Life Sketch of Lynn C O’Driscoll in Memorium

~by Lynda Faith O’Driscoll Ashcraft - daughter (Talk given given at the funeral of Lynn, October 27, 2012, Springville, Utah, Wheeler Mortuary)

One day, as a father and child walked a cemetery commenting on headstones, the father asked, “Other than the name, what do you think is the most important part? The child wondered: was it the birth date? The death date? Finally, the father answered: “It is the dash.” The child didn’t understand how a dash could be important until the father explained, “The dash is a symbol that stands for every day of the person’s life complete with choices, work, happy and sad times, service given and everything learned.”

While preparing Dad’s Christmas wreath I had fun trying to portray his life in symbols to illustrate interests, talents and work. It became obvious he had led a full life. While the tokens on the wreathe remain there to sweeten our memories: his inner strengths, memories and knowledge have been taken into the afterlife remaining with his spirit, confirming who he was on earth, who he still is and who he will become because of Jesus Christ’s infinite love and Resurrection.

Dad was born the fourth child to Cornelious James O’Driscoll and Mary Emeline Janes. His siblings were : Elden, Allan, Carol, Roberta, Carma, Rulena, Muriel, and Cornelious Joy. He was a gift in the lives of hard working parents. By nature I think he brought them much happiness and a touch of frustration. He was deeply loving and forgiving, he was patient, obedient and trustworthy. His sisters said he didn’t speak unkindly of anyone, he was always a gentleman, did what he was told, did his chores and fed the chickens.

He honored his mother and loved the sound of her voice whether speaking, singing or whistling. He cherished the image of home that she created with frugal purchases of bottling peaches, or the fragrant after school orchestration of hot bread, soup and cobblers. After hailstorms his mother would make vanilla custard and they would take turns at the churn until it became ice-cream. He was influenced by her quick faith in drawing the children to kneel in prayer when faced with difficulty or emergencies. His memory of her great faith went with him to war as he carried her picture in his heart pocket.

Dad was an inquisitive , busy child. His first years, the family lived in Hayden. Behind their home was a wood pile the children used for a stage to create dramas, and programs with recitations and singing. Dad had a dangerous fascination for matches. One day he worked with some matches until he had set the cedar bark and logs on fire. Their area that year was in a drought so everything was dry. Their well had been capped because a rat had fallen in and poisoned it. His mother worked desperately to get the protective cap off as the fire moved toward their home. Suddenly, his grandpa John Hyrum O’Driscoll rode up and helped save their home and lives. Mary always felt it was a miracle they experienced that day. Dad, in the weeks before his death spoke of it and also called it a miracle.

Dad may have been an interesting child because he was a talented, problem solving, thinker, with a streak of Irish stubborn. For example, one Christmas, determined to watch Santa work his magic he hid under the large kitchen table, sure no one knew he was there. But his mother saw him and didn’t say a thing about his staying up past bedtime. Before Dad knew it, it was morning. Santa had come and Lynn had slept the night in that contortion. This probably helped to prepare him for sleeping on the ground in a sheep camp, on a bedroll in various military settings, inside Big Rigs when taking transport and on hospital beds which he thought should be sold to the army for torture..

Once Dad had heard his mother mention the kitchen clock quit ticking. One day, when she wasn’t there he took it off the shelf, dismantled and tinkered with it, put it back together and it worked -- much to everyone’s surprise. This natural talent extended through the years into working with mechanisms, machinery and wiring.

Dad was full of mischief -- just the right kind to have a little fun or make a point. One day, when his mother was gone, he became annoyed that one of the older brothers was snoozing while everyone else was working. He set some traps in the field and caught a ground squirrel. After tying string to the critter he tied it to his brother’s toe and gave it a yank. Dad said, “I can still see that squirrel hanging from that string. Eldon woke up and put on a circus. I tell you, I had to be on the run. I ran and hid in the cellar while he tangled with that squirrel.” Eldon hunted hours for Dad until after dark and was relieved to see him, thinking he had jumped in the canal.

Dad learned from his own father to work the fields, handle animals, work with machinery and solve the many problems of farm life . He learned to start work as soon as the sun was up and to be accurate and thorough in his work, not to waste time or resources. Through the years this early education proved a great foundation.

Family was important to Dad. He looked up to his brothers, and adored his sisters. Shortly after his twelfth birthday, his mother gave birth at home to a little brother. That night his brother Allan awakened him saying their mother had died. A month later the baby died as well. This tragedy was hard on all seven children and overwhelming for their father. It greatly affected Dad at a vulnerable time of his life. When thirteen he went to work in Snyderville, near Park City, for Pat McPullen a dairy farmer. Pat told him he would give him room and board and a little wage in exchange for hired hand work. He expected Dad to go to school.

Dad remembered: You’d have to get up before the cows. We would head them into the barn, each cow into the stall with her name on it, and give each one grain. The boss would call, “Hey boy!” at 4:00am & it was time to go milk. I was usually dressed and had my hat on. Sometimes he caught me asleep but not often. I did a lot of growing up [there.]”

He worked and went to school in Park City for three years until World War ll escalated, so he decided to go end it. Dad loved liberty. From a young age Dad defended his own freedom and agency. He had an amazing, unconquerable spirit. He also respected the freedom and agency of others. He decided to enlist in the Marines. Unintentionally, he became an American hero ~ our family hero ~ having uncommon virtues…a man of valor.

After his Tour of Duty with the Marines, Dad was hired to work at RCA in Indianapolis, Indiana, building internal component boards for televisions. He worked every day and attended commercial flight school, at Butler University, by night. Dad also enlisted in the National Guard 113th Utility Flight Squadron there. He carried a busy schedule so had little time for himself or to date. Dad shared this memory:

“When I finally got enough hours behind me, they let me fly an airplane. One day I decided I could do a loop around some power lines. I about caused people on the ground to die of fright. Thinking about it after scared me more than I was before…That training is good for young people, though. It teaches them how to think, how to plan.”

Dad and another fellow, Frank Monahan, went into business teaching flying lessons in Indianapolis. Frank’s parents leased a small airport that seemed profitable. Shortly thereafter the Korean War broke out, and Frank was called to active duty so it ended their operation. About that time pilots from the Army Air core were released from duty and flooded the flight market having more experience.

Dorothy Abney was also working at RCA. She told me that in order to get to other areas of the building, they had to walk past the area where Lynn worked. He always whistled at her, trying to get her attention. She ignored his flirting at first but he finally won that battle. He reminded her of Clark Gable and Ronald Reagan. To him she was a beautiful Kentucky woman with spunk and grace. They only had 4 days per month to date because of his schedule but that didn’t stop them from falling in love. They moved to Utah to farm and raise a family. Four children were born: Lynda, Rebecca, Michael, and Jeffrey. Through the years they had their ups and downs, even divorced, but loved each other unto the end of their days.

Dad worked many jobs, referred to himself as a Jack of all Trades. He seemed to be good at whatever he did and knew how to do everything. He was a perfectionist at painting walls, stacking wood, cutting rows in the field for planting. He whipped egg whites to perfection with two forks for Mother to pile onto Lemon Meringue Pie. He designed and built a large potato pit and grew very large potatoes to fill it for marketing. He was particular at wrapping lights onto a Christmas tree so no cord would be seen, he sorted his possessions and carefully folded socks and shirts. His Marine Uniform, placed decades ago into his military trunk, had almost no wrinkles in when removed the other day to dress Dad. When I was a child, I thought all dads could do everything like my father. I tried to talk him into running for president during the Kennedy elections. That is the only time Dad laughed at me for asking him to do something.

The Christmas tree business brought hard work in the cold most Novembers. He would line up buyers in Salt Lake City then work to fill the orders. His favorite trees were Alpine Fir and Blue Spruce. He cut trees near Duchesne. A few years he went to Oregon to cut them. Other years he bought semi loads of trees from Idaho to sell in SLC.

Dad’s all time favorite profession was working for the Union Pacific Railroad. He began work in Salt Lake City installing signal boxes all the way to Stockton. The original boxes still have his name in them. Once in Stockton, he worked maintenance on all the signals, was often called out in the night to make a repair. He would travel by rail-cart which he would pump the handle to get it traveling at a good speed down the track. The first winter there they had a lot of fog. One thick foggy night traveling fast along the rail to fix a problem, he suddenly hit a black cow and was thrown off into the grasses. I asked if he was hurt. He said, “No but it sure gave the cow a belly ache.”

Dad was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Duchesne River at Bridgeland. Four years later he was ordained a Deacon in the Old Bridgeland Church. His mother encouraged the children in learning truth. She taught them about Jesus, instilling virtues into each of them, helping them understand the commandments and to always treat others well. At the end of his life, Dad said, ”This old man has been such a good old boy…I’ve always tried to be honest and fair…and treat others right…I‘ve missed a lot of things being busy in life, but I tried to be good…”

This past month Dad has faced every failing health battle like a Marine. The grit and wit of his life would shine through. One day he said “I feel like all the dogs of Heaven are ganged up on me.” and another, “We’ll be pretty good pilots if we get through this thing.“ When we talked about love from God and family he would relax and sleep. Family members always brought a bright smile whenever they visited. He asked the universal plea: “Remember me.” “Tell your family hello for me.“ “Tell your family I love them.“ As adult children, we look back across the years and realize every decision Dad made was out of love for someone whether spouse, children, parents, and other family. He gave the best hugs because they were straight from the heart. Dad sacrificed much for a much greater reward.

A week before he passed away, Dad wanted me to secure passage on a ship for him saying he didn’t want to miss this one. He told me to get a new pair of shoes for the trip (which I did.)

Henry Van Dyke wrote the following:

“I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!”

“Gone where?”

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!”

So as Dad slips from our arms, others welcome him home with open arms.

Dad, I love you. You are my favorite Daddy…I’ll see you when I see ya.

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NOTE: Lynn was laid to rest in a glossy, medium brown casket, lined with cream velvet, having a large embroidered Marine insignia. Copper plates with embossed evergreen trees were embellishments around the handles. He was dressed in his green wool Marine uniform of 1945, worn at surrender of Japanese forces of Tsingtao, China; it has his corporal stripes and a 6th Marine Division badge (not original.) His tan shirt and tie were new. The picture of his mother and his small bible, held in left hand at the viewing were removed and placed with service insignia in a shadow box to inspire the generations.

A floral spray was made depicting his Pacific Theater tour of Duty with purple satin ribbon, and gold lettering, : “Uncommon Valor.” Birds of paradise, fuchsia and white lilies from Thailand, exotic feather flowers from Africa and pink Ginger from Asia, fragrant purple stocks, and clear yellow spider mums, circled the four red roses (reminiscent of his children,) creating a floral portrayal of Dad’s love and service. Soft evergreens, Palm leaves and Bells of Ireland for greenery, completed the arrangement. Had Dad been alive, he would have commented on it for a long time. Cyndee, Mike’s wife, set a small American flag and Marine flag into the wreath to punctuate its story.

Beautiful arrangements were also given by his sisters, his grandchildren and friends of thefamily. Sunflowers, Gerbera Daisies, wheat, Bells of Ireland, yellow and orange Lilies, Roses in clear yellows and reds, Gladiolas, and Cattails were among the beautiful sprays. One, homemade, was artfully arranged in a basket having grass plumes and fall flowers.

Dad was buried next to his sweetheart, Dorothy, that afternoon. Full military honors were offered by 35 American Legion vets - mostly of World War ll, some bracing themselves on walkers. They began with folding and presentation of the flag to the next of kin (a gift from the President of the United States of America.) The large flag was presented in ceremony by AL representative, Don Ashcraft to Lynda O‘Driscoll Ashcraft. Next, two vets played “Taps” on bugles across the cemetery from each other with echoes. A gun salute followed. The grave was dedicated by Aaron Young, having proper Priesthood authority, to be protected until the morning of the Resurrection. The entire honor ceremony began and ended with two bagpipers playing a variety of highland music, including “Going Home.”

Dad lived simply. Deserving honors bestowed this day may have embarrassed him in life, but will stand as witnesses before God that Lynn O’Driscoll lived honorably, loved family, honored freedom, stood for agency was a man of valor.

Lynn C O'Driscoll