Grant is here

Grant was born at 12:56 pm on 11-11-11. He is 7 lbs and 11 ounces. He is 20.25 inches. He scored a 9 and a 9 on the Apgar.

Today is Veteran's Day. Grant is named after his great-grandfather Grant. Grant was a WWII vet. His plane was shot down. The Nazi's took him prisoner. He was in a POW camp and had to go on forced death marches until he was eventually freed by American forces. Terry and I used to sit at his and Nana's dinner table on Sundays and hear him tell us of his experiences in WWII. He was not only Terry's grandfather, but more a grandfather to me than any one else! We are proud to name our son after him and proud that this could happen on Veteran's Day when we remember Papa's sacrifices for us! We love both our Grants.

Papa's Obituary

My grandfather (Papa) died last week on Friday, May 18th. He is a terrific man. Most of his life he was really strong, a college football player and a really hard worker. It sad to think that at the end of his life he could no longer do much for himself at all. He couldn't even talk much. He was alert so he must have been so frustrated that his body wouldn't work well enough for him to communicate. I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that gives me the knowledge that Papa still lives. I am sure he is having a great time talking with loved ones past and getting back to work! Here is his obituary printed in the Deseret News.

Cecil Grant Ash
Cecil Grant Ash 1922 ~ 2007 Cecil Grant Ash died in Provo, Utah on May 18, 2007. He was born November 27, 1922, the eldest child of Cecil L. Ash and Alta May Bateman of Lehi, Utah. His sister Yvonne (Russell) Webb lives in Mesa, Arizona and his brother Donald B. (Elaine) Ash resides in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He was raised in Lehi where he graduated from Lehi High School. He first went to college in Logan on a football scholarship. He volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942 and became a bombardier and gunnery officer in the crew of a B-24 bomber and flew combat missions for the 15th Air Force from Southern Italy. His airplane was shot down near Vienna, Austria in May 1944. He was taken prisoner by the Germans and was in their control until being liberated by General Patton in May 1945. He obtained a BS degree from BYU and an MS and PhD from the University of Wisconsin. Grant married Zola Rae Law in the Salt Lake Temple on Dec. 19, 1946. They were the parents of four children, Terry Kay (Billy) Moore, Spotsylvania, VA; Allyn (Rand) Smart, Hurricane, UT; Dayle G. (Karen) Ash, Colorado Springs, CO; and Cozanne (Raymond) Layton, Ankeny, IA. They have 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Dr. Ash had an active career as a research scientist for the U.S. Army where his specialties were as an expert in chemical, biological and radiological warfare and in the analysis of environmental effects from engineering construction. He received numerous awards, honors and promotions. He started at Dugway Proving Grounds where he eventually became the Director of Research. He moved to Washington D.C. where he became the Director of Research for the Army Research and Development Command. Later he came back to Utah as the Chief Scientist for the Desert Test Center at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City. Then he went back to Washington D.C. as Head of Environmental Research and Analysis for the Army Corps of Engineers. He was very active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a teacher, Scout Master, Bishop, High Councilman, High Priest Group Leader, Temple Ordinance Worker in Washington D.C. and Provo Temples. He was also an active genealogist. Funeral Services will be held Sat., May 26, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. in the Stadium Chapel at 650 East Stadium Avenue in Provo, Utah. Viewing will be held at the same address on Fri., May 25, 2007 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. Interment, Provo City Cemetery with Military Honors.