From Muriel

On September 6th, 2021, Wayne and I left Ft. McPherson with my sister, Mayvis. Wayne had worked tirelessly renovating our daughter Lynn’s house for five months to the day. I had joined him on July 26th after isolating in Inuvik with my granddaughter Esther for 10 days.

Wayne said there is nothing pressing at home—we are going to take our time and enjoy our trip home. We spent two days on the Dempster highway with beautiful weather and breathtaking scenery. We spent two days touring in Dawson city. Wayne’s favorite was a guided tour of the Klondike goldfield dredge. We spent several days in Whitehorse with our very good friends Dave and Koralee Johnson, where we made plans to meet my granddaughter Anna, Maph, and our newest great-granddaughter at Liard Hot Springs in BC. 

Wayne and I stayed at the Liard Hot Springs Lodge. I had worked very hard painting etc. in McPherson. As we lay in bed at the lodge the first night I said to Wayne, “every part of my body hurts. I don't think my hands will ever be normal again”. The next afternoon we spent in our room at the lodge. Wayne rested, worked on his computer, and then came and sat beside me on the bed. He took me in his arms and kissed me. I said, “honey that was such a healing kiss”. A wave of healing flowed through my body from the top of my head and out of my feet and I was left with an indescribable Peace. 

We spent the next afternoon in the room at the Lodge. We video chatted with our son Kemp in New York. Wayne took the iPad and showed Kemp the colors of the trees outside our window. We went to the campsite and joined our gang for supper. After our meal, I went to the Hot Spring with the rest of our gang, and Wayne went to the lodge to get some gifts for our friends from Germany. I spent the evening with Jacqueline, the lodge-keeper who I had made friends with, at the other end of the Hot Springs. When I returned to the lodge, I found him on his knees with his head on the bed. Right away I knew something was terribly wrong. Jacqueline and I tried to revive him. In fact, I tried desperately after we laid him on the floor. I was on top of him and I kissed him repeatedly and screamed, “You can’t leave me, Wayne! Please breath, Wayne, breath!”. After about ten times I gave up and laid beside him until the lodge-keeper said, “Muriel, it’s time to leave him, I’ve made you some tea”. I looked at Wayne for a few seconds. He had the most peaceful look on his face and his eyes were closed. I later looked this up and eye closure at death indicates peacefulness, restfulness, and a comfortable closure of life.

I could not have had a better group of people with me, The Johnsons, my granddaughter Anna and her husband, Maph, Maph’s parents visiting from Germany, and Jacqueline, an employee at Liard Hot Springs who stayed with me, and made me cups and cups of tea. I will forever be grateful for their love and kindness in my time of greatest need.

There are two scriptures that Wayne quoted often:

“All the days ordained for me were written in the book before one of them came to be.” (Psalms 139). Wayne didn’t die one second too early or too late—God took him according to the time he had ordained.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27) Our ministry, among other things, was to widows and orphans. He has left me with five but has joined many in heaven. 

Wayne gave so much to his children. Before going to Fort McPherson to renovate our daughter Lynn’s home, Wayne worked for four years building a state-of-the-art workshop on Todd’s property. He finished before he left hoping to come home and enjoy it for several years. Todd and his family have inherited this beautiful building and they will enjoy it for years to come.

A few days before Wayne’s burial my friend from Mombasa, Kenya, and my friend from Aruba both sent me the same song, “I know a man who can.” His name is Jesus, and Wayne knew Jesus. Bryn’s wife Stacy sang this song at Wayne’s burial.

Wayne was a man of many talents and a jack of all trades. He blessed many many people. His philosophy was, “if something is worth doing it is worth doing right”, and “if you can think of a better way than mine, do it your way”. I said to Wayne the night before he passed, “Wayne, I love you so very, very much”. Instead of saying that’s nice, he said, “Muriel, I know you do”.

Four days after Wayne’s passing, I was in the bathroom on the airplane on my way home. I didn’t see Angel’s or lightning bolts, I just call it a KNOWING. When Wayne took his last breath, God the Father reached down from heaven, drew Wayne to his bosom, and said, “well done my good and faithful servant, well done, well done, well done”.

Thank you so very much to all who have come alongside me the seven weeks since Wayne’s passing. I am forever grateful for my family and friends. My neighbours have been awesome, Over and over I have heard stories of the blessing Wayne has been to them in word and deed. It means so much to me to hear these stories. I’ve been told that our foursome friendships won’t last. I know this won’t happen with our very good friends, The Halls, the Norgrens, the Bilusacks, the Johnsons, and many more. Thank you for your unconditional love for me.

It’s hard to imagine the future without Wayne. He was supportive of my business, Crafts By Muriel which I plan to continue unless the Lord chooses a different path.

Whatever comes, it is my prayer that I will bring Healing and Peace to others, as Wayne did for me.