Gone "Vergil-ing"

Yesterday we celebrated the life is my great Uncle Vergil Morris Webb. He was my grandfather’s younger brother. He survived cancer 6 different times. Today would have been his 88th birthday. He was a great man who did many things for many people. When my grandfather passed away in 1993, Uncle Vergil would check in on grandma from time to time and would make sure she had rides to get her hair done and to other appointments. He was passionate about church history and anytime you wanted to visit him and discuss the topic, you would have to plan an all day event because Uncle Vergil had more than enough information to take the day to show you. His collection of books and items from church history are quite remarkable. He valued family greatly. He was diligent in completing his family history and shared it with whoever wanted a copy. I can’t remember a time seeing Uncle Vergil without a smile on his face. He was a simple man who was obedient to the commandments of our Heavenly Father. I only recenly found out he practically had a grocery store in his home with the amount of food storage he had put together. He was constantly serving others, although I am not sure he would have considered it service. He was a great example to all of us of how we should live our lives. He loved his sweet wife Marian who preceeded him in death. I am certain their reunion has been sweet and and full of joy.

For Uncle Vergil’s 83rd Birthday, one of my Uncle Vergil’s Nephew and his family put together a list of the things they had learned from Uncle Vergil. They added the last five after he passed away. I know the list is long and some of the things are very specific to my family but I think there is great value in this list. If we could all figure out how to be like Uncle Vergil and go about “Vergil-ing” the world would be a much better place.

1. Uncle are Great and great-uncles are even better!
2. Love one another.
3. Live with you believe.
4. Leave a legacy.
5. Wisdom.
6. Represent those who have gone before you.
7. FAMILY.
8. Have a willing heart and willing hands.
9. The power of testimony from the hearts of those who have gone before.
10. Have a charitable nature – thoughtfulness.
11. “Life is good.”
12. Never stop learning, no matter how much you know.
13. There is always time to talk and be friendly.
14. Humor is good medicine. Laugh it off.
15. Care for all creatures – down to the smallest birds.
16. It never hurts to be kind.
17. Xerox machines are divine.
18. Grafton, Utah is worth a visit! (and directions on how to get there)
19. Always be willing, even though you may not feel able.
20. Adopt your great-niece and nephew who don’t have a grandpa anymore. Make them feel like your own.
21. Have an open-door policy to children and grandchildren.
22. Be generous with your time AND talents.
23. Nephites and Lamanites lived in upstate New York – NO doubt!
24. Pull your neighbors weeds, or help them plant while you are visiting with them.
25. Be a good friend.
26. Be a strong link in the chain from the past to the future.
27. “If you die, you die.”
28. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
29. Honor your father and mother.
30. Thomas Morris, Alonzo Russell, Daniel Webster Morris and others are a part of who WE are.
31. Take an interest in your relatives.
32. Collect and share.
33. Explore and discover the atmosphere right down to the smallest pebbles.
34. Taking people on tour is a fun way to earn a living.
35. Give of yourself.
36. Be a legend in your own time.
37. Be your brothers keeper.
38. Quiet service.
39. Be an example.
40. Be tolerant of people’s differences.
41. Preserve pieces of the past.
42. Research is EASY when you have a generous uncle.
43. Ancestors and family members can be your biggest heroes.
44. Don’t let little stumbling blocks become big obstacles.
45. Modern technology is a blessing to genealogy. Computers are a little easier than file cards.
46. Do your temple work.
47. Do your genealogy. Then share your work with everyone.
48. Make people feel like you are happy to see them.
49. Be cheerful. (No matter what.)
50. Keep your yard nice.
51. Race to bring in your neighbors garbage cans.
52. Value things of the past.
53. Go to church.
54. Treat nieces and nephews as nicely as your own kids.
55. Hard work.
56. Patience. (In suffering, in caring for your family, and with a misguided niece who wants to spend time on genealogy but never seems to get there.)
57. Cherish life and relationships.
58. Ancestors are real people with stories you need to know.
59. Turn the other cheek – again and again and again.
60. It’s okay to show how you feel.
61. Keep files and tapes for sharing with others.
62. Forgive someone even when they record over those video tapes.
63. Words have real value.
64. Be organized.
65. History is interesting.
66. Be an awesome Home Teacher.
67. Know and love your personal history.
68. Share your good ideas with others.
69. Be the one to bury the hatchet.
70. Be kind to the elderly.
71. There is only one season of service . . . always.
72. Fly the flag with respect.
73. Take out other people’s trash.
74. Pick up produce at the market for your neighbors.
75. Grandpas are wonderful / spend time with your grandkids.
76. Love your spouse, and take good care of them.
77. Care about how others feel.
78. Always be happy.
79. Do nice things for others.
80. “Hell” is not a swear word. You can even say it in the chapel.
81. Laugh, even when you are hurting.
82. Hedges grow back with time.
83. Cancer can be kicked. Five times is good, but six is better.
84. In the silent heart is hidden, sorrows that the eye can’t see.
85. Live a good life and don’t be afraid to die. There’s a better world waiting.
86. Your life is your testimony.
87. Let it all go.
88. The masterful art of “Vergil-ing”