Funeral Tribute

Ashli's Speech

Zaylee Mae Larsen 

For Zaylee's first birthday I did a time capsule and our family and friends wrote a letter for her when she was supposed to turn 18. And I wanted to read mine.

"Baby girl, bae bae, you will always be my baby girl. Zaylee Mae, what a blessing these last 365 days have been. The way you smile lights up the room. The way you wrinkle your nose and wiggle your toes, you may be sensitive but girl you know how to work it. You have all of us wrapped around your little finger. I've cried more times than I want to admit, just in this little time we've shared together. I cherish these little moments. I can't imagine what you're gonna be like when you're 18. I will tell you this much, I will be crying even more, it's fine. I'm not crying writing this/reading this, you are. The bond that you and I have is so very special to me. You are a big momma's girl and I love it. I love every minute of it. I hope you will always stay this way. I might be the person that kisses your boos boos and dances silly with you in the kitchen, or snuggle you when you're tired, but in the end it's you that helped my momma heart. Thank you for choosing me to be your mom. I'm not perfect and you can ask your dad. I will yell, I will lose my temper. But one things for sure, I love hard and I love my children."

My sweet Zaylee Mae. I don’t know how to start this. But for my sweet sweet baby girl. I will do anything for you. 

I never imagined I would be standing here trying to find words big enough for a little girl who carried so much life in her tiny body. She was only 17 months, but somehow she filled our entire world. And now, without her, everything feels quieter… and heavier… and different.

From the moment she came into my life, she was A big mama’s girl through and through. If I was in the room, she was on my hip, on my lap, or tugging on my leg, making sure I didn’t forget even for a second that she was mine. I loved every bit of being her safe place.

Zaylee had a personality that didn’t match her size. She was spunky, sassy, and full of this fiery little energy that made people smile without even trying.  

Her older siblings held a special place in her heart. You could see it in the way she watched them, followed them, and lit up when they came into the room. She even learned how to say all their names. 

She was also our little daredevil. Fearless. Always climbing, jumping, reaching for something she shouldn’t. Getting into cupboards that she knew she wasn’t allowed. My sweet friend Ashley Gregory is on speed dial on the behalf of this fearless baby girl. Half the time she was giving me gray hair and a heart attack.

It still doesn’t feel real that she’s gone. A baby this full of life isn’t supposed to leave this soon. I don’t have answers. I don’t have peace yet. What I do have is love a love that didn’t end, and a love that never will.

Even though Zaylee’s time here was heartbreakingly short, she filled it with more joy, more laughter, and more life than some people do in decades. She taught us to slow down. To pay attention. To treasure the silly moments, the small moments, the everyday routines that mattered more than we ever realized.

She taught us how big love can be even when it comes in the tiniest little body.

Zaylee Mae, thank you for your sass, your sweetness, your light. Thank you for the way you looked at us like we were your whole world. Thank you for the joy you brought to your siblings, the pride in Daddy’s face when you would say his name and the way you made my Mama’s heart feel full every single day. 

I would give anything to hold her again. To hear that laugh. To feel her little hand grabbing onto mine. She will always be in my heart. And I will carry her with me for the rest of my life.

Thank you to everyone who loved her, who loved us, and who is here today. It means more than I can say.

My sweet baby girl…

Mama loves you always and forever. With that I say in the name of Jesus Christ.. amen.

Preston's Speech

No father ever plans on speaking at his daughter’s funeral, but today we gather with hearts that are broken. Carrying a grief that feels far too heavy for any parent, family member, or friend to hold. We are all here now to honor Zaylee Mae Larsen, a little girl whose time on earth was far too short, but whose impact on our lives will last generations.

Nothing in life prepares you for losing a child. I am not going to beat around the bush, losing our daughter has shattered our hearts. It came out of left field, we were blindsided. There is a silence in our home where there was once sound. The absence is everywhere, the places she played, the routines we shared, the no need for formula, car seats, or blankets. We are not only grieving the child she was… We are grieving all the years we dreamed for her. 

Her baptism.

Her birthdays

Her friendships

Her first day of kindergarten

Her graduation

Her wedding

Her life milestones

Her future.

Her first kiss

Her mission call

Her boy troubles

I have learned over these past few weeks that grief is love with nowhere else to go. And today, we will allow that love to speak.

In her short time on this earth our daughter gave us something profound—love so pure, joy so radiant, and moments so precious that they have changed us forever. Moments watching her run so balanced and coordinated you expected her to fall at any given moment. Moments when I’d come home from work, she would scream my name, latch onto my leg, wrinkle her nose and give me the biggest smile. Moments feeding her, rocking her to bed, wrestling tickle fights, playing on the bed, going on walks. Moments—snuggling, changing diapers and picking up the endless toys that were left out; these moments and many others I will hold onto and cherish my entire life.

Our baby girl taught me a lot of things while she was with us. Love, compassion, and patience; but in the short time she has been gone she has taught me even more. She has taught me to slow down, correct and adjust my priorities, notice the tender mercies, and appreciate the simple gifts of being alive. She taught me joy when I saw her take her first steps. She taught me tranquility and fortitude when she would smack Kannon in the face then go running off. She taught me love when I would feed her a bottle, she would stare back at me with those blue eyes and long eyelashes and reach out to touch my cheek. And now she teaches us love in its hardest form: the love that endures even when someone is no longer physically with us.

Her presence changed the atmosphere of the room. She brought softness to the hardest days and light to the darkest moments. But most importantly, she reminded us that love isn’t measured in years or milestones—it’s measured in connection, and relationships.

Zaylee’s legacy is the love that she created in our family. Her legacy will live on through us. It’s not about the number of days she lived — it’s about the number of lives she touched, and judging on the size of this room I’d say she will never be forgotten. I believe she has changed us in ways we are still discovering.

Brothers and Sisters I feel comfort in knowing that it is not an uncontrolled world that we live in. It is not a situation where the world is falling apart, but rather it is truly a time when the Lord is allowing his elect to be gathered together. God is always in control and in the small and simple details of our lives.

I testify that from an early perspective physical death may seem like an end, but really it’s a beginning. A step forward in Heavenly Father’s plan. I feel that it is extremely important to remember that we are spiritual beings here on earth having a physical experience.

The scriptures give us peace, reassurance, and clarity about where we were before this life, why we are here now and where we are going after we die.

Concerning Zaylee specifically, one scripture that was sent to me by my sister Kiera has given me much needed peace and comfort, and it reads. Alma 40:23 “Even a hair of the head shall not be lost.”

Before I close my brothers and sisters, I have to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you. The amount of time, effort, energy, love and support you have all rendered me and my family does not go unnoticed and will not be forgotten. The

    •    texts

    •    calls

    •    voicemails

    •    emails

    •    letters

    •    flowers

    •    food

    •    donations

    •    prayers

    •    hugs

    •    kisses

    •    pictures

    •    stuffed animals

    •    blankets

    •    Cards

    •    to only name a few

We could not get through this without you. From the bottom of our hearts thank you for serving us and lifting us up when we could no longer stand on our own.

Brothers and sisters i testify to you that our lord, our god has a plan for us, A plan of Salvation, A perfect plan of happiness with no Flaws and no mistakes. A Plan that if We Learn and follow will Lead us back to our Father in Heaven and our Loved ones that have passed before us. I will Strive to Live the Life god Would see fit for me and Lead my family to be Worthy to See our Zaylee mae again. I Love You Baby girl. I Say these things in the Name of Jesus Christ Amen