Today The World Lost A Wonderful Woman!

Today around 4:05 p.m. the world lost a wonderful woman, as Vona Dixon Clement completed her mortal probation at the age of 85. Even through years of physical pain and depression Vona was known to all for her kind heart and love of children. She had natural musical talent, having a beautiful singing voice and playing the piano by ear. Many admired her beautiful flower gardens. Those who knew Vona admired her physical and inner beauty, she was a gracious, grateful and sweet woman.

I'm grateful that her granddaughters had the opportunity to see her and say their goodbyes this past week. I'm grateful that Briana and her family lived in Yakima for the past 6 months. I know that little Alex and Emmett brought great joy to Grandma's life. Alex for sure will miss his Grandma! For the past 13 days that Grandma was in the hospital every time we'd arrive at Grandma and Grandpa's house, he'd say, as usual, 'Grandma? Grandpa?' I'm grateful that we can teach him and that he'll someday understand that Grandma is in heaven with Jesus. I'm grateful that we got a family picture at Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa in it. I'm grateful for the love of friends and family. I'm grateful that I know and understand the plan of salvation, so that although I mourn our loss, I realize that Grandma has completed this mortal test and that she is now experiencing a sweet reunion with her family and friends that pre-deceased her. I'm grateful that Grandma is no longer in pain.

Here are some tributes from those who knew and loved our Wife/Mom/Grandma/Sister/Aunt/Friend:

Erin Clement Chatwin-I'll miss her sense of humor and how much she loved us. I'll miss hearing her tell about how she used to rock me for hours. I'll miss her beautiful smile and listening to her sing and play the piano. I'll miss watching old movies with her. I'll miss her calling me her sunshine.

Marie Adams Westbrook-I loved visiting with her and Lee. She was a sweet, loving and talented lady!! She will be greatly missed!! She was very proud of her granddaughters and great grandkids!! And loved them very much!!!

Hollie Dixon Thompson-I always thought she was the most beautiful and graceful woman. I remember her teaching me about magnetism with a blue mickey mouse magnet in the dirt in Safford when I was little. She taught me a lot in the short times I ever spent with her.

Jennie Dixon Johnson-I loved her kind heart and love for children. I will always remember her natural talent for music and her beautiful flower gardens! She will be greatly missed by us all!

Denise Larkin Clement-When our children were young Grandma would over the top spoil her granddaughters. I always got a chuckle out of it and never really understood, until I became a grandparent, then she and I both chuckled at how I became the epitomy of her 20ish years before!

Haley Dixon Cardita-Aunt Vona is the real definition of beauty, class and grace. She was a great example to us all.

Justin F Rush-Though I met her only once by phone, and once in the hospital, I knew from those brief moments and the family's stories that she was an awesome lady. Sitting with Ash and looking through Vona's meticulously assembled scrapbooks was a highlight of the trip for me. She reminded me of my grandmother, who was my absolute best friend until I was 4, in all the right ways. Tons of love to you, to Grandpa, and to the whole family.

Gayle Houston Adams-I only met her a few times, but of the handful of times I was with her she was such an easy person to talk to. She was very warm and it was obvious how much she loved you and Darvin and your girls. I am sorry for your loss. We love you guys.

Donna Tonini Larkin-We are very saddened to hear of her loss. We know that she was a special woman, and much loved by all.

Lonette Dixon Janes-She was a constant. You could always count on her to be there. No matter how far you roamed, Vona was always there in Safford and later in Yakima waiting to hear all about your adventures and to remind you what a wonderful person she knew you to be. I miss her terribly. My thoughts are with you all as you walk this road.

Sharon Buckley-I just read of Vona's passing and thought of all the years we were in the same ward together. One things I especially remember is that she always took notes (in her fabulous shorthand) of blessings and confirmations and wrote them up and gave to the family involved. What a great service!

Debbie Dixon-Vona was a loving, honest, compassionate woman. Who loved her husband, children, grand children and so many other children who could call her mother or grand mother. She was ever present in the moment making sure all who entered her home were welcome, comfortable and fed well. Vona loved the Lord and was grateful for every blessing. ....... I will so miss my wonderful sister-in-law.

Lindsey Clement Giles-Grandma was one of those people who thought so much of you that it inspired you to be the kind of person that in her mind you were. She was so generous (i.e. spoiled us grandkids). Her love and marriage with grandpa have been and always will be an example to me. There was never any doubt in my mind how much she loved me. I hope our sweet baby girl is in heaven right now learning from her sweet great-grandma important life lessons for when she makes it here on how to show love and kindness.

Ayan Dixon-Aunt Vona always made us feel welcome in her home when we visited Safford. She fed us good food and entertained us with her amazing talent on the piano. We loved her, and send our love and prayers for you and your family.

Eileen Larson Jenkins-She always had a smile.

Joann Lamb Hathcock-When I graduated HS she sent me a package of fabric of white dotted Swiss. It had double black flocked dots on it and I made a dress and used black ribbon on it. The fabric had smelled so nice and I will always remember that gift from Aunt Vona and Uncle Lee when I granduated from HS. It was a rather extravagant gift in those days. A nice memory I have of them.

I will attempt to fill in some details of Grandma's hospitalization, since my last post was only the day after she was admitted to the hospital. As I previously mentioned, Grandma had aspirated into her right lung and was intubated as she could not breath on her own. Anytime someone aspirates there is a danger of infection. So Grandma was placed on antibiotics which she responded well to. There is the issue of the lung healing, and also whether or not the patient will maintain enough muscle mass to be able to remove the tube and again be able to breath on their own.

Grandma seemed to be doing well. X-rays were taken over the 13 day period and her lung was healing. However, as they would try to wean her off the ventilator she seemed to get to a certain point and then could not progress. One of Grandma's doctors explained to us that there is about a 2 week window to have the tube removed. Once they are off the ventilator if their muscles are not strong enough to begin breathing on their own then there is the option of having a tracheotomy placed to have a machine permanently do the breathing for the patient. The doctor indicated that he would not recommend a tracheotomy for someone as old as Grandma. Her quality of life would be very poor and as a family we realized that she would definitely NOT want this option. In fact during her somewhat coherent times over the course of her hospitalization as she would look at us her eyes were filled with anguish as if asking why we were letting them do this to her or why didn't we make them stop. For quite some time she has told us that she should have been dead long ago, that her family and friends have all passed away, etc.

So, it was determined that they would remove the ventilator on the 18th (13 days after it had been placed). They would give Grandma oxygen and assistance to a point and if she was not progressing they would switch to comfort measures. Once the tube was removed Grandma made valiant efforts to cough (as this was an important part of the process to clearing her lungs), but she became weaker and weaker until the nurse took Grandpa, Dad and me aside and indicated that with our permission it was time to switch to comfort measures. We consented. I had Dad call Briana who had been at the hospital with us throughout the morning but had left to pick up Alex and Emmett from the Middletons. She rushed back to the hospital and I met her outside and helped her bring the boys in. I waited in the ICU waiting room with the boys (who were sleeping) while she went in with Grandpa and Dad. She came out a little while later to tell me that Grandma had passed away. They had removed the tube around 11 a.m. or noon as I recall and Grandma passed away at 4:05 p.m. I know that we made the decision that Grandma would have wanted. I only wish that we had previously had Grandma complete a Do Not Resuscitate form so that she wouldn't have had to go through that 13 days of being on the ventilator! We HAVE gotten Grandpa's form completed as he feels that his life's work is completed now that Grandma is gone.