24th Day of Christmas - Rex

Introducing...Josh's grandpa REX
10 years ago today, Josh's grandpa Rex Tolman passed away. We have missed him a great deal over the years, but his memory truly lives on in our hearts.

Rex was an amazing man. He was gentle and tender, kind and loving, accepting and supporting. Rex was the 7th of 10 children born to the Benjamin H and Emily Tolman family. His family was respectable and hard-working and compassionate. His siblings' children still hold annual reunions, and we always look forward to going to them to be with the Tolman family whom we love so much. Rex was married for 48 years to his wife Beth, and he was the father of 6 children: 3 sons and 3 daughters. He was an exemplary husband, a wonderful father, and an awesome grandpa.

He raised his children on the ranch, and he taught them all to work. He was a hard worker himself, and he enjoyed being able to work with his hands. He was a smart man, and his mind created new concepts and he figured out how to do a lot of things on his own. He was innovative in establishing new farming techniques, and successfully managed the ranch and dairy. He had lots of extra farmhands working under his direction each summer, and the young workers often came back over and over because they enjoyed being in his presence and feeling a part of the productive ranch life.

Josh has such fun memories of being with his grandma and grandpa. When he was a toddler, and in his early school years, his family lived in the Magic Valley, which is over 4 hours away from Salmon. He loved visiting their house and he always felt loved in their presence. He was so happy when he got to spend the night there all by himself, and he was spoiled by his grandparents. Later in his childhood, Josh's family moved back to Salmon, and he spent many, many hours working outside with his grandpa and being taken care of by his grandma. He knew that his grandparents loved him unconditionally, and his grandfather taught him many important lessons in life.

Rex was a patient man, and was very rarely angered. He was wise, and handled confrontational situations with sincere kindness. He was a giving, generous man. He gave so much to those who he knew, and he loved serving. He taught by example, and in addition to good work ethic, all of his children have developed a love for service because of him. He had an incredible ability to make everyone around him feel special, feel loved, feel accepted. He made friends, not enemies, and everywhere he went, he was surrounded by people who loved him.

I adored Grandpa Rex, or as Josh called him, "Pa-ah". He always had a twinkle in his eye, a smile on his face, a positive remark. Although he was short and small in stature, his character was larger than life and he had the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met. He was a spiritual giant, and radiated with the light and love of Christ. He was an example to all that he came in contact with.

Rex battled cancer and its effects for years. His body became extremely weak, and he grew so tired, but yet he never became bitter and he never complained. We saw him a few short days before he passed away, and I am still brought to tears at the sight of him in so much pain. Josh helped him into the car to go to the hospital, and he never came home after that, because he returned to his heavenly home. We have missed him tremendously over the years, especially Josh, but we were so grateful that he was freed from his mortal pain. It was at Grandpa Rex's funeral that I saw Josh cry for the first time; one of only 3 times it's happened in our 12 year marriage. Josh says that his Grandpa Rex was one of the greatest men who have ever lived on the earth, and he loved him with all his heart. We named our son Ammon after him, and we're grateful that his name carries on in Ammon Rex.

Rex's life was commendable, and he lived it to its fullest. He was a pillar of strength and moral character, and his genuine goodness is remembered by all who knew him. We are so blessed and lucky to have been a part of his life. Although we are saddened that our children won't have the opportunity in this life to know him, Josh and I are grateful that we knew him and we are privileged to call him grandpa.