Oh my Crazy!!!!

Havent seen this house yet in Sidney- dont know that I want to??? know he loved that red door!!!:)










Whos feets are whos? Not the most well done photo but I dont have time right now to make it all cute ...so there are the babies feet- wanna guess whos they are?

So, to say the least, things have been crazy lately which is why I havent written. Don't want to get too into it but as some of you may know on July 27th, (2 weeks ago today) my dad died. Hard hard hard. Love my dad, dont want to get any deeper than that. I gave the Eulogy from marriage on for him. My aunt Colleen gave the first half of his life...below is the talk in case you werent there and are interested in hearing what we had to say.

-Daddeo-

I. Introduce myself: Ari- Al’s second Daughter out of three

• Honored to get to speak to you all today about our dad and moms husband.
• Most of you knew dad and how sweet he was, but Because dad was such a meek and humble guy a lot of people don’t know about his accomplishments- many of which were extremely noteworthy!

II. Dads first great accomplishment the 2^nd half of his life was meeting and marrying mom.

· As can see on the back of dads program, mom wrote that meeting dad was love at first site and they were married only 3 months later in the Salt Lake Temple.

• My dad loved my mom very very much. He had his own quiet way of showing it as he did to others.
• Most of my letters from my dad that he wrote me from my mission talked about mom. He talked about how he loves her so much. How she was working so hard to make everything look beautiful and asked advice what to get her for her birthday et.

III. Dad and mom went on to have 6 BEAUTIFUL childrenJ, I must sayJ

· In the mean time dad was accomplishing some other incredible things! If you haven’t noticed, my dad was a phenomenal artist and inventor, (as well as man)

IV. After BYU,his mission to New England and his marriage to mom, mom and dad moved to

SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA. There..

· Dad graduated with HONORS from San Jose State University with a MASTERS in fine arts.

· For dads end of the year thesis of sorts dad collaborated with the engineering department and created a HUAGE COLORFUL LIGHT SHOW for the students. Though he had an engineering mind he was known for his sweet heart. In order to make ALL feel included at the light show dad invented a little TEDDY BEAR that would follow the people around in the middle of the room. Very cute.

V. He later went to teach Fine Arts at Rice University in Houston, Texas and served as

Chairman of the Kinetic Arts Department

for 6 years while also serving as the assistant professor of the ENTIRE art department. YOUNGEST PROFFESSOR of record at the time!!!

§ You may have seen in the slide show on the way in, photos of dad working on different inventions. While Dad was serving as chair in the kinetic art department he invented and built an INTERNAL COMBUSTION ORGAN MADE OUT OF A CAR ENGINE! It was fit with rosewood keys and everything! Playable!

-Later the contemporary museum of art in Houston asked to buy the organ. Mom and dad were able to put a down payment on their first home with that sale.

§ One night while my mom and dad were watching a tv show called “The name of the game”. A man was being filmed going into an art gallery. The gallery worker showed him an art piece done by a world renoun artist named Al Cheney! Dad got all flustered and frustrated saying- “What?!! Theres another artist out there with MY name???!!!” Turns out that that piece of Art was Dads and that the Man was in ENGLAND! An Art gallery in Los Angeles had previously bought several of Dads pieces and sold them to galleries all around the world. Pretty awesome!!!

V I. A few years later and by the way, for time sake, skipping some pretty incredible details about what he did in between, Dad and mom along with my older sister and brother, moved to Paradise California. My dad was a fanatic for the beauty of the earth so he loved this location in Nor. Cal.

· There Dad bought and owned a dulcimer company. (Dulcimer out front) For those who don’t know a dulcimer is kinda like an old fashioned guitar that they used in the olden days. To anyone who didn’t know dad as well this may seem kinda strange, dulcimers??? But not to those who knew him well!! Dad could do, make, fix and invent ANYTHING!!!!

· Dad was also the stake YMs president and in the high counsel during that time.

VII. Carrying on a bit of a time line here, Dad, mom, my sister and brother then moved to San Jose and then Ben Lomond California so that my dad could help my grandpa out by taking over his printing company and later work for Lockeed in the graphics engineering department. While in cali the last four of us were born.

· Dad served in the bishopbric and then as the scout master and YM. President at the same time.

o Dad was incredible, everyone loved him, in fact I have NEVER met even 1 individual that didn’t adore my dad. He was also so much fun!

o Dad was so sweet and great with people that he had a large BOAT DONATED to the scouting program! Dad took the boys including my brothers under his wings and taught them the ins and outs of boating and taking care of a boat.

o (Jamin) Later while I was at BYU HAWAII I came across a guy who had had a rough time in his youth. My dad was his scout master and YM leader. This guy said that it was because of Dad that he stayed active in the church and was later married in the temple. Unfortuantly his parents weren’t able to be as great of an example to him as dad was in that aspect.

VIII. Eventually my family moved down here to CAMARILLO. Dad has worked at variouys jobs since moving here, every job however having something to with art.

· While working at Spectra FX. My dad designed the large dinosaur at the top of the Jurassic park ride at Universal Studios. He did more art for Disney world and Disney land..My dad could do ANY type of art! Some of his drawings for Spectra are also in the slide show my brother put together.

VIIII. Dads last job, and we believe one of his most rewarding, was his work at Somis Academy here in Camarillo. Dad was with the school as it opened. He served as the CHAIRMAN OF THE ARTS DEPT. There he taught oil painting, watercolor, photography and other art courses. Because this was a brand new school dad had to write the curriculum for each class he taught. However since he had had such a diverse career he was able to do this though and teach anything to do with art.!

· While teaching at Somis and at age 64 he also decided to get his teaching credential from National University. Dad died with only a few classes short of his credentials. Because of his 4.0 grade point average and incredible personality (Thoguht this was an online school they all knew him at the university) dad will shortly be receiving an Honory teaching credential.

· Dad was very enthusiastic and committed to whatever he set out to accomplish, giving nothing but his best.

X. While dad was an awesome example to others he was also an extremely devoted father. He loved each of us very very much and showed it as often as possible. He also supported us in every way. As I mentioned in my note on dad in the program I always felt that dad was my own little cheerleader. I know my brothers and sisters, as well as my mom feel that dad was that for them as well. It takes a GREAT MAN to make everyone in your family feel that loved, not just one person!

· Dad ALWAYS went the extra mile:

One summer …job in Santa Barbara…members of church.

Unfortuatly….. no car since….. accident the summer before…totaled my car.

Same car….. 2 years prior…been hit in… half the car crunched in. Literally

dad spent… summer everyday after work cutting… bent up metal..reinstalling

AN ENTIRE NEW HALF OF MY CAR!.

Anyways..back to Santa Barbara story…..because no car… dad drove me everyday. 4 trips ….each day…. Guilty!... How dad was!... Selfless!

· Another time…dad took kids to beach…new glasses (Grew up with)…got home…not there! Were security blanket! Dad drove about ½ back to beach in dark…raked entire beach for glasses! Heard him come in about 2 in morning- hadn’t found…but meant so much!

XI. Each of us kids as well as my mom have so much to say about my dad…To paraphrase the thoughts our family has on dad I am going to read the following….

(read) “Our Dad was instantly liked by anyone he met. He befriended everyone. He loved to be involved in spontaneous service to others without their knowledge. Dad was especially proud and patient with his grandchildren and thoughtful and caring for those “older and wiser” than himself. He loved to hear and tell stories about the past. Dad was always helpful in helping us to work out a personal problem, or any project we were working on. He was very interested in genealogy and loved doing Temple work. He had a great understanding of the Scriptures and could answer almost any question we had about the Gospel. He loved learning about different cultures, people and their History. He had a great vocabulary! He was passionate about teaching, and truly cared about his students. He worked very hard to support his family, many times sacrificing his own wants to do so. Dad loved scouting and the outdoors. He found great beauty and color in all of Gods creations. This was reflected in his art work. Dad could find the good in most any situation. He was very proud of his family and shared that often with others. He was a wonderful example to all of us. We will always love and admire him, and aspire to posses some of his great qualities ourselves. We will miss him, and always love Him, and every time we see or hear something beautiful, we will be thinking of him”

XII. Would now like to share a very personal bit of information about my recent experiences with dad, Im thinking this is the reason I felt strongly that I needed to speak today. Haven’t shared this with family- only husband.

· In my note on dad in the program I wrote this sentence..

(read) “I never felt that Dad got the credit he deserved in this life for being such a Christ like person, and though extremely heart broken, was not surprised to hear that Heavenly Father wanted him back with Him sooner than later. I truly believe that he was too good for this earth, had done what was expected of him, and that Heavenly Father was ready for him to finally return.” In fact Meant that quite literally!

· I actually had a feeling the last day I personally saw dad, a few months ago before he went up to Montana, that that was going to be the last time I would see him.

I remember stopping at the front door and talking myself out of going up to give him one last hug because I hoped I was just being over sensitive. Then again at the walkway down from my parents house I stopped and paused for about a minute.

Finally before my husband and I drove away I thought about it again but talked myself out of it again.

I worried about him often while he was in Montana and wish that I would have called him more than I did just because of the circumstances.

Luckily I finally paid close enough attention to one prompting to call dad Thursday night. We spoke for about 45 minutes and I remember that the conversation had a different tone about it. Dad was giving me extra advice and encouragement, more than usual. Throughout the conversation the thought kept coming to my mind that this could very well be the last time I talk to dad. It was, my dad died the next morning.

I don’t know if I had those thoughts because I was being OVERLY PROTECTIVE about him or if Heavenly Father was just trying to PREPARE ME a bit more for the shock of his passing but I do know that because of these experiences Im even more sure now that God has a plan for each of us.

• (If time) Share with you a poem that I sent dad from my mission when his dad passed away. I knew he would appreciate it because of the boats…

The Ship

In a beautiful lagoon on a clear day,

A fine sailing ship spreads its brilliant

White canvas in a fresh morning breeze

And sails out to open sea.

We watch him glide away magnificently through the deep blue

And gradually see him grow smaller and smaller as he nears the horizon.

Finally where the sea and sky meet, he slips silently from sight,

And someone near me says

“There, he is gone”

Gone where?

Gone from sight is all.

He is still just as large in mast and hull and sail,

Still just as able to bear his load.

And we can be sure that just as WE say, “There he is gone”..others are saying, “There he comes!!!!

IV. President Hinckly once said to my friends great aunt about her great uncle that:

(read) “No ONE is ever taken to the Lord before their time. We are ALL here for a purpose and once that purpose is fulfilled we return to our Heavenly Father. There is no such thing as fluke accidents or unfortunate circumstances. We all return to home EXACTLY when we are supposed to. When it is our time to go, ANYTHING can take us back.

• I know that Heavenly Father has a bigger plan than all of us can comprehend right now. No matter what we would have liked better for dad, that was Gos plan for him
• I’m just so grateful that his plan included dad to be our father.

My thoughts on dads passing besides what is above??? Everyone is asking me and I feel like I sound overly OK with it all. I worry that I sound unaffected or anything. If you read the above talk then you probably know why I wasnt so surprised but definitatly disappointed. It also depends on the time of day you talk to me about it. The way Im coping is by surrounding myself in dad stuff. His 8x10 photo is up and framed in the condo, and one of his large paintings are on the wall. Then Dakota and I are listening to enya all the time which is what dad always listened to while painting. To see some of his incredible work- check out the link to his web site on the right. Lots of young dadds have been dying strangly lately. Looks like Heavenly father needs a bunch of GREAT missionaries up there! The men that are passing are younger than dying age plus great members of the church. So there you go.

Below is a photo of dad, what a cutie:)

Sooo..since all this has gone down with dad and since my baby brother shea moved home now and is going to get married in december to Mehgann hunter (Great granddaughter of President Hunter:) Aaron has moved up to montana to help my oldest brother out with his company. Dad and Shea were working for him. I am waiting for Aarons truck to get out of the shop in order to get out of here. Before this I had never been away from aaron for more then 1 night since weve been married so needless to say Im missing him (And sleeping with a knife next to my bed.)

Where in Montana. Its called Sidney- a miniture town of 5K people. Apparently the closest place to really do much is 3.5 hours away where my brother and his wife and kids live. Yah. So anyways- Aaron is excited to help out so Im happy about that. Well I have to get back to cleaning so we can go sooner than later. Ill give you all an update next time I get a chance to. Were doing a trial run of the job for A month and if Aaron wants to keep it then we will be coming back to pack up our stuff and go back.

Shea and Mehgann photos:

On a good note- dakotas got some teeth coming in and looks totally cute. Here are some photos from when we all met up in Utah for dads funeral last wednesday...