Alexis Marie DeWitt

Alexis Marie DeWitt

1997-2015

Our baby girl was a gift to her parents, Haley and Randy, who showed up right on time on December 19, 1997. It was the last time she was ever on time for something! I nicknamed her “Angel” because that’s exactly what she was to me, perfect, pink, and goofy from the start. She didn’t love sleeping as much then as she did later in life, so her dad would hold her on his chest in the recliner all night long. She always was and always will be his “baby girl”. From the time God gave her to us, she had love poured into her world, and she never seemed to hold back pouring it right back out. The Lord loved her and trusted her to a long line of people who wanted that girl to have blessings and a deep relationship with Jesus Christ above everything else. She was deeply loved by her Grammy and Poppy, Granny Goose and grandpa Jim, Nana and Papa Jack, grandparents DeWitt, Warren, Brock, Ringdahl, grandma Linda, her Papa Pete, Uncle Mac (creator of the “Lexi Loober” nickname),  Gary, Melody, Billy and Wendie, Naunie, and a long line of doting aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who doted on “LexiLoo” her entire life.

Lexi began her relationship with Jesus when she was a little girl, going to church with her dad to hear Pastor Cliff, but didn’t really know then how important she really was to Him and how many more gifts He had for her, and how many He would have her deliver. God gave her to two young parents who immersed themselves in making her smile and giving her all she needed. We both did our very best for her and tried to teach her how to love others the way we love her. We were not all God had for her… When she was 5 years old, the Lord gifted her with the person she loved more than almost anyone on earth, her sister, Faith. For the rest of her life, Lexi would fight with, torment, cuddle, dress up, adore, and encourage her “baby girl” sister. Lexi’s biggest desire for Faith was to love the Lord and know that Lexi was and always will be her biggest fan.

Next up in Lexi’s life was the addition of another father. This was a big adjustment for all of us, but one that would deeply impact her life in a huge way. Kelly spent his time with her teaching her to kayak, letting her paint his nails, encouraging her, loving her, protecting her, and trying to teach that stubborn girl how to throw. More importantly, he helped me teach her that no matter what happens in life, Jesus Christ is the only one who matters. Through this relationship and the awesome adventures we all had, Lexi learned that Jesus Christ is alive, He is real, and He is faithful. She also came to meet the Holy Spirit and let Him work in her life as well. Three fathers blessed to one child – our Father in Heaven, Randy DeWitt, and Kelly Halleman.

There were more blessings to come, more people to love. When Kristy came into her life to marry her dad, Lexi gained another mom and suddenly became the big sister to a whole new crew. As with anything new, everybody took a little time getting adjusted, but Lexi knew right away that these were her brothers and her new sister, HERS. Through a little sibling strife and learning about each other, Lexi developed a deep love for all three of “the kids” and knew God had placed a responsibility on her to lead them on their own paths toward Christ. She did not take this lightly, and though she sometimes came up short (as we all do!), her heart was always for them to know that Jesus died for them and that the Holy Ghost is real, a counselor and guide to always look to.

Let me tell you a little more about my baby girl. First of all, it is impossible to fit a huge personality and vibrant life of such a girl into a page or two, but I’ll share a little.…when she was little, she loved to laugh, loved riding horses (they never went fast enough for her!), painting, silly songs, playing with Poppy’s “musblash”, fishing with her dad, making up plays with Faith to entertain him, and making messes. Oh, and sugar. That love started early. She wanted me to cuddle with her, lay with her, sing her lullabies and tuck her in every night. She would tell me “mom even when I grow up and get married, you have to come tuck me in.” (She changed her mind in high school, however!) She knew Jesus loved her and she wanted to know him; every week she looked forward to sitting with her dad and her sister, hearing what Pastor Cliff had to say about Jesus.

As a “big kid”, she was an energetic, chatty, goofy girl whose first words to me when I woke her up were usually “mom, I had this dream…”. God gave her the most amazing dreams, with such vibrant detail, guiding her through the trials of life and into her calling as a leader and a friend. Everyone who knew her knew that her stories and dreams were all about detail, there was NEVER too much detail! She made her friends catch snakes with her, bring her candy, and dare them to be as crazy as she was. Her favorite trip she ever took was with her dad to Mexico to honor the Lord and win souls for Christ. Then there was Grammy’s house, the best place she ever found to bake “concoctions” and take a bath towering with bubbles and soak for hours. Most of all, she wanted everyone around her to smile and laugh. “Mom, you’re TOO serious…let’s paint our nails.”

When she started to look and speak like the beautiful young woman she ultimately became, she never abandoned her childlike love of playing…from simple games to her unbelievable talent on the guitar, she was gifted. Her love for God deepened, and though she struggled at times to stay the course, she trusted Him, loved Him, and tried to share His love with all she knew. She was the girl who wanted to be everything to her little sisters, teach them how to do their hair and makeup and that how no matter who hurt them, that Jesus would always love them. She loved riding horses with Grammy and John, laughing herself to tears with Karastyn, wrestling with and teasing all her crazy brothers, Tyler, Trevor, Jaeden and Brandon, playing basketball with John, giving sass to Coach Jeff, ACTUALLY practicing guitar for Bill’s lessons, and there isn’t enough space on this page to list the friends she loved to laugh with, you know who you are. She dreamed of going back with us to Hawaii, going fishing with her dad again, going to Mexico on a mission for Christ with her family, getting married, being a wife and mommy, teaching math, and most importantly, sharing the love and gospel of Jesus Christ with every one she met. Lately the Holy Spirit had even begun stirring her up to consider becoming a missionary. God loves that girl, our “big hitter”.

Lexi is preceded in death by her Nana Ruth McDonald, her Poppy Randy McDonald, and her favorite pastor, Cliff Williams, who all gave their lives to Jesus and hold Lexi now in heaven. She is survived by her mom and dad, Haley and Kelly Halleman, her dad and mom Randy and Kristy DeWitt, her sisters, Faith and Katie, brothers Trevor, Tyler, Brandon and Jaeden, her Grammy Kathy McDonald and John Nebeker, “Uncle Mac” Matthew McDonald, cousins Karastyn, Teyah, and Sayler, Papa Jack McDonald, Grandpa and Granny Goss, Linda Brock, Gene and Linda DeWitt, Gary Halleman and Melody RIngdahl. Also her uncle Billie Scroggins and Aunt Wendie, Bryson, Nate, Irene, and Chase, Matt, Jacque, Mackenzie and Emery Halleman, Grandpa and Grandma Warren, her uncles Mitch Snyder and Adam Brock, Hannah Ballard, cousins Naunie and Kieran, Nampa and Parma Fire Departments, and a long line of others who love her that couldn’t begin to fit on this page. Special thanks to all her best friends, Robert, Emma, Scott, Regan, Kylee, Hanna, Mady, Koda, Ashley, Sophie, Heidi, Harlie, and every sweet child who embraced our little girl while she walked among us, there aren’t words….

Lexi’s Bible had so many verses underlined, and more markers than I could count…I could share them all with you but the truth is that the Lord already has. Let this be a victory for the Lord Jesus Christ, fall on your knees at the foot of the cross…Lexi was all about challenges, so here’s yours. Speak to Jesus, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the love of the Lord to you, and I challenge you to find your own verses…

Lastly, to our sweet and sassy punkin, sweet pea, monkey, Loober, Maynard, Hollywood, Lu, baby girl…. I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be. We all love you from the earth to the moon around the stars and back to my heart, kiddo…We’ll see you again someday, shining as GOLD with Jesus in Heaven. I know you’ll make him laugh…

Isaiah 55:9 – “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts….”

1 Chronicles 16:34-35 – “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever….”