When Death is Precious

Song - In the Garden

Reading of the Obituary

Evelyn M (Murray) Dean passed away peacefully on June 17, 2022. Evelyn was born to Leslie and Gladys “Sally” Murray July 16, 1932 in San Bonito Texas. Evelyn graduated Lawrence High School in Lawrence Kansas in 1951, traveled around the country for a bit before settling in Socorro, New Mexico when she took a job with Mountain States Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator. While working there she met GC Dean and after a short courtship were married on September 24, 1955 at the home of Robert and Bunny Dean. They lived in Albuquerque for a short time before returning to Socorro where they have remained, living on the family farm. She was an active quilter most of her life winning awards but mostly making quilts as gifts for friends and family. We have it on good authority that many people are kept warm during the cold desert nights under one of her quilts.

She is survived by GC Dean, her husband of 67 years, of Socorro, Joel Dean and his wife Deborah of Socorro, Joanne Kucinskas and husband Logan of Tennessee, Nancy Landlee and husband Nick of Alaska, Ellen Rule and husband Jerrald of Albuquerque. 7 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren, Sister Judy Crissler of Socorro and brother Gailen Murray of Baldwin City, Kansas. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents Leslie and Sally Murray, brother Myron Murray, sister Sue Shreves.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the staff of Good Samaritan Nursing Facility and the staff of Socorro General Hospital for the care given Evelyn during her time there.

Reading of the Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:9–13 (ESV)

Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Song - The Old Rugged Cross

Introduction

During this time of mourning, I’d like to share a few Scriptures as we turn our thoughts to God.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

—Psalm 46:1-2, 10

In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. (ESV)

—Psalm 31:1-5

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. (ESV)

—Psalm 116:15

Opening Prayer

Father, we come to you in sorrow and grief for the loss of this loved one. Surely the most difficult experience is to see a loved one slip away. But Father, as you have given life to Evelyn for all eternity, life which makes her passing bearable, we are confident that you will bring encouragement and life to all those living whose hope is in you. O God, we pray that your Spirit and the power of your Son may be present and felt for all today. Hear us, we pray.

In Christ, amen.

Message

I’d like for us to direct our thinking with the notion that “Death is precious,” as the Scripture said. God does not see things as we do. We can only see things as they are right now.

Our hearts are missing our loved one and long to see her again. However, God sees things from an eternal perspective.

From the human standpoint, death is hardly thought of as a precious thing. We see it as an enemy. But God knows that death can be very precious. In what ways is death precious?

I. It is precious because it calls attention to the life she lived.

Much of our world thrives upon the fast-paced; we often overlook the simple, blameless life of happiness in Christ, as Evelyn Dean surely lived.

Jesus came not just to give eternal life but an abundant life here and now (John 10:10). I know Evelyn enjoyed much of her life. Her passing from this life to eternity can be precious, for it causes us all to reflect joy.

During my time in sitting with GC and getting to talk with him about Evelyn, there is definitely a sense of joy when he was sharing with me the life he and Evelyn shared together. He shared with me how they met and were introduced to each other and how very quickly they realized that God was working to bring them together.

GC has a photo book of Evelyn that he would keep close by whenever she was afflicted by her sundowner’s syndrome, where she would forget where she was and become agitated. That book of memories of her life would help her to regain her sense of stability and served as a way for them to remember all the blessings God had poured out on them throughout their life.

GC showed this book to both my wife and I during our visits with him. The book shows the day they were married, the home they built together, and their beloved children. It was with both joy and tears that GC was able to recall the memories of her loving faithfulness to him, to their children, and to their church family. She loved her Savior and her church which they have been a part of for so long.

Even in this time of sorrow, joy can be found as reflect upon the life of someone who lived her life for the honor and glory of the Lord.

II. It is precious because it is a release from hardship, pain, and suffering.

There is much in this life to mar our happiness—toil, disease, heartache, suffering. But death is a release from all of this—physical pain, disease, sorrow, disappointment.

Revelation 21:4 (ESV)

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Evelyn has experienced much of the hardships that come to all of us who live in this world as it currently exists.

I did not get to know her very long, but what I did get to see and know was the she was a very sweet and loving woman, but she was someone who also suffered from the Alzheimer’s Disease. GC was a wonderful husband who cared for Evelyn as she suffered from this terrible disease.

Death is precious because it brought an end to the pain and heartache she has experienced. When the Lord brought her home, He completely healed her of all her suffering and sicknesses. She is in a place where those things cannot touch her anymore and our prayers for her healing have very much been answered because of her faith in her Savior Jesus Christ.

III. Death is precious because, for the Christian, it is an entrance into the presence of Christ.

For the Christian, death is merely a transition from earth to glory. In Christ we have triumphant hope. He has brought life and immortality to light. There is a wonderful inheritance beyond this life for his followers. And Christians can look forward to the glory, which is yet to be revealed to us.

Evelyn is now experiencing life in the presence of her Lord and Savior. While we grieve because we miss her presence here, we rejoice because she is exactly where she wants to be. Our sorrow is not one that wishes her back here, but a sorrow that causes us to long to be where she is at. We begin to realize that we are homesick ourselves to be at home with the Lord and in His presence for eternity.

This leads us to a question that we can only answer individually:

What about my life? It is appointed unto men once to die. Will your life and passing be precious? Your passing will be precious if your life belongs to Christ as Evelyn exemplified.

And through her passing into eternity, we now come to commit her body.

Read Psalm 23

Psalm 23 (ESV)

A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

Closing Prayer

Song - Amazing Grace