She Lived a Wonderful Life

My sweet mother, Jean Maughan, passed away Friday afternoon, February 13th. She was getting things out of the car to go to her 4th anniversary party for the Silver Sneakers exercise class (she had made a fruit salad to take). She told my dad she wasn't feeling well and sat down in the passenger seat. About a minute later, my dad noticed her head fall forward and she went limp. The paramedics came and tried to revive her and took her to the emergency room. The doctor there worked on her for 30 minutes or more, but she never regained consciousness. The doctor told me it was either cardiac arrest or a ruptured aneurism. On Wednesday, February 11, 2 days before she died, she attended a Daughters of Utah Pioneers meeting and luncheon (She taught the lesson, led the music, and made valentines). She went to the temple about a week before that as well. She lived life to its fullest--all the way to the end.

That was 3½ weeks ago, and I have reflecting on how blessed I have been in my life to have Jean Maughan as my mother. I keep thinking about the movie, "It's a Wonderful LIfe," with James Stewart and Donna Reed. That is probably because Mom and I liked to watch Christmas movies together. She often came to visit our family in December so we could do the preparation for Christmas together (making upside down cakes, shopping, driving around looking at Christmas lights, baking Christmas cookies...). I even had her Christmas card list on my computer! Anyway, back to It's a Wonderful life--my mom touched so many lives. She was so good at making people feel good about themselves. She helped numerous high school students fill out applications for BYU. She shared her knowledge freely with others. She remembered people's names and nearly everything about them.

Mom loved to sing. For the last few years, her favorite song was "I Enjoy Being a Girl" from Flower Drum Song. Last August, my brother-in-law, Doug, videotaped my mom and her daughers (Marilyn, Gwendolyn, & Sue) singing it. He posted it on youtube. Click here to see it.

My mom made sure that Bedford Falls didn't become Pottersville. She influenced everyone around her for good with her positive and optimistic outlook on life. In the 1993 Newbery Award book, Missing May by Cynthia Rylant, there is a quote that I think applies to my mom.

"May was the best person I ever knew...She was a big barrel of nothing but love...She understood people and she let them be whatever way they they needed to be. She had faith in every single person she ever met, and this never failed her, for nobody ever disappointed May. Seems people knew she saw the very best of them, and they'd turn that side to her to give her a better look." (pp.15-16)

Jean Maughan truly lived a wonderful life!

Thanks to our daughters Rachel, Nadine, and Miriam for their blog tributes to my mom. (Click on each of their names to see the blogs.) Also thank you for the many cards and the outpouring of love from my family & friends!