After the funeral service ended and as the pallbearers carried the casket out of the chapel with the family following, a beautiful trio of women sang, "Going Home."
It was one of the most beautiful parts of Tanner's funeral.
The women had beautiful voices: an angelic soprano, a lark-like 2nd soprano and a mellow alto. They were accompanied by the piano with an oboe and flute descant. It was so beautiful! But more than that, the words to this song were reassuring and tender.
Going home, going home,
I'm just going home.
Quiet-like, slip away-
I'll be going home.
It's not far, just close by;
Jesus is the Door;
Work all done, laid aside,
Fear and grief no more.
Friends are there, waiting now.
He is waiting, too.
See His smile! See His hand!
He will lead me through.
Morning Star lights the way;
Restless dream all done;
Shadows gone, break of day,
Life has just begun.
Every tear wiped away,
Pain and sickness gone;
Wide awake there with Him!
Peace goes on and on!
Going home, going home,
I'll be going home.
See the Light! See the Sun!
I'm just going home.
Download Going Home (simple sheet music)
The most remarkable thoughts shared about Tanner, came from his younger brother, Sam age 15. Let me tell you, that kid loved his big brother more than anything and looked up to him, calling Tanner his role model and hero. We all cried with him. I am certain there was not a dry eye in the congregation of hundreds and hundreds of people as he told of his interactions with his big brother and his great love for him. He talked of how he will miss him and how much he wants to be like him. He talked of seeing him again and of how Christ-like Tanner had become.
There were moments throughout the service that just broke my heart as this family shared their love for this remarkable young man and their pain in his loss.
A beautiful portrait of him stood on an easel at the front of the chapel; it looked like it was to be his senior portrait.
His father and grandfather shared their thoughts. A former Bishop spoke as well as his Stake President. He home taught (a calling in our church where we look in on and take care of the needs of other families within our congregation) the Stake President and his wife. The Stake President told of Tanner coming to visit and helping his wife try to learn how to use her new iPad. Tanner gave her his cell phone number so she could call whenever she had questions. She apparently did call him several times and he was always "happy to help!"
His father shared stories and thoughts of Tanner. He also shared Tanner's own words. Last year in a psychology class, Tanner had an assignment to write a book about himself. He spoke openly about his family, his Savior and his church. He talked about the afterlife and how thankful he belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He said his beliefs were the biggest part of him and that he was happy to know that because of the Savior and His Atonement we all will have to ability to live together forever. He said he was happy to know he would be with his family forever. As his father read Tanner's words, I was struck by his openness about his beliefs with his class and teacher. Isn't it remarkable that his own words and beliefs about life after death were able to be read at his funeral - at age 17? What an amazing young man.
Some words from his obituary:
Tanner Jeffery Arnett, 17, was reunited with his Savior and loved ones on June 20, 2012 after a boating accident on Glendo Reservoir in Wyoming. He was born in Provo, Utah on May 8, 1995 to Jeffery Ronald and Kimberly Barlow Arnett, their oldest son. He is also the much adored big brother to Sam, Adam, Grace, Elijah, and Seth.
Tanner grew up in Fort Collins attending Liberty Common Schools and Fossil Ridge High School. He was a great student and enjoyed participating in soccer and triple jumping in track. Tanner's greatest efforts though were spent in helping others in his family, community, and church. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an Eagle Scout, and looked forward to attending BYU and serving a mission to share his love of Christ with others.
We will miss his constant thoughtfulness, his quiet strength and example, and his wonderfully dry sense of humor. He loved his friends and always enjoyed a good game. He loved his family, his younger brothers and sister and cousins. He had a tender heart for all, but especially for the children, and his sense of playfulness and his care for them will be cherished. His bright smile and penetrating brown eyes are etched forever in our minds, and we are grateful for the blessing of his seventeen years with us and know that he continues to watch over us as the attentive son, protective big brother, and friend he has always been.
Tanner will be missed by his parents and his brothers and sister; his grandparents, Ron and Mary Arnett, and Joel and Mary Lou Barlow; his loving extended family including 27 cousins; and many dear friends whose outpouring of kindness will be forever appreciated.
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