Shirley Jean Nordin

( Eulogy)

Shirley Jean Best was born October 14th, 1932 in Portland, Oregon to Leo Carl Best and Lillian Mary Smith Best. She was free spirited and fun. When she was a child her mother and her would take the trolley to downtown. As an experiment, on the way there, grandma told mom to yawn real big then count how many people were yawning by the time they got there. Later as a teen her and her friend Sandra Nordin were driving downtown when they got pulled over for driving the wrong way on a one-way street. They got off with a warning possibly because they both smiled at the officer. On August 16th, 1952 Shirley Jean Best married Gary Tengard Nordin at the LDS chapel on 30th and Harrison (it has beautiful stained glass windows). Two things they both had an interest in were square dancing and talking on the CB (their handles were Pepsi and poopsie). They had 5 children together, Derrick, Deborah, Denise, (there was another brother whose name would have been Del Ray but he was stillborn) De Auna, and Dayna. We were raised with firm and loving hands, all that either one of them had to do was look at us when we were doing wrong and we would stop. Mom would wax the floors, then laugh when Rick would pull the little ones across the slick floor. Our dog even got in on the action by chasing us and losing traction as she came around the corner and slid with her paws in front of her, trying to stop before colliding with the cupboards. When Rick was in the service, Mom De Auna and I would tape-record our letters to him. Side A was the “serious” side, and side B was the “Funny Farm.” The funny part about it was that on the serious side there was very little seriousness between a cast of one adult female and two young (an 8 and a 11-year old) girls. And on the funny side we ran out of funny. Us kids always loved to make mom laugh. One thing that really got her going was when Denise was running away from someone trying to tickle her she would laugh so hard that she grabbed the back of her pants and turn herself around to face her pursuer.

Mom worked hard to support us. She showed us how to pay bills and balance a checkbook by involving us in those activities. When she stopped smoking, she was an example of self-discipline and humility because she gave credit to Heavenly Father for removing her desire for them. She was also into family history and faithfully pursued charting her family down. That led her to the temple where she was a dedicated worker there. She loved being there. I remember her telling me of the spiritual experiences she had while doing ordinance work.

Yet another chapter in her life, would find her getting up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning, dressing in her leathers and wanting to get on my brother’s Harley to go for a ride before he even woke up. Sitting on the back of the Harley like she was in an easy chair, they rode to various places like, the gorge or to the coast and around town as well. When she was dressing to go riding she would smile, but when she finally put her helmet on her smile would broaden.

The last eight years of her life were spent at De Auna’s house as she began to deteriorate from Alzheimer’s dementia. As recently as last Halloween, mom’s spontaneous sense of humor showed me that she was still there. I was feeding her some Jell-O while De Auna was manning the door for trick-or-treaters and doing dishes, mom had her eyes shut and appeared to be relaxing while she ate, when suddenly mom opened her eyes right at me and growled really loud then smiled. Everyone in the house was laughing, Austin came into the room and said, “what the heck” and laughed. John was in the livingroom, he said something about her contributing to the Halloween spirit. Either way, she succeeded in startling both De Auna and I, it was great. All of us, Derrick, Deborah, Denise, De Auna and I really liked when she smiled, particularly in her last days because it was getting harder and harder to communicate with her. So when she smiled at us it was beautiful and real. The night before she passed, we had a harpist play and sing for us, Deborah, De Auna and I were there, the atmosphere was still and heaven-like, we were able to let our thoughts soar and our hearts fill with the joy of the moment. We know she was with us when she passed because her eyes were open as opposed to closed as they had been for the previous week, they were open for about 10 minutes while De Auna and I were talking to her, we know that she understood us. It was one of the most peaceful and beautiful moments of our lives. I know that she is going home to her Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. My Heart is full of love for my mother and my Heavenly Father. I pray for the strength to live well so that I can return to them.

Thank You Mom for all that you have taught us, for being our mom and being an example for us to follow. We love you and we will miss you until we meet again.

I thank Heavenly Father for blessing us with this precious time to honor our mother and do so humbly in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Memories of Mom by De Auna Lehde – Daughter

When I was a little girl, when everyone else was away at school and my dad was at work, mom and I had the entire afternoon together. My little sister, Dayna, occasionally would demand mom’s time. I watched her ironing the clothes and take care of things around the house. She made fried potatoes and onions that made the whole house smell so good. She would lie down on the couch on her side and I would sit perched on her hip. She and I were there watching one of her shows on TV, probably Star Trek at the time. I would get tired and want to lie down in her lap and she would stroke my hair with her fingers, making me feel sleepy. She would do this so gently and lovingly. I was enveloped with my mom’s love.

One day, when I wasn’t quite a teenager, I was feeling like I had to get out of the four walls. We were living in Lake Grove at the time and I told mom that I just wanted for us to go somewhere. We drove in the evening to the JC Penney parking lot in Lake Oswego. We sat there in the car and talked and cried together. I don’t remember what it was about. I just remember feeling closer to my mom. After our tears have subsided we went back home later that night. I felt comforted from the love and kindness from her during that difficult time I was having.

In the last few years, when mom’s health was more fragile, she would do something funny and cute that would make us smile. She would smile real big and with her eyes twinkling, I would smoosh my face into her cheek and tell her, “Oh, I love that smile. I’m going to get that smile. I’m going to gobble you up! I’m going to get your sugar!” Mom would giggle and smile bigger. She used to do this when I was little and she did it with her grandchildren too. What a precious gift that was for me, and for us, to share with her.

Mom loved trees. She loved all kinds of trees; especially, Japanese maples and lilacs. One day when she was living with us, mom and I went looking around at Farmington Gardens Nursery. I wanted to pick out some plants for the yard. She noticed the trees that were brilliant red with color, Bloodgood Japanese Maples, and she just had to pick one out. One wasn’t enough, so she picked out another. Together we planted those trees in the yard. She watered them and watched them grow. After time, when she wasn’t able to go outside anymore to see them, I would tell her that her trees are beautiful and growing strong. She loved the Fall season with all the bright yellow, red, and orange colors. She often would say, “Ooh, look at that tree! It is so beautiful!” The leaves on her trees have been slowly falling and she left on her journey to Heavenly Father when all the leaves have finally gone.

I love you so much Mom. Thank you for sharing your precious time with us on this Earth. I look forward to your greeting and seeing you again. For now, I hold you in my heart.

De Auna Lehde

Memories of Mom by Denise Williams – Daughter

When I was a little girl, mom and I would make Haystack Cookies together. We would mix all the ingredients together and shape them into little mountains and put them all over the dining room table and all over the kitchen countertops. It was so much fun to help my mom. Those Haystack Cookies were so very good.

When mom and I were older, mom would sit across the table from me at my sister De Auna’s house. I gave mom some yarn to roll up into a ball while I held and untangled the other end. She would help me with this so that I could have it ready to use to make hats and scarves for the homeless people to keep them warm. Her hands helped me make them. I would look across the table at her face and see her smiling at me. I really loved spending time with mom.

Memories of Nana by Austin Lehde – Grandson

I remember going over to Nana’s apartment while my sister, Bree, was at her ballet class in Tualatin. We went to the store in her crazy, fast car and picked up a sausage pizza for dinner and Frosted Mini Wheats for breakfast, both of which were her favorites. We sat together and watched many of her movies including: Space Jam, Aladdin, Lion King, and The Troll in Central Park. She had so many movies on her shelves I loved that, to this day, she has influenced me to love movies.

We sat together at her table and played games like: Sorry, Parcheesi, Trouble (the loud one), and other games. I always loved the rain stick that she had. When she would tip it upside down, whatever was inside, came down through it and it sounded like rain. She gave me that rain stick and I will always keep it. Nana’s apartment was filled with so many things that I loved. It was a special place for me, just Nana and I, spending time together.

There is something special about my birthday, my mom’s, and Nana’s. Every year all our birthdays land on the same day of the week. We are all about 30 years apart. So every year when my birthday comes around I will remember Nana.

She visited us often at our house in Aloha when I was little. She actually got down on the floor, rolled around, and played with my little sister Hannah and I, just like she was a kid herself. She’s my Nana.

Austin Lehde

Memories of Nana by Brandy Lehde – Granddaughter

I remember spending a lot of time with Nana when I was a little kid. I remember spending the night at her apartment on a number of occasions, and she would let me look at all her neat and pretty things. She had hundreds of movies that she'd always let us borrow. I appreciate all the times she babysat for us and how she was around for all the holidays and important events in our lives. I have many happy memories of Nana. Though she will be missed, I am so glad that she is in a much better place. I know that she's watching over us until we meet again.

Brandy Lehde

Memories of Nana by Gary McDowell – Grandson

My favorite memory of Nana was playing spoons, a card game that we played on the holidays with family. “Spoons!” was yelled out and Nana’s fingernail gave me a mark that I still have to this day. So in part, I will always have something to remember her by.

Memories of Nana by Hannah Lehde - Granddaughter

I remember when Nana would come to visit when I was young. Her and I had a special greeting for each other that was unique to her and I whenever we would see each other. She would always give me a giant hug, accompanied by a warm gooey kiss, almost like a chocolate chip cookie that had just come out of the oven. Then I would say “get my sugar” and she would pick me up and tickle my neck and tummy as if she was gobbling down sweets like the cookie monster.

She taught me how to play dominos and played games in the living room with my brother and I. Some of our favorites were go fish, hot potato, and chicken foot. She has become a huge influence in my life as I have looked back over the years and realized how much I have grown over the years. Without realizing it she has helped me learn and grow into a better person than I was before. I am grateful I was able to spend so much time with her. I am forever grateful for the influence she has had in my life and I can’t wait until I can see her again and greet her with our special greeting. Love you Nana!

Hannah Lehde

Memories of Mom by Derrick Nordin - Son

I remember when mom needed to go shopping, she would invite me to go with her and we sneaked off to Plush Pippin for some pie.

Mom, at one time, owned a 1969 green VW Bug and we used it to go down to the coast to pick up one of my sisters there. When we got to the curves on highway 101 near Tillamook, we were on two wheels half of the time and my fingers were embedded in the dashboard. Mom was a lead foot!

Many years later, I got a Harley and mom would be up before me and dressed in her leathers. When I got up she would say, “Well, are we goin?!” Mom was completely comfortable on the back of my bike. The last time she rode with me she was 73 years old. She loved riding with me and I was proud to take her.

Memories of Mom by Deborah Lutcavich – Daughter

When I was really young (under 10) my brother and younger sister and I were hanging out with mom, she would ask if we wanted her to read a story. We were excited for a story because mom new how to read well, plus we had all of the classic adventure stories like,” Swiss Family Robinson”, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, and “Call of the Wild.” She told us first to get ready for bed then come back here and I will read to you. She read with lots of expression in her voice and she explained some of the parts we might not have understood. She made the stories come alive and I could tell she really liked doing it because she looked up from the book once in a while and smiled. We tried to stay awake for as long as we could because the only time she would stop was when we fell asleep.

Memories of Mom by Dayna Nordin-Daughter

When I was between 5 and 6 years old I was at Village Drug, it was a pharmacy with a soda fountain in the back. It was not too far away from home, and I was there by myself. When I was in the candy aisle I looked both ways and put a 3 Musketeers bar inside my sweater and began to walk out. Suddenly I was face to knees with a 10-foot man who asked me if I had anything for him. I said, “no” in the quivering voice of a child who knows they’ve been caught. Then he asked me if I would like him to call the police or my mom. I said, “my mom.” When he handed me the phone mom told me to come right home in a firm and calm voice. Needless to say I walked very slowly and took the long way home. When I got there I opened the door quietly and mom was standing about 20 feet away. I shut the door and looked back at her, then she asked me gently to come here. I bowed my head and resisted, then she asked me again with her arms open. When I reached her she wrapped one arm around my shoulder and put the other hand on top of my head. She stroked my head a few times then gently pulled my head back so that I could look at her. She had a tear in her eye and said, “I am so disappointed.” (long pause) My heart cracked at the sight of my mom’s tears, then I took myself to my room and emptied all of the anguish that had been built up to this moment. After that I never needed to steal anything again and I never wanted to make my mom cry again, ever.

Testimony Shared from Daughter, De Auna Lehde, at Shirley Nordin’s Memorial Service

I would like to share my testimony that Heavenly Father loves us and He knows what we need. He knew that it was important for me to be there at that moment when Mom passed. She knew that it was important to me. She waited for the perfect moment. Her eyes had been closed and she was unresponsive to us for a few days. About 20 minutes before she passed, her eyes opened. She looked up, then over, and then focused on me in front of her. We told her that we loved her so much and that she was a wonderful mother. We told her that we were with her in her bedroom and that she was not alone. I told her that I kept my promise and I would keep that promise until the end. We held her and she took her last breath at 8:25am on December 4, 2015. I looked over at my sister, Dayna, we looked at each other and waited. There were no more breaths. Time just stood still. Dayna said to me, “De Auna, you are taking this so well.” I responded with a smile, “I feel peace!” That moment when Mom passed, I felt a loving peace through me. I felt her beautiful spirit.

There was a promise made between Mom and I a long time ago and I fulfilled that promise. I promised that I would take care of her in her time of need. We, all of her children, have kept to that promise and served her diligently and with lots of love. Heavenly Father gave us this beautiful departure. Mom is on her journey back to Heavenly Father. Providence Hospice is a wonderful organization. They handled everything beautifully. When something was needed, they were right there, at the right time. Heavenly Father is like that. He is there for you when you need Him. He was there for me and my family. He was there for my mom. He is there for everyone. Jesus loves us and wants us to become like Him.

Mom worked in the Temple and I had the privilege to see her there and she helped me. Family history and Temple work was very important to Mom. I promised her that I would continue with our family history, family names, and Temple work. Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ loves us and wants us all to return home. I am so thankful for the time that I had with Mom. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Arrangements under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Portland, OR.