The night before

My mind keeps going back to that final night before the accident as it is indelibly imprinted .  After we’d finished our home-teaching (how wonderful to leave this world with one’s priesthood duty done!), TC and I returned to the Rogers homestead.  I’d left my car there, and intended to just get it and go back home.  For some reason I abandoned that intention, and am I ever glad I did.  With Cliff, Becky, Kelsey, and Mindy, I share the memory of that last congress.  We talked about relationships, and teased, and joked, and laughed, and made plans.  Save for a brief, whispered, and decidedly one-sided conversation in the hospital the next Saturday, that was the last time I saw him.  I’m so grateful it “ended” (for the present) on a high note.

I have been following TC’s status since the morning after the accident. I was devastated to hear he passed away.

As you both are aware, I was not overly popular in church as an adolescent. But TC always made it a point to talk to me, and sometimes he was the only person to ask me to dance at those church dances, and would often apologize for his little brother and his friends. But TC never made me feel like he was “pitying” me; it was almost a protective kind of thing. He made everyone around him feel comfortable, and one of the only people in church who was consistently nice and never judged me. Such a naturally kind and genuine person.

TC had a positive effect and touched more lives than most people ever will, and he did it in a third of the time.

May your family enjoy celebrating his life, and know that’s how he would want it. He never let me sit around and feel sorry for myself, and trust me, I tried.

Lisa Fotheringham

IT’S HARD WHEN YOU LOSE SOMEONE THAT YOU LOVE,

YOU’D GIVE ANYTHING IN THE WORLD FOR JUST ONE MORE HUG.

JUST ONE MORE TOUCH, JUST ONE MORE SMILE,

JUST ONE MORE “ANYTHING” AND YOU’LL BE OK FOR AWHILE.

YOU THINK OF THE GOOD TIMES, THE GREAT TIMES, THE BAD,

THE FUNNY, THE CRAZY, THE SOLEMN, THE SAD.

YOU THINK OF THE THINGS THAT HE’S GOING TO MISS,

THE WEDDINGS, THE BABIES, HIS NIECES FIRST KISS.

YOU LAY IN YOUR BED LATE AT NIGHT WONDERING WHY,

WHY HIM? WHY NOW? WHY DID HE HAVE TO DIE?

BUT AMONGST ALL THE ANGER, THE HEARTACHE AND TEARS,

YOU HEAR A STILL SMALL VOICE THAT CALMS ALL YOUR FEARS.

“IT WILL ALL BE OK, IT’S ALL PART OF MY PLAN,

NOTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE THE CREATION OF WOMAN AND MAN.

THE REASON YOU’RE BORN, YOU LIVE AND YOU DIE,

IS TO RETURN TO YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN ON HIGH.

AND I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW, IT DOESN’T SEEM RIGHT,

BUT I NEEDED MY SON NOW, TO HELP FIGHT MY FIGHT.

BUT WHENEVER YOU’RE DOWN, PLEASE REMEMBER ONE THING,

THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE HIM, HE’LL BE A KING!

I hope you guys know how much I love TC and your family.  I hope this poem was ok.  I know it helped me put things into perspective a little more.  Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to help.

-Brooklynn C. Huntsman

Jordan McCormick

TC and I have been friends since 7th grade. During that year we dated for a whole week, mostly because Brooklynn knew I had a crush on him and told me to ask him out, and I think told TC to say yes as well. Our relationship consisted of him walking me to class, daily hugs, and of course sitting at the same lunch table. It was obviously an intense love affair. Our relationship ended quickly as 7th grade relationships usually do. A week later we were at a party and one of our “friends” dared us to kiss, REALLY kiss, during a game of truth or dare. This embarrassing and awkward moment in history was both of our first kisses. It was horrible! Neither of us had any idea what we were doing and of course no one wants their first kiss to be a dare. Over the years we have shared many laughs about the horror of that moment.

I want to thank my friend TC for all the comfort, laughter, and fun he has given me over all these years. I cannot imagine a world without him in it, but I know that there is a purpose for everything. In my short life I have learned that when people die they do not truly leave us, but somehow become part of us in a way the living cannot do. It is the power of our memories and love for them that keeps them here with us, and within us, far after they are gone.

My deepest sorrow and sympathy goes out to you. This past two week, to the day, I guess you could say I was in a state of denial, knowing that TC would pull out of this. But our Heavenly Father had other plans for our friend! I really would just like to share a few thoughts. TC was my Home Teacher and I had the privilege of one of his visits the Sunday before we went long boarding. He read me an article out of the Jesus Christ Ensign, and it quoted out of the article this ” regardless of what the future holds, there stand the Redeemer of the World. The son of God, certain as the anchor of out immortal lives. He is the rock of out salvation, our strength, our comfort, and the very focus of our faith.”

TC and Lincoln are both responsible for me coming back to the church. TC just wouldn’t leave me alone! He was always so friendly to me and was always concerned with my well being. Thank you so much for bringing such a choice son of our Heavenly Father into this world. Our loss in this world is Heavens gain. We will see him again! If you need anything don’t hesitate to call.

Jordan Stephens

–Allison Wilson–

I cannot tell you how horrified and sorry I am about him. I adored him. He had strong intelligence and a quality of both being young and mischevious and then totally self-aware. He once begged to be able to get out of a class and when I had to tell him the procedures and he kept trying to avoid what had to be done, he suddenly knew how he sounded and the whole situation and made a joke out of it. He just had this great humor with the impish smile to match. I loved hearing his anecdotes–often embellished, but always humorous. . He had names for various people (even me I fear) and even certain cars. T.C. talked about his future and his plans for getting there. He was very self-motivated. He was just what you would want your child to be–a really great kid.