South Idaho Press. The caption read "Fighting back at winter It was Burley's Mrs. Vyla Frost versus Old Man Winter today and as of press time, winter was still winning.”

        Into her 80s, Vyla remained in good health and continued to be actively involved with her ever growing family. For years the first weekend in August had been reserved for the Frost Family reunion. In earlier years, the family increased to 48 grandchildren. Now that most of them were married with families of their own. The reunion continued to be an event that brought the family together. With their busy lives, not everyone was able to attend every year. But through the reunion the family remained close. Typically it was held at Unity and occasionally at Pella. It always ended with an afternoon of water skiing on the Snake River and visiting at Turners. Vyla was always thrilled to see her family come together.

Getting a perm from Connie

        Even in her 80s, Vyla always had pretty flower beds around her little house in town. One summer they kept getting knocked down and trampled on. Wanting to catch the culprits in the act she watched out for them. Sure enough, she caught Irma's kids in the act. She sprang through the door and hollered, “Hey you kids, get the hell out of my flowers!” A bit surprised, they did.

        As the years continued to accumulate, by her late 80s Vyla slowed down considerably and got to the point were she was no longer able to care for herself and required more attention than her family was able to properly give her. The painful decision was made to put her in a nursing home.

Vyla on her 90th birthday

        Vyla agreed that it would be the best for her and everyone else and went willingly. That is until the day that it came to move. She fought tooth and nail to stay in her home. She finally accepted the inevitable and went. Once she settled down and settled in, she actually enjoyed it. She especially enjoyed the weekly bingo games.

        So her 90^th birthday was celebrated in the Burley Care Center. Age had taken its toll on her and her memory was severely affected. At times she recognized those who come to see her but soon forgot that they were there. Other times she didn't recognize who was there. At times she thought Gerald was Ira or that on of the girls was her mother. Others she thought were her brothers and sisters.

Kathryn and Vicky saying goodbye

        Her long life of 93 years ended at the Burley Care Center on the day after Christmas, December 26, 1994. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on December 30^th at the Burley Idaho Stake Center and she was laid to rest next to Ira in the pleasant View Cemetery in Burley. At the the time of her death, her posterity included 48 grand children, 135 great grandchildren, and 10 great great grandchildren.

        Vyla had lived a life of service, particularly to her family. She served faithfully in the church. Although she was not called upon to fill positions some see as prestigious, she served diligently wherever asked. In her later years she attended the temple often. Her example of service was well received by her children, who in turn passed it on to her grandchildren where that legacy of service continues.

The Frost Family - 2007. Standing: Lorna, Thelma,Gerald, Kathryn,and Marion. Seated: Celia, Eunice, and Irma

        Of her grandchildren, ten served missions: Bill Read, Pennsylvania; Ronda Read, Uruguay; Gordon Buttars, Colorado; Kenny Turner, Wales; Roger Turner, Hong Kong; Stan Turner, Germany; Brad Turner, Korea; Randy Lindsay, Canada; Dennis Lindsay, Australia; and Kevin Lindsay, Canada. Not to be forgotten is Tim Dudley who served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

        After Vyla passed away, the family remained strong and close knit. The family reunion has continued from year to year. The family has grown with the addition of more great grandchildren and numerous great great grandchildren. As the great great grandchildren are born, others are bidden a sweet sweet farewell as they join Myron, Ira, and Vyla beyond the veil. Thelma died on July 1, 2009 at the age of 86. Less than three months later, Gerald died on September 18, 2009 at the age of 72.

        So the circle of life continues. As the generations come and go, we all have a lasting legacy and heritage that has been passed on to us, whether or not we lived during her lifetime, we all have been touched by her noble life.