Granny Carlson

Elinore Carlson has been a second grandma to Tanner for many years. He and a few of his friends would go spend hours visiting with her and her husband Lee. She called him one of her boys. Lee died a little over a year ago. And Elinore was diagnosed with bone cancer about a year ago. They told her she would only have about six months to live. But she is a determined lady. She stayed in her own home the whole time and was working on projects almost to the end. Every year she would publish a book of thoughts that she would give to friends and family. She made hundreds of quilts, one of which Tanner was lucky to receive. We knew that she was nearing the end of her life when we were preparing to go to Arizona. Tanner was very conflicted about what to do. He wanted to go with us, since it would be our last family vacation before Zak went on his mission. But she had let him know months ago that she really wanted him at her funeral. He talked to one of his teachers who told him he should go with us and that she would wait for him. We think she must have known because she held out for Tanner. She didn't die until two days after we returned on August 6th. Tanner was listed along with many of her other "boys" as an honorary paul bearer. It was really tough on Tanner to go through the viewing. He really felt close to her and loved to go and visit with her and play "Old Maid" She will be missed as a special part of his life.