Death. What a subject for a blog!

What is the story concerning Smith and Bernice’s deaths?

The year was 1959.  Douglas was 16 years old, Virginia was 12 years old, and Donna was 10 years old. The day was April 1^st (April Fool’s Day).  Smith had attended the Western Conference of Deans of Graduate Schools in California of which he was president.  When he returned home, he stopped by BYU High School to see Douglas and stopped at Wasatch Elementary School to pick up Virginia and Donna for lunch.  After the girls had returned to school, he and Bernice had a quiet moment together.  It would be their last in this life.

When Smith returned to the Brigham Young University campus, he went to the office of his good friend, Lester Whetten.  It was there that Smith died quickly and quietly of a heart attack.  His friend thought he was yawning.  He was probably trying to breathe. 

He died on a Wednesday.  He was buried the next Tuesday, 7 days later.  Bernice didn’t have time to make the arrangements before General Conference that weekend, and she refused to                                                                   bury him on his 54^th birthday, April 6^th. 

 Bernice was plagued with ill health for many years.  It was always expected that she would die first. She held on, many times realizing that her children were not grown and needed her.  In 1970, her diabetes got the best of her.  Her memory failed her.  The doctor who had diagnosed her diabetes seemed to forget that she had it, and the doctors in the 5 weeks she spent in the hospital couldn’t decide what was wrong with her.  They called it “cerebral atrophy”.  They said that her brain was decaying, but didn’t have any explanation for why.  Donna, the only child still living at home, was forced to put her in a care center.  After 9 months Donna changed to the doctor at the care center for her mom.  He discovered that her diabetes was at a deadly level, increased her insulin, and she returned home within the week.

The major care for Bernice came from Bill and Donna Mayfield.  Richard and Virginia Wheeler took care of her while Richard obtained his PhD in Electrical Engineering from BYU and at various times later.  Bernice regained quite a bit of her health.  She moved with Bill and Donna to San Diego, CA, Sherman, TX, and Colorado Springs, CO.  In Feb. 1981, Bernice developed Phlebitis in her leg and died on the operating table. The physicians brought her back to life, but she never regained her health.  She died of a stroke in her bed at home in Colorado Springs on May 31, 1981.

Both Smith and Bernice are buried in the Provo City Cemetery, Provo, Utah.  We will be visiting the gravesite Sat., Apr. 4, 2015.  You are invited to join us.