Skip to main content

Eric Stauffer, Cousin

By
As a grandchild of Vere and Winnie Johnson, you looked to Jeff and Aaron for everything. No question. I truly believe that one of the main reasons this posterity has been so successful and been so close over the years is because of those two boys. They showed us how to live, how to succeed, how to obey, how to believe, how to work, how to laugh, how to play, how to stay humble, how to serve, how to be a husband, how to be a father, and now more than ever- how to endure. And as one of those grandchildren, it is something that has seemed completely logical- if you want to have a good life, be like Jeff and Aaron.

When I was young, Mark, Paul, and I did everything together. I have so many memories of traveling with them to watch Jeff and Aaron excel in baseball and basketball. I always wanted the other kids around the gym or the diamond to see me talking with Jeff or Aaron, because that would mean I was cool, cooler than them. They were my resident celebrities- really. I attended my very first major league baseball game with them at the Kingdome to see the Mariners play the Angels. That trip to Seattle was a memory I have cherished ever since.

Perhaps my favorite experience with Big A though is when I served as a missionary in the Florida Tampa Mission. My first area was in Port Charlotte, down close to Ft. Myers where Aaron was stationed with the Minnesota Twins. I remember we were assigned to help usher at a Stake Musical that was being presented. I ran into Aaron there, and I was so excited that the other missionaries could see that this intimidated greeny from Bountiful was worth something because he had a professional baseball player for a cousin! We made arrangements that day that when I was transferred to my second area, he would transport me there. A few weeks later I was transferred to Dade City, north of Tampa. Aaron picked me up and drove me 2 or 3 hours to my new area. Those hours in that car were a wonderful opportunity to learn from someone who had been an excellent missionary. I just wanted to gain wisdom from him, but he just wanted to talk about me and the work that was being done. Typical Aaron. 

Aaron, I'm honored to call you cousin and friend. You don't just represent all of us so well, you show us how it's done. 

Thanks,
Eric

I've always liked sharing the title of tallest grandchildren with Big A. This is him arriving at my Port Charlotte apartment.
 With my trainer, Elder Simpson. Elder Simpson thought it humorous to stand next us.



This is our "Nephi rebuking his rebellious brothers" pose. On the street outside my Dade City apartment.


This last one is my favorite.























Comments

  1. paulandjenthatcherMarch 18, 2015 at 3:57 PM

    Great stories and pictures! That's really neat that your mission president allowed you to spend time with your cousin, who could influence you for good, maybe better than anyone else.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Katie BaylesMarch 20, 2015 at 6:03 AM

    Eric, I had never heard this story. I love it. And the pictures bring it to life. We surely love you and Emily and those sweet kids. Thanks for your fasting and prayers.
    Aunt Kathy

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Battle Begins

By
As Aaron's family, we think he is the greatest and we know there are many others who feel the same way.  He is a friend to all and sees the best in everyone.  Our Big A is truly one of a kind. Aaron has always been a healthy guy and has never smoked a day in his life.  When he became sick in January, we never dreamed it was anything serious.  Multiple doctors told him it was Bronchitis.  By March, he and Sweet Lorraine knew it was something more serious.  X-rays were alarming and the biopsy showed Adinocarcinoma Lung Cancer. He will soon begin treatment.  He and Lorraine, along with Kaitlin, Maddie, David, Brigham, Ella and Lily are asking for your faith and prayers.
23 comments
Read more

Aaron Vere Thatcher

By
Written by Aaron's Mom and siblings: To all who have loved Aaron throughout his life, we want to let you know that he passed away yesterday, December 18, 2018 in the hospital, surrounded by his family. Sunday night, Aaron took a turn for the worse and was taken to the hospital. We were hopeful that he could regain his strength and come home, but it wasn't to be. Yesterday he interacted lovingly with friends, church leaders, siblings, his Sweet Lorraine, and his children. In true Aaron fashion, and with great effort, he spoke to each person, looking in their eyes, calling them by name or nickname, expressing his love and gratitude in a personal manner to each one.  We wish that all of you who love him could have been there with us yesterday to witness his finest hour. He was the Aaron Thatcher we all love to the last moment, and there was an incredible outpouring from his wonderful soul. Each  felt personally loved and remembered by him. In his suffering, he tutored us ...
11 comments
Read more

MVP (Most Valuable Patient)

By
We met with the oncologist yesterday and went over Aaron's PET scan. The prognosis came as no surprise to us. Aaron's symptoms have only intensified over the last two weeks and we knew there could be only one reason why; the cancer was spreading. He has stage 4 papilary lung cancer. It has spread to his hips, part of his spine, rib cage, and some small lymph nodes. Each place Aaron pointed to, on his body where he felt pain, the dr. would look at that area on the scan and we would see a green dot indicating cancer. We are waiting for more results to tell us if this cancer has any genetic markers. There is a 10% chance he has one of them and a 3-4% chance he has the other. If he has one of these markers it means the treatment is more successful. In the meantime, we proceed as if Aaron has neither of these markers present and we begin chemotherapy. He starts on Thursday. Once a week every three weeks for I don't know how long. He also has an appointment with a great lun...
29 comments
Read more