80th birthday celebration

Dad would have wanted a big party for "Queen Mother Grace", as he would say. So that's what we tried to do.

First of all we had a beautiful invitation printed up and mailed out.

Even though we requested no gifts on the invitation, as her children we came up with a wonderful idea of using some Dad's old clothes to make a lap quilt that mom could use EVERY day. We hired our cousin Susan L. Herbert to do this since she is the real seamstress in our family. (Or one of them at least.)



The quilt turned out beautifully. Susan said that it was one of the most rewarding projects she has done. And rightly so, as she was one of Dad's favorite nieces. :) (They all were his favorite niece.) On each of the edges is a favorite saying of Dad's.

• "Good enough for who it's for"

• "Careful is my middle name!" (as he would say as he charged off to do something.)

• "Come, Let Us Anew" (our family song that is part of our heritage and family history.)

• "D Henry Leavitt 1936-2009"

Well, he never did say "D Henry Leavitt 1936-2009".



So many wonderful friends (and family) came to celebrate this "Marvelous event" (I can just hear Dad saying this with that emphasis of his.)

Here are a few pictures of the 100+ that we got from Johnny in her ward that was the photographer.

LaReita, Grace, Dan & Joyce Durrant