Lynn Pilkington - 79, wonderful father, grandfather and friend passed away July 11th 2015 from natural causes. A life long resident of Cache Valley. He was a faithful LDS member and talented brick mason. He loved aviation, fishing and being with his family. He married Carol Chugg, parents of Laura (Pilkington) Medrano and Ed Pilkington. Later divorced, then married Rose Maree Griffin who preceded him in death (2001), they had one son Ryan Pilkington. Lynn is survived by his sister Rose Ann Nielsen - Layton, daughter Laura (Pilkington) Medrano, son Ed Pilkington, wife Shellie (Parker), son Ryan Pilkington wife Linda (Hanna), three grandchildren and five great grand children. Family would like to thank the staff of the Sunshine Terrace for their love and compassion. The family will have a short viewing from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Allen Mortuaries Wednesday, July 15th followed by a graveside service at the Smithfield Cemetery.
Memories by Ryan Pilkington;
It is with a heavy heart that I post this, but at the same time I am glad that I have this chance to share some memories of my dad and the last few days I got to spend with him as he passed or graduated to the other side.
I would like to share just some thoughts and a few memories here that will paint a picture of the dad I knew. "Pops" came to be his name as he got older, after my mother died he lost his best friend and things changed dramatically for all of the kids. Prior to the loss of mom, dad was a pretty mellow guy and loved spending time on rides around the Hyrum damn. He also loved going to any airport and just hanging out with his passion of flying. He worked for almost 65 years as a bricklayer and worked very hard to put food on the table. He was amazing at it, and very gifted. I spent a lot of times as a child "on the job" watching him lay brick like a master. I was able to get his talent as an artist, and have been a very talented designer. He was a meek man, but yes he had his weaknesses and problems as we all have, his was strong drink and a hot head. However when I was born he was more involved in the church and his callings. He gave up smoking cold turkey and 99% of the time gave up the drinking. I am so grateful that he changed his life around, which made my growing up years amazing to share fond memories of traveling, fishing and flying. We spend many times at lakes, rivers and streams searching for the "Big" one and I always tagged along at all the air shows he took us on. I learned to love flying and even wanted to be a pilot, but that never came true. I remember all the times he wanted us to go to small air fields around Montana, Wyoming and his life long dream of going to Oshkosh, Wi. to a big fly in, in the mid west. We never made it to those places and the airplanes he built never got off the ground, but in our dreams we were always their in spirit.
"Pops" taught me about hard work, he taught me about treating others with respect. He taught me about listening, as he listened to me and all my life's drama's. Sometimes as it goes there goes a unspoken relationship between a father and son, but I always knew he loved me and did his best with what he had to work with. I got to know my mom more as a best friend as he was out working and when my mother passed away in 2001, I started to do my best to build a relationship with him like my mother. He and I found ourselves talking on the phone for an hour each time about my life and what he was doing. He loved animals, mostly cats and was a gentle man. I am thankful for the time I had to talk over the phone, take him for rides and go swimming in Preston Idaho.
The decline of dad was a slow and silent killer. For many years he had a Tumor in his brain behind his eye, it grew to the size of a softball later told to us by the doctor. The Family decided to remove it and the future would be a guessing game of how his mind would be after his brain surgery. It was very hard to see him change, and decline to a point that he had to be placed into a Alzheimers facility. He had been in the Sunshine Terrace for 1 year as he rapidly decline and did not eat, and in this past couple weeks he had lost 20 lb.
It was a blessing to spend time with my Sister and Brother the last 2 days of his life, sharing memories and being with "pops" in his final hours. I am grateful that he was a kind and gentle and loving father and that I had the chance to let him know he was loved and that he can go home and hug mom for me.
He passed away around 12:04 Saturday July 11th. It was peaceful and reassuring that he is in a better place, safe from pain, safe from the elements that had placed him in. Yes, I will miss him greatly, and I know that some day I will see him and my mom again surrounded in love and family members.
I might post more memories as they come in on this blog.
I might post more memories as they come in on this blog.
I want to thank all those that has been such an amazing blessing to him, from all the family members, friends, and the staff that made sure he was comfortable in his last few hours.
I can imagine that he will be in heaven flying and soaring above the clouds, and fishing the streams of peace and tranquility until we meet again.
Love ya' pops!