On January 1st, 1957 someone who would be known as a pioneer, a friend, a test audience, a lover of all things Christmas, a saint, a political and civic activist, scout leader, devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and a curious educator was born and named Nona Ruth Farr.

Instantly she was a sister and daughter. Stories from growing up in the copper mining town of Ajo, Arizona were filled with the love, cares, and fears most kids have but what sticks in my mind today is the love she had for her family and siblings, her detestation of bugs, and her desire to be as good as she could be.

From here her titles continued to expand to friend and student. Eventually she would be both of these at a place called BYU, eventually working at a place where some guy would jokingly fly backwards named Kent Clark Nielson.

When they married in the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Salt Lake City Temple on December 19th, 1980 Nona would become Nona Ruth Nielson.

Living in a home with the Provo River in the backyard, Nona became a mom on October 15th, 1981 and begin her casual hobby of what the medical profession calls pregnancy. This led to other hobbies like becoming active as a niche collector. While others might have diversified their collection hobbies collecting pogs, pet rocks, Beanie Babies, Tom Sellek commemorative plates—my mom went for the literal mother load of hobbies by attempting to collect a full alphabet of children.

My mom never graduated college but my earliest memories of what it takes to be a good learner was a few years after my sister 18 months my junior was born. It is at this moment in time I saw my mom bring others into our home, showing her that with hand shapes, expression, and motion she could transcend a barrier and share thoughts and experiences and be a part of the deaf community.

Here is where I see the web of seeds and grafts of so many future titles and roles. Where her love of God and Christ, her desire for her whole family to communicate, and her hope for societal structures led to her to become a pioneer in the LDS deaf community.

When her and my dad moved to Lehi with five kids, that's 'E' for Ephraim, with Frank on the way into a 1904, 700ish square foot house, mom kept growing. Her passion for her kids to communicate and her endless vulnerability led her to homeschool all eventual nine kids. That's 'I' for Isaac for those continuing to track alphabetical numeration.

She pushed simultaneously for individual personalization in experience AND being an activist for social changes within church, community, scouting, politics, and just about anything else she felt needed some attention. But she was also humble enough to yield when she learned something new. Besides kids, my mom and dad weren't known for their worldly excess but my mom took whatever she had to make an impact.

It is here where I need to take a shortcut. For the sake of the children, other speakers, and, well, as this event might remind all of us, we aren't getting any younger.

To my dad, thank you for your love for mom through thick and thin. To my siblings, I am deeply grateful for each of you. Each of you have Mom within you and I see her when I am with you. To my wife and

my sibling's significant others, my mom would never have seen some of her goodness without you. To my kids and the grandkids, your grandma loved you so fiercely and gently. You illuminated her soul with laughter and your love.

My mom moved beyond herself because of you in this room. Her love for you and God, and her curiosity create a transformation. My mom's struggles with mental illness were made smallest they could be because of this. I could say that she fought, and I have, but I think it is more true to say that she loved.

To the genealogist that might come in contact with this talk, I am sorry I won't be making your life easier. To know my mom will mean they need to know all the lives of the people who fill this mortuary chapel—you will have to go to the guestbooks, signup sheets, and city council minutes. You will have to go to the homes of my dad and siblings, and the people who have been caught up in one of my mom's chats. You will have to also know the absolute admiration her grandkids had for her listening ear, her giving hands, and her comforting presence as she watched them create.

You here are her life sketch. While she went places I don't think she ever expected, it wasn't enough but you filled in the gaps where she couldn't go. You answered her calls, her prayers, lifted her spirits, and gave her space to become Nona.