Sunday afternoon a friend of mine stopped having to fight cancer. Her husband’s blog entry the next day was titled “Julie Stout is Free.” And her obituary gives a touching summary of just some of the lives she touched.
Some of my strongest memories of Julie are when I was serving as the Relief Society president in our ward. It was common knowledge that I didn’t know much about cooking beyond the basics. And the bishop liked to tease me about that from time to time. I can’t remember what we were talking about in this particular meeting, but the bishop turned to me and asked me what I would do if someone in the ward needed help cooking beans. Without thinking I told him I’d send them to Julie. She knew all of that stuff and I knew she would willingly serve and help wherever she could because she always had in the past.
She loved her family. She loved the gospel. And she loved her Savior.
She was a friend and an example to me.
I have no doubt that she is now free from the trials of this earth and is enjoying the rest of the righteous.