Saying Goodbye To One of Our Former Missionaries

On March 9, Jerrad Pierpont passed away due to complications of old age and diabetes.  He was in our zone until last summer.  He and his wife, Sister Carol Pierpont, lived in the Eagle Gate Apartments near us and we were able to share some meals at a variety of local restaurants as well as joining them to watch the 24th of July parade on their balcony.  When we first met them over the phone (due to Covid), he told us that he was willing to do anything at the Church History Library including taking out the trash and cleaning the bathrooms.  As we grew to know them better, we learned that he was serious.  All he wanted to do was serve the Lord in any way he could.

He was "famous" for carrying tootsie rolls in his pockets and handing them out to people throughout the day.  Before the library closed in 2020 for Covid, he sat at a reception desk and welcomed people to the floor and if you were lucky, you would get a tootsie roll with a big smile.  He loved everyone.  He was a convert to the Church and loved to tell his story of change and testimony.  He and his wife served several missions until finally moving to Salt Lake City from New York 2 12 years ago to continue to serve in the Church History Library.

The tootsie rolls were passed out at his memorial service on Friday.  Tootsie rolls were so connected to Elder Pierpont that the person giving the closing prayer mentioned them in the prayer---words to the effect "We know paradise is a little bright with Jerrad there and hopefully he can be passing out spiritual tootsie rolls...."  Elder Pierpont would have LOVED that!

I am so glad that we got to know them even though it was hard for us as zone leaders to be a part of their release due to health and other difficulties.  That was a very hard thing for them and not what they wanted.  Getting old is not easy.  I hope that my desire to serve remains as strong as his when I am 83.

Til we meet again, Elder Pierpont!

Side note:  Sister Pierpont is an amazing pianist and she played for the memorial service--the opening and closing hymns and for two musical numbers.  She is experiences early dementia yet she still retains her amazing skills at the piano and wanted to honor her beloved husband in this way.

I leaned over and told Gary that I wouldn't be able to do that for him (implying I couldn't be that composed) but he ruined the mood by pointing out that I didn't play the piano now.  True.