Heart Wrenching Entry

This is in memory of a very choice little boy, read comment at the end.

COOPER KOFFORD
Cooper Hamblin Kofford (a.k.a. "Coop") Cooper was born October 4, 2004 and returned to heavenly surroundings on July 31, 2009. Quinn Macdonald Kofford and Jana Lynn Worsley Kofford (Orem, Utah. Married 23 years) are blessed to have been Cooper's earthly dad and mom. Cooper is the fifth of six children. He is one of four boys and two girls. Cooper loved his sisters and brothers. He loved climbing into bed and snuggling with his sister, Hunter (13), and loved "playing house" with Kennedy (9). His oldest brother, Carson (12) taught Cooper about baseball. Duncan (7) loved playing legos and swimming with Coop. Lincoln (2) was Coops wrestling mate, car seat buddy, and "partner-in-crime." As his earthly family we are amazed at the depth of our love and respect for Cooper and his impact on our family. We will miss him very much. We have been and will continue to be enveloped by overwhelming feelings of love and gratitude. We are at peace including an absolute blameless recollection of the circumstances surrounding Cooper's last day on this earth. As a family, we have felt the love and support of our extended families, neighbors, friends and the community-at-large; and express our thanks. We have been blessed with clarity of mind and peace of heart and soul which stems from our faith in and knowledge of our Heavenly Father's plan for all mankind, and of Cooper's progression in that plan . . . and its eternal significance for our little family. We are certainly biased toward our son and brother and cannot say enough positive about him or his influence on everyone who knew him or came in contact with him. He was always on the go. At home, he was most comfortable outside . . . usually barefoot and in shorts (or a swimsuit) sometimes even in the winter. He had soft, sun-bleached-blond hair that framed his perfect face and little body and accentuated his amazing deep blue eyes. His two huge dimples (one in each cheek), tan complexion, perfect annunciation of every word and syllable, and his sweet voice (combined with his unique twang) are part of what made him Cooper. He loved to giggle and to make others giggle with him. He loved swimming, riding his bike (training wheels triumphantly removed in May), going to Navajo Lake and Kanab, Utah, and eating otter pops like they were going out of style. He loved taking his brothers for self-made adventures into "Randy's field" or to Betty Jo's "bumpy road." He loved chewing gum which usually only further accentuated his perfect little teeth, ear to ear smile and deep Hamblin dimples. He loved to snow ski, going "faster" in the water tube at Lake Powell, and sleeping wherever and whenever he chose. He loved all of his friends, cousins, aunts and uncles and would interact and immediately engage anyone. He also loved both sets of grandparents (Cree-L and Ila Jean Kofford of Bountiful, Utah, and Steven and Cheryl Worsley of Provo, Utah) and the horses, kisses, Christmas treats and unconditional love they showered on him. We will miss such things as hearing him yell-back "I Love You" as he ran off to play. We will also miss kissing his soft puckered lips, his refusal to eat anything healthy, and his causing havoc in church. We will miss holding his hands (even though the rest of him wouldn't hold still), riding bikes to go get snow cone treats, and just playing and laughing together. If you knew Cooper, you experienced a bit of heaven on earth. As parents and as his family, we are grateful to have been blessed with Cooper. Because of our convictions toward Jesus Christ, we absolutely know with no doubt whatsoever--that we will be reunited with him someday.


A member in our ward works for a picture gallery in Orem and told us this additional story. A few sisters came in to buy some framed pictures by Liz Lemon Swindle for two other sisters who just lost Cooper. He said there was a tragic, accidental run-over of this little angel. They chose what they decided upon. When they went to pay for it they were told there would be no charge, but their gift from the owner. That is the most Christ-like thing anyone could have done for this grieving family.

I was familiar with the accident account that had been in the paper just days before. Then, his obituary was written by someone else who loved this little boy very much and had a beautiful way of telling his sweet life story. The tribute to this little guy is a reminder to me of just how precious life really is. Live, and Love for today, for we don't know how many tomorrows will be ours to embrace our loved ones in the moment. Cherish life.

Love, Grandma Mattie aka Anna