September 11th, 2016

Another Noah and another 40 days

I started this site during vacation to share one writer's journey and my plans for a second book and my first novel. But vacation ended with my daughter asking me to write the hardest and most honorable assignment -- the eulogy for her 40-day-old son and the grandson of my wife and me.

Eulogy for Noah Joseph Brown
July 21-Aug. 31, 2016
By Roger Snell
Frankfort, Kentucky Ward
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016

We are here to celebrate the earthly life of Noah Joseph Brown who fulfilled his mortal mission to obtain a body. This life is one of testing and probation to see if we will be obedient to the will of Heavenly Father and of his son Jesus Christ.
Some, like Noah, are so valiant that they are called back home immediately. This innocent age assures entry into the highest level of Heaven, the presence of Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ.

We also believe that the departure of any such child is because they were so mighty, noble and significant that Heavenly Father needed them back home, and His plan was for the child not to endure temptations, trials or sometimes lengthy afflictions that test the natural and mortal man.

Noah is the beloved and eternal son of Rachel and Joshua Brown, and his sister, Isabel, sealed together in the temple for time and all eternity.

He is survived by paternal grandparents Morris and Naomi Brown and maternal grandparents Linda Snell (my wife) and me. He is survived by aunts and uncles Hannah Snell, Jason Brown, Mindy Jones, Nathon Brown, and Vanessa Webb.
He is survived by maternal great-grandparents Rosella and Donald Snell who are here today and by great aunts and uncles Donna Gaier, Craig Starner and Pam Segelhorst, and so many other family members.

Within hours of Noah’s return home, his great-grandfather Russell Brown — father of Morris, grandfather of Joshua — also passed on the same day.

Family members have said that Great-Grandpa Brown may have needed Noah’s escort as much as Noah needed him as they passed through the same gate.

Everything about this mortal life is about living in a way that we are worthy to come home to the presence of our Heavenly Father and the Savior.

“Coming Home” by Skylar Grey is the music video Rachel and Joshua have chosen to share at the end of this service.
“Tell the world I’m coming home, I’m coming home. Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday. I know my kingdom awaits. Tell the world I’m coming home.”

I want to start with the happy moments of Rachel and Josh’s excitement of having a brother for Isabel.
They had so many plans for him. They had just moved into their first home, a country home with a wraparound porch, with a road following the Salt River in Anderson County, a place where Izzy and Noah were going to fish, and float, and hike and play.

They made an earthly home for Noah.
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My grandson was also going to be the first-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds or the Chicago Cubs — whichever team was better 18 years from now.

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