As you can imagine I didn’t sleep I kept thinking about my brother his girls his wife and could not fathom the thought of him being gone. As I continued thinking about it, I found that I really hoped and prayed that Brad was gone. If he was alive, he would have been in serious trouble.... He would have been frozen, he would have no food, no communication, nothing. I didn’t want him up there suffering freezing struggling to survive and all of that .
A friend from growing up in Washington- Travis Seegmiller messaged me early Friday morning.
Shannon, I just heard about Brad being lost in the avalanche. Is there any new news? Did they find him yet? I’m wondering if you would think it’s ok for me to post to my Facebook page to call-on all of District 62 —- the 43,000 people that I represent —- to pray for Brad’s safe return home. Is that ok? Or is this too personal?
I asked him to let me make sure it was ok with Jana and when she gave her ok he sent out.
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!!!!
My good friend from Washington City since childhood, Brad Stapley, age 41, is missing after an avalanche while he was snow mobiling. You probably already saw this in the news (link below). Brad is a prominent local business leader, father and philanthropist—the owner of Stapley’s Pharmacies, including his DinoCrossing Pharmacy that I love, right in the heart of our Legislative District 62.
MY SPECIFIC PLEA IS FOR EVERYONE TO PRAY WITH ALL THE ENERGY OF YOUR HEART FOR BRAD’S SAFE RETURN; FOR THE RESCUERS TO BE SAFELY GUIDED TO FIND HIM SWIFTLY; AND FOR HIS WIFE, SIX DAUGHTERS, PARENTS AND FAMILY TO ALL BE COMFORTED. (this was at 8:45am)
I never make these kinds of posts, but Brad means so much to me and to our whole community that I implore you to please join your prayers with those of all the State of Utah right now, that he shall be found safe. And please share this post widely so that Brad will have as many prayers as possible in this urgent time frame.
Thank you for being the kind of friends to help out in moments of GREAT need like this.
Sincerely,
Travis Seegmiller
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
UTAH HOUSE DISTRICT 62
PS: reminder to please share this to your Facebook & Instagram groups so that we can get as many urgent prayers for Brad as possible! THANK YOU, FRIENDS!
8:51am update from Brad’s mom:
--Travis later texted me and said that before they met for congress that day- they always say a prayer. Brad's name was said and a special request for miracles was asked for. The prayer was at 10am.” We just met with search and rescue. They are sending a helicopter, dogs, skiers, snowmobiles. Now we just wait and let them do what they do best. Pray for a miracle.”
At 11:21 I received this message from my dad. They have found him, he is gone
My heart broke. My little brother. My annoying (and I say this because we didn’t get along all to well for a long time. I mean we were civil and nice. But we weren’t besties).
My phone started blowing up with texts and FB messages and more. Jared suggested I put my phone on mute for a while to think things through. So I did.
Everyone left my house. And I decided to say a prayer. With tears in my eyes I thanked my heavenly father for Brad. For the good man he was and for the knowledge that families are together forever.
And it was about at that exact time that I had a warmth spread through my body and a feeling that I was getting the worlds biggest hug. In that second I knew Brad was OK he was in a better place he had passed his test on this earth. As I enjoyed that feeling of Brad hugging me or maybe it was our heavenly father hugging me I had the thought came to my mind that I needed to share with his girls. I ended my prayer and immediately texted the three with phones. Brinly, Brooklin and Madi.
"Please know that your dad loves you. I have felt his comforting hug today and I know he loves you more than words can say. I love you too!"As the day progressed, I learned more about how they found Brad.
A helicopter that is usually back east happened to be in Moab, Utah. This specific helicopter is able to find people lost in the snow. There is only 2 in the world and one just happened to be close.
Devan's good buddy growing up was Dave Cluff. Dave just happened to be on the search and rescue team for Beaver County.
Dave later told Devan that around 10 am the dogs and helicopter had found Brad, deceased. As they were trying to get the helicopter to land it was awfully windy. They couldn't figure out a way to land the helicopter to get Brad's body. Dave said all of a sudden- right at 10am it was like a light switch turned off the wind. The helicopter was able to land and retrieve Brad. They were also able to dig out the two snowmobiles that were buried... and get them back to the base. After the helicopter left, it was like the switch was turned back on and the wind picked up something fierce.
That was a total tender mercy or a miracle.
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