Tribute to Franklin DH Proctor

Given at funeral services

28 Oct 1958

     I feel very humble and honored to have been asked by the family to say a few words at these services today.

     We, the Hansen family, have always considered Uncle Frank, that is the name I have always heard our family call him, a very dear friend and neighbor.

     All through the years since I have known him, he has in his friendly, courteous way called me Mrs. Melba, and Mother Hansen was always affectionately called Auntie by him and Father Hansen-Uncle John.

     He was born near Topeka, Kansas, 1 September 1881 to George and Mary Ann Anderson Proctor.

     His mother passed away while there.  In his teens the family moved to Eureka, Utah.  At the age of 17 he met and married Elizabeth Sarah Williams.  They had a family of 4 girls and 3 boys.  They moved to the Spanish Fork area about 1904.  His wife dies 2 December 1918.

     In May of 1923 he married Rosabelle Hall Helm.  She died May of 1936.

     About a year ago while visiting us one afternoon he was reminiscing over his earlier life.  About when he worked in the mines at Eureka and his experiences there.  It was all interesting to me.  I only wish my memory would serve me better so I would have remembered all he said.  He told of working with an uncle of mine and jokes and good times they had.

     When Winford and I were married some 37 years ago, he worked for Utah Idaho Sugar Company.  I came to know him very well as he visited the Hansen’s often.

     I worked here in the Primary at the time and if the men were busy and I didn’t have a way to the church, Uncle Frank was around and was always ready and willing to give me a lift.

     He did love to stop by and eat dinner with us.  He was always willing to take Mother Hansen to town if need be or to Relief Society or any place she needed to go if her folks were busy.  He was always kind, courteous, and accommodating.

     I think he had some fine traits of character, honesty, courage, ambition, dependability and integrity.

     I think these few words by Alice Cary describe his character well.

                        True worth is in being, not seeing—

                        In doing each day that goes by,

                        Some little good—not in dreaming of great things to do by and by.

                        For whatever men say in their blindness

                        And in spite of the fancies of youth,

                        There’s nothing so kingly as kindness,

                        And nothing so royal as truth.

   For many years he was employed by the J.M. Sumsion Contractors of Springville.  He was a labor foreman, but most of the time he worked on the gravel crusher and loaded gravel trucks.  Winford has been with Sumsions too for several years and driven gravel trucks most of the time.  Many times he has made the remark that Uncle Frank was the perfect, dependable truck loader.  The same amount of gravel in each truck.  As far as scales were concerned, he says Uncle Frank didn’t need any and that there isn’t anyone who can do as perfect a job as he did.

     We could say of him—He had a sense of obligation and trustworthiness to his employer.

     I think we may define his character in these lines of Charles Dickens:

                        “It is well for a man to respect his own vocation whatever it is, and to think          

                        Himself bound to uphold it, and to claim for it the respect it deserves.”

     While the Sumsions were over here a year ago making gravel, they employed Uncle Frank as night watchman.  Even though he was afflicted with arthritis and wasn’t too well, he was always on the job and he worked as long as his health would permit.

     Shortly after that he had an accident and since that time his health has failed more.

     While he was in Salt Lake with his children during the winter, we called to see him a couple of times.  I can’t express in words how glad he was to see us and how grateful he was that we called by. I am thankful we took time out to call on him because we felt so helpless otherwise in not knowing what to do in his hours of affliction.

     He was indeed thankful for his children.  Times when I have called to see how he was he told me how good they were to him.  I know that recently they have made many trips to visit him.

     Father’s Days were highlights of his life, as all the children who possibly could come did so with good things to eat and to have lovely family get togethers.

     At Christmas time of last year and other years when I took our Relief Society gift to him, he was so thrilled and happy he could hardly refrain from crying.  As I said before, he was so appreciative of every kind word or deed shown him, and it always filled my heart with joy to do whatever I could for him.

     I think his thanks could be expressed in these few lines by Frances Angermayer:

                        Thanks for the smile you gave me today,

                        You’ll never know how it paved the way

                        With joy—How it made everything right.

                        Thanks—now—I am not afraid of the night.

                        Thanks for the kind word.

                        I didn’t tell you,

                        But I held it close the long day through.

                        Your kind words made me brave in a trial.

                        Thanks for your kindness.

                        Thanks  for your smile.

     We could say of him:

                        He did not seek the wealth of the world,

                        No prestige, no power, nor fame,

                        He did not ask for honors to grace

                        The plainness of his name.

                        His life is rich with priceless gems

                        When truth and faith applaud,

                        When friends can look at him and say

                        He has won the trust of God.

     I pray the Lord will bless you children, grandchildren always, and give you solace and comfort and a source of relief in know that your father is at peace and rest.

     In conclusion I wish to read these lines entitled

                                                God Lives

                        God lives, he holds the key of life,

                        He guides us through this world of strife,

                        We know and feel his presence near.

                        In Him we conquer care and fear.

                        He gives us strength and peace divine

                        We know He lives and life in mine.

                        God live, he ever knoweth best.

                        In Him our heart is free from pain.

                        Our tears have not been shed in vain,

                        God lives, and He protects us all,

                        He lives and answers to our call.

                        God lives and shared His blessed love,

                        He lives to send gifts from above.

                        God lives and tells us He is light.

                        He lives and tells us all is right.

     My we all remember the fine characteristics of  Uncle Frank and our association with him and thereby live better and strive always to be kind to one another.