Lincoln's New Mission Assignment

Denver 

Colorado 

North

He leaves next Wednesday, May 6th

I am so proud of how Lincoln has handled this whole situation.  He came home, was released from his mission, went back to work at his old job, reconnected with friends and when asked if he wanted to continue his mission he answered YES!  Colorado is getting a fine young man who isn't afraid to work hard.

Loved This Picture!

Duncan--April 2020

Happy Birthday Amy!

Graveside Service

Yesterday we honored grandpa with a beautiful graveside service.  Because of the Covid-19 virus we were limited to 10 people.  In spite of the low number it was a beautiful recognition to the goodness of your grandpa.  Here are some of the pictures that were taken at the cemetery.

Chalk Art

During the quarantine Ava took some time out and went to each of the girls in her class and left them a chalk drawing and a note.  I love that she did such a nice thing for her friends.

Grandpa's Obituary

Scott Louis Duncan died April 18, 2020 in Gilbert, Arizona, after an 8-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Scott was born in Phoenix on April 7, 1947 to Louis Clifford Duncan and Gerlene Ogzewalla. He was the oldest of four children (Kent, Phil, Rozanne).  He was blessed to marry Elaine Lambert in the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1971.  They would have celebrated their 49^th anniversary this summer.

Scott was born and raised in Phoenix and attended the University of Arizona before his mission and then Brigham Young University and Arizona State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree and eventually a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

He served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ in the Swiss German Mission from 1966 to 1969.  In 1980 the family moved to California. He was called to serve as a bishop in the Victorville First Ward and numerous other church assignments while there.  In 2014 he again served as a missionary with his wife Elaine in the New Hampshire Manchester Mission.  While serving as record preservation missionaries they digitized 620,561 images of probate records.

He had two careers, first in public administration in Arizona and southern California and then found his true calling as a beloved elementary school teacher in Victorville, California until his retirement in 2014. A friend remembered seeing him each morning at the beginning of school, greeting each of the children by name with a smile.  Except for spirit days on Friday he always wore a dress shirt and a tie so his students would know that he always went the extra mile to look nice for them. 

He was an avid reader and spent hours reading to his own children and his grandchildren.  He passed that love of reading to all his children and grandchildren.   It was one of the greatest legacies he leaves behind.   He also loved working in the yard.  He was a gardener who never failed to plant a garden each Spring. 

In the last eight years of his life he was limited by Alzheimer’s disease.  During all that time, he was lovingly cared for by our mom. 

He is survived by his wife Elaine, his children William (Catherine), Scott (Angela), Benton (Becky), and Amy (Christian Whitney).   Scott and Elaine’s greatest treasures are their 22 grandchildren who live in North Dakota, Utah, California, Canada and Arizona.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, April 24 at the Gilbert Memorial Park in Gilbert Arizona.

Happy Birthday Peter!

11 Years Old

Caleb--March 2020

Ava--March 2020

Update

I'm not sure what I was expecting but the reality of dad's illness hit me in the face today.  I made him some instant oatmeal which he has been eating each morning without any problems.  I sat down beside him and offered him a small spoonful.  After some coaxing I was able to get a little of it in his mouth thinking that when he tasted it he would want more.  He just sat there without responding.  I didn't try to give him any more and called to talk to the nurse about what might be happening.  She said to try a spoonful of juice and see if he would swallow it.  He didn't and it dribbled back out of his mouth.  She said not to give him anything else and they would come out this afternoon.  In the final stage of Alzheimer's the brain doesn't tell the body to swallow.  Dad is at that point..  After consulting with the doctor he will no longer be given food or drink.  I have little sponges to wet his lips and tongue.  The concern is that he will breathe in the food or liquid and will then develop pneumonia.  Starting today he will be given morphine every two hours.  This will control the pain which I think he is still having from the fall.  I've noticed for a few days he is also having terrible cramps in his legs as well.  The morphine will numb the hunger pangs.  I'm not sure how long he will live at this point.  Every doctor we have dealt with from the beginning of the diagnosis has explained comfort care.  Dad wasn't going to get better and everything now will be done to keep him comfortable and calm.  I will continue to pray that he will go gently and hope you will also pray for him as he prepares for the grand reunions with people he loves and we mourn his leaving us. 

Happy Birthday Rachel!

23 Years Old

Happy Birthday Duncan!

11 Years Old

Jane--April 2020

Update

The caseworker and nurse came this morning and after checking on dad we went into the livingroom where they talked a little about what to expect.  Basically they are saying it could be a week or two or as much as a month.  The nurse said today she is surprised about how quickly he is declining just from last Friday until today.  She told me that they will be able to be much more specific as we get closer to the end and they will tell me more of the timeline then.  I did give them the name of the mortuary we will be using and the caseworker will get that put in place.  I will be looking at different cemeteries in the coming week so I can be prepared to tell them where I'd like him buried.  He is on a soft diet and they said that I don't need to feel like he has to eat a lot.  I have to start putting a thickener in any liquid he drinks so that he won't choke as much.  It is interesting because today if I could get him to eat a couple of spoonfuls I felt great.  Amy brought him some Ensure which he seemed to like.  I have been offering food  throughout the day instead of trying to feed him a lot at one time.  I know it adds up for his nourishment.  He slept this morning for several hours and then has cat napped all afternoon.   Something interesting that he is doing is pulling his hair out.  I noticed several times that he was pulling his hair but when I went to change him earlier he had a wad of hair in his hand.  I think we will have to just remember when he had so much hair!  Tomorrow the nurses aide is coming and will be bathing him in the bed.  Hopefully when his hair is cleaner he won't keep pulling at it.  That's all I have for now.  I won't necessarily do an update daily but if anything significant happens I will let all of you know.  Thank you for the phone calls and your love and prayers.  My prayer is that dad will pass gently.

Pictures

Amy sent me these two pictures of Grandpa that I loved.  I was wondering if you would all be on the lookout for pictures of dad with your families if you have any or even pictures of him by himself.  I'd like to eventually use them at his funeral. 

Happy Birthday Jane!

13 Years Old