Elect Lady, Alice Nielsen Raynes Passes Away

I am still in shock that Sister Alice Raynes passed away. I attended her husband's funeral in January. It was just ten months ago. This week I read her obituary in the Deseret News.

She and Joe, her husband were a Celestial couple. They were such an example of the pure love of Christ and personified Christ-like love for others as I observed over the years that we were in their ward. I ponder all the memories of Alice and her willingness to help others, use her musical talent and serve with a smile. The photo of her shown was just exactly as she was in life.

When I heard of her passing, I was quietly happy for her to be able to go be with her Sweetheart again. She had a massive heart attack and passed away a few days later. I cannot imagine how their ten children and posterity will manage without them.

Ron and I attended the funeral for Alice. The service was so touching. A few of the children spoke, unlike at Joe's funeral all of the children spoke at his. All them participated in prayers, or sang at Alice's, but only a few were speakers. Her son, Jonathan gave an incredible farewell to his mother, and one could almost see his father in him as he spoke so tenderly of her. He said she was his "first love." He bore his testimony of Jesus Christ, much like his father did as well.

I know the family must have felt the void without her, but I can just imagine that both of their parents will minister to their children and be a strength to them even still.

I feel it was a privilege to have had Joe Raynes as my home teacher for several years before his was called to be bishop. He worked with my Aaron as his first assistant and I knew he treated him with respect and grew close to my son as his bishop.

Alice was one of the sisters I visited as her visiting teacher. I am the one who gained and was blessed to be in that calling. It never ceased to amaze me of her unconditional love and sweet smile when I would go visit her.

She was a choice daughter of God and elect lady. May God bless her family in her absence. I always learn how to be a better person when I attend funerals.

Here are a few things I observed and gleaned from her funeral.

1) Each of her children secretly knew they were her favorite.
2) She was always happy and smiled.
3) She forgot herself and dedicated her life to serving others.
4) She took a trip to Ireland six weeks before she died with one of her daughters.
5) She had talent for playing the cello, piano and organ.
6) She always made me feel I was important to her each time we visited.
7) She was a devoted wife, mother, and friend.
8) She was the oldest of her eight siblings and was very responsible growing up.
9) She was hit by a car as a teen, but refused to go to the hospital to not leave a sibling she was taking care of at the time.
10) She loved the Lord with all her heart, might,mind, and had unconditional love.
11) She loved to read her scriptures everyday and set an example to her children and to others.
12) She always said her prayers and knelt at the side of her bed.