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Ivin Laurence Gee 25 May, 2002
Having been born of goodly parents, Ivin Laurence Gee and Alice Virginia Clark met at Brigham Young University. A new branch of the family tree was born on 8 August 1958, in the Salt Lake City Temple. That was almost 44 years ago and from that time our path of life has led us to many parts of the world, provided many growing and stretching experiences, and yielded us a posterity of 8 children and 25 grandchildren.
Laurence graduated from the Brigham Young University and the University of Utah Medical School in 1962, and completed a residency in Pediatrics at the University of Utah. He served in the U.S. Navy, became a Board certified Pediatrician, practiced medicine in Lander, Wyoming, for nearly 30 years, served for 10 years as the Stake President of the Riverton, Wyoming Stake, as well as serve in many capacities in the community and managed to keep us well and fed. Alice’s role has been by his side as supporter, companion and help meet, as well as chief cook and bottle washer for the family.
Our greatest accomplishment as a couple has been the rearing of our 8 children: Ivin Clark, Mary Ellen, Juliana, John Laurence, Rachel Alice, Aaron Merrill, Joseph Marco and Philip Joshua. Each of whom we enjoy and love very much. They each hold a University degree and among them we have returned missionaries, two lawyers, three homemakers, a construction expert, an Egyptologist, a photo journalist, a public relations man, a published writer and two business management experts.
The children have been blessed with musical ability, fluency in a number of languages and a taste for travel and good food. We trust that with the expenditure of so many thousands of dollars toward accomplishing these goals that they are a living memorial to the motto exhibited at the entrance to the Brigham Young University: "Enter to learn, go forth to serve". It is our great desire that they be useful and of service to their families, their God and to their fellowmen. That they will always conduct themselves righteously and strive to make the world a better place wherever they are or whatever the circumstances. We thank them for letting us be their parents and blessing us with good in-laws and 25 beautiful, intelligent grandchildren.
After many years in the environs of the American west and in particular the community of Lander, Wyoming, age came and with it retirement from the work force. It was then that our time to have fun, to serve and to be together all day, every day arrived. It has brought new challenges, unexpected adventures and the opportunity to serve our Heavenly Father full time. In 1997, Laurence was called to return to his beloved Germany and serve as the Europe East Area Physician, covering the countries of the old Communist regime and assuming the responsibility of the health care of the missionaries. Of course, whither Laurence goes, Alice goes. He did the doctoring, Alice the mothering, together the halt, the lame and the blind were doctored and nourished.
After serving in Frankfurt for three years, we returned home where we enjoyed the opportunity of seeing, playing and visiting with family. We visited, welcomed new babies, had a wedding and otherwise worked and played. At the end of 14 months of this nomadic and carefree life the Lord again called and we found ourselves off to serve again in the Europe East Area, where Laurence is again the Physician in charge. During our absence the offices of the Europe East Area had been moved from Frankfurt to Moscow, Russia and so today we find ourselves missing the grand occasion of this day, May 25 and residing in a far away land, learning a new language and experiencing a new culture.
We are very happy that Mother and Dad Gee have lived such long, full and exemplary lives and that they have made it to 70 years of wedded bliss. A grand accomplishment and not one attained by most people. We love them and wish we could enjoy this day with them but alas, exemplary parents teach by example good lessons and we have tried to obey and exemplify the lesson of loving the Lord and being obedient to the call of his authorized servants here upon the earth. We are grateful for the path that they have paved for us to follow.
With much love, Alice and Laurence |