JACKIE:
Our father was a really cool man. He is thirty years older then me, since I am his eldest daughter. This year he would have been sixty seven. I know because our son Brian Jr. will be 7 this year, and he passed a few weeks before his birth in 2007. Like Johnny (Brian Jr.'s cousin, son of Stacy, my sister, and John Hamm) who was also born on 2007 about a month and a week after that day of his passing September 10th. Now September 10th is a wonderful day, to celebrate for Paige (Stacy and John Hamm's daughter, our niece), who was born this exact day in 2011. She is very lively and fun. Its a blessing to have her, for we all were sad when he passed unexpectedly that September day.
The fun things I remember about Dad is that he loved to talk. Talk, and Talk and Talk. I wish I could talk like he could. He was friendly with everyone, and he seemed he wanted people to learn things. This is what I most remember, for anywhere he went, he was teaching people his Japanese characters, about the church, and the scriptures. He wanted people to know why certain Japanese Characters were drawn a particular way. One day, he brought out this book about Kongi and asked me to look at the characters. He wanted me to know, that each character was shaped a particular way like ART so, that it represented something. For instance, GOD was three strikes. Why? Because... there are three God heads. I always found what he knew so interesting. Dad was always telling his clients, and the friends that came into the office, the Japanese language, and always about the scriptures.
Dad and I liked to talk I talked about things I hoped to do. (Which now, my dreams seem so hopeless...haha) But, back then, my dreams were always so fantastic to talk about. He liked helping me with my Art projects. Maybe I forced him to help me, for it seemed he was the one that had some time to help me finish my sculptures, and such. Also, he seemed skilled in the tools area so, I was grateful to get him to help me with these challenging college projects. I am grateful for the time I could spend wth my father, at his office, or where I needed to do an art project. Whether, it was in the garage, in my room, at the U of U Art room, or backyard doing Art paintings or sculptures. Now, looking back, I don't know how he did it. Running an office, taking us places, helping us with homework, and getting my brother Jeff to his sports games. Dad was happy...well, most of the time (he hated our beagles.) And although I am sad he passed, I know by his Spirit, he lives on, not just in me but in all of us. By being a missionary like he was, his whole life, we should continue to live like he did.
STACY:
My dad was a great person and father. He loved helping all of his kids with their homework and projects. I felt a real connection to him because we both excelled at math. He was a CPA and was really good at adding things expecially the grocery amounts in his head and getting it exactly right. I thought it was funny when going out to dinner with my parents, my mom would never know how to figure out the tip amount. My dad was really good at it, he would say, just double the tax. He also was really particular about recording all the gas he put in his car and the odometer. He would make the amount always be at a round number when the gas stopped. Sometimes I find myself doing the same thing.
My first memory of my dad was when my mom went out of town with a friend and our dad was left to tend us all. I was about 5 years old. I was so nervous and wondered, does my dad know how to tend us?? He did a great job because I totally remember him making cooked apples and I thought they were so delicious. And I thought what an interesting thing for us to have for dinner.
I have memories of him helping us make different projects for school. He would help us make our halloween pumpkins, our sugar cube pyramids and my models for architecture school. He was always so patient and dedicated to get things done. I would want to stop and take a break, but he would focus and get projects done whatever it took. Jackie and I took interior design in high school and one day we were going on a field trip and our teacher Mrs. H (who also knew dad & his family) asked if any of us had a parent who could help drive us to the field trip. Jackie raised her hand and said "my dad doesn't have a job and he can!" I was so embarrassed and told Jackie that she said it wrong because he does have a job, just a flexible one that he can drive us anytime. We were grateful that he was able to take us to school and do things for us because his schedule was more flexible than my moms.
I miss my dad, but it is nice to see his spirit live on. I tell Johnny & Paige Grandpa Drake stories. It is nice that Johnny's middle name is Drake and my nephew is also Drake (we call him Drakie).
JENNIFER:
My dad, Sterling Drake Meyer, was always kind and pleasant to be around. While going to college at the University of Utah, I had the opportunity to work alongside him at his accounting office. I helped my Dad input clients income and expenses into Quickbooks, and other times I helped make a binder of the client's receipts by taping the receipts onto pieces of lined paper.
Dad helped me with my French homework, also. I remember Dad typing my French homework onto the computer. I was writing about dolphins and the way the dolphins were trained with their trainers. The trainers developed a relationship with the dolphins. The dolphins jumped in the air and did tricks whenever the fishermen threw bait at the dolphins. I really appreciate Dad helping me with my paper, even when I had difficulty writing in the French language. Dad was helpful to correct my mistakes, and I think I got a decent grade on the paper.
Dad worked in the Jordan temple in the mornings. Dad loved going to the temple. I followed my Dad's example, and I go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead whenever I can.
Love, Jennifer
JEFF:
My Dad is Sterling Drake Meyer, born June 13th, 1947 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His parents were Sterling Albert Meyer and Jeanne (Drake) Meyer. Dad was the oldest of four children, who were born in the following order: Dad, Kerry, Michelle, and Lou.
Dad was an amazing conversationalist, who could talk to you about anything. He listened well, and provided great advice and counsel when asked. He was a hard-working man, putting in nearly 60-70 hours a week at his CPA Practice, S. Drake Meyer & Associates, which he owned and operated for over 25 years. Dad was fearless when it came to talking with complete strangers, often waiters or waitresses at restaurants or common people waiting in line next to us at sporting events or checking out in line at the grocery store. Dad had a passion for learning languages, after his mission to Japan in 1966 (note: it was called the Northern Far East Mission at the time, and missionaries did not have a Missionary Training Center at the time, which meant that when you were called to serve, you went to the Mission Home in Salt Lake City of one week, and then you were put on plane to the Orient “helter-skelter” without knowing the language or being familiar with the customs, and also with the assignment to serve for two and a half years.) I remember Dad telling me about how he got off the plane in Japan and he couldn’t read one sign that was posted, all of it being in Japanese characters. It was there that he learned the Japanese language (which took approximately 6 months to learn) and he told me about how he used to wake-up early in the morning at 5:00 am to study and review Japanese language flashcards to start off the day. From there, he would attempt to speak with passers-by on the streets or on park benches, where they often laughed or commented on how his primitive Japanese language skills were below-par. For example, dad told me the story of how he approached an elderly gentleman there once, where he wanted to introduce himself by saying: “Watashi no-na-my-wa Meyer-choro-des.” The man looked at him puzzlingly, and replied: “You can’t say it like that… You need to say: “Watashi Nona-Mywah Meyer-Choro-Des! (With extra emphasis on the correct syllables.) Apparently, this experience left a memorable impression upon Dad, since he related that story a number of times, and also because Dad had a really good Japanese accent for the rest of his adult life. In fact, he continued to study the language until his passing, with the Japanese language books, and LDS standard works in Japanese resting upon his nightstand next to his and Mom’s bed until that time. Dad was a great example of one who loved the people of his mission – it was evident for the rest of his life, as he jumped at every opportunity to speak Japanese with people, and also to endeavor to speak conversational Chinese (which he was trying to learn in the last seven to ten years of his life) with people as often as occasion would permit. Dad also was conversational in Spanish (as he tried to learn that language as well) with the workers at local restaurants and among his clients and other friends, which is worthy of note. Dad’s love for people of all nationalities was present not only in his willingness and desire to pickup words and phrases of other languages here and there, but it was also apparent among his clientele at his CPA practice, some of which were from Bulgaria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, India, Mexico, among other countries. Dad had a talent of communicating well with others.
Another great attribute of Dad’s, was his devotion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints all throughout his life. He was an active Church member throughout his entire life, and He and Mom raised us to go to Church every week, and to participate in Church activities. Dad served in the Temple for a number of years before his passing as an ordinance worker and a veil worker, and he started his temple shift in the early, every Tuesday and Thursday morning of each week. He served there with Hal Anderson (Aunt Shawna’s father) and the two of them became great friends over the years. In regards to his temple service, Dad related a story to me of one of his clients who was from Iran, who often came in the mornings to visit Dad, since they were great friends. The man was a professor of physics at the U of U, who also ran a business on the side, and he and Dad enjoyed a great friendship for a number of years. One morning, this friend came to Dad’s office on a morning where Dad hadn’t arrived… Puzzled, he later asked Dad where he had been. Dad, being modest, said that he had a part-time job on the side; upon which, the friend said: “What’s the problem – do you need more money?... Where are you working?” In response, Dad said: “Let’s just say that I work for Allah.” The friend then asked: “What do you mean?” And Dad proceeded to tell him about his calling as an ordinance worker at the Jordan River Temple, in a conversation which lasted for more than two hours. This friend was so impressed, that he contacted his local friends from Iran, who had professional camera and other video recording equipment, and they arranged to film a documentary about the Church, where they traveled to the MTC in Provo, as well as the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and they also interviewed Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Ever since Dad told me that story, I’ve been impressed with the fact that we never really know just how much influence we have in the lives of others, as we follow the example of Jesus Christ in our daily lives.
I would refer the reader to listen to a copy of Dad’s funeral services which was recorded on a CD, and which Mom has the at the house. It contains a number of inspiring stories from Dad’s life which should be passed down from generation to generation.
With love, Jeff
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