Elmo Miller Cazier (1942-2018)

E. M. was how we knew Elmo Miller. Definitely a quirky guy, he had good intentions and found his own ways to serve those around him. I know that he would often take eggs around to the widows in his neighborhood.

He was admitted into the hospital just a week or so before he passed away. Tyler didn't even have a chance to go up and visit. We heard he was slightly jaundiced and was having some pain. I believe they did some minor surgery and had diagnosed some form of cancer. And then he was gone. Certainly different than Barry's experience.

I didn't know E.M. as well, so here is his obituary: Elmo Miller "E.M." Cazier, 75, of St Anthony, passed away May 22, 2018, at the Madison Carriage Cove Rehabilitation Center in Rexburg.

He was born in St. Anthony on Dec. 18, 1942, to Ambrose Elmo and Rula Miller Cazier.

E.M. did many jobs in his younger days, but he really loved being on the radio (radio name was Marty Miller), and later, he worked at a local TV station as a technician running the controls for broadcasting news and entertainment. E.M. was very much a night person, so working the night shift fit him very well. Even in retirement, he spent most of his days sleeping, and at night, he would go shopping and watch his movies and old TV programs.

E.M. worked at the Roxy Theater in St. Anthony as a projectionist and later at the Romance Theater in Rexburg. He was in some form of the entertainment business for most of his life. He loved talking to people, and every year for as long as I can remember, he would go to the state fair numerous times just to eat fair food and wander around, talking and watching all the people.

E.M. also did videography for friends and family, doing life histories for them, something he really enjoyed. He also had a great fascination with some of the great old movies like "The Wizard of Oz," which he claimed to have watched over 400 times. Everywhere in the house, you could find a copy of old movies that were his favorites. To this day, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of old movies on DVD and VHS tape stored all over the house. Other movies he really liked watching over and over were "The 10 Commandments," "Tora Tora," and "A White Christmas."

He is survived by his brother, Craig (Diane) Cazier, of Shelley; a sister-in-law, Vicki Cazier, serving a mission in Minnesota; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Barry Cazier.

Here is an interesting fact: They don't do funerals and burials over Memorial Day weekend. It is too busy with people visiting. So the funeral, that was going to be scheduled for Saturday, had to be bumped back to Friday. We took all the girls out of school and drove up to ID. On the way, we stopped and grabbed lunch and a die from a machine. We started a game where we would pick something and then roll to see who it applied to. For instance, June said, "Who looks like a frog but no one has told them." (That was me. Thanks.) We played this silly game for a long time. As we were leaving, I saw a machine with adhesive mustaches. I rolled the die and said, "Who has to wear the mustache when I buy it." Guess who won?

The funny thing was that Robyn wasn't there when we rolled, but despite the face she's making, she was more than happy to wear the mustache. You can tell from the numerous selfies she took of herself in the car.

I did not allow her to wear the mustache into the funeral service, although she did ask. :) E.M. looked very peaceful at the viewing and much like himself. He had not been wasted away by a slow illness so at least he was spared that path. Although we came together for a sad reason, it was still nice to see family. Kat and Kolby came, as well as J.R., Rozz, and Jack. 

June and Robyn played a musical number, God Be with You Till We Meet Again, with June on violin and Robyn on piano and there were a couple speakers. It was nice to hear good things about E.M and that he was loved by quite a few people. I liked that during the viewing, they had The Wizard of Oz playing. That was E.M.'s favorite movie.

On the program was a cute poem that I think is very fitting for E.M. It is called Fisherman's Prayer:

I pray that I may live to fish

Until my dying day.

And when it comes to my last cast,

I then most humbly pray:

When in the Lord's great landing net

And peacefully asleep

That in His mercy I be judged

Big enough to keep.

After the service, we went out to the internment. E.M. will rest near his mother and father. 

We had a good time at the luncheon. 

We were also able to go over to E.M.'s house after. It won't be up to us to remove all the stuff in the house, although I did grab a couple family pictures while I was there, but it was only photos of my family. Tyler got a picture of Craig and Diana. Craig is the last brother of the three. I don't feel like all the brothers were terribly close, but it must be hard to lose your siblings either way. 

One of the best parts of coming up to Idaho was meeting LeGrand. Jami and J.R. added this cute little boy into their family and we hadn't seen him yet in person. Everyone took a turn holding this bundle of cuteness when we stopped by. The circle of life continues.

E.M. I mostly think of you around the holidays. My memories of Idaho Thanksgivings have a picture of you. We hope you enjoy your feasts up above.