Gary taught me so much about the outdoors, I never really had the chance
growing up to enjoy camping as you all had, so he made sure to share
how much he loved it with us and made us enjoy every minute of it. I recall our first camping trip here in NY...just the 3 of us, no make that 4, as of course our dog Gypsy was with us too.
We
pull up to the sight and there Sgt Gary giving us the drill on what to
do, it all happend so fast, the tent went up, the cooking gear set, tarp
tied...my head was spinning! Later that day after Joe and I had gone
on a walk for firewood, we came back to the site and there he was,
fresh perked coffee in hand, bandanna tied around his head, cutoff jean
shorts...looking like Rambo...he told us he wanted to show us
something...so off we went, following Rambo with his knives in pocket
and his axe in his hand, like lambs to the slaughter.....after walking
off into the woods, he stops turns around and says "Did you hear that?" (Joe and I look at each other silently saying what is he talking about I
can't hear a thing) so he says it again, by this time Joe is looking
at me like omg mom this crazy man is going to chop us up with his axe!
So I say I can't hear a thing as it's so quiet, and he says "Exactly!"
HUGE GRIN on his face. Then he proceeds to tell us this is what he
loves most about the outdoors, finding quiet places, etc. I think
the color came back to Joe's face about an hour after we got back to
the campsite and started dinner! Of course, later by the fire under the
stars he shared his Wendigo story...I don't think Joe or I slept that
weekend!
He was an amazing man, so loving and kind who made so many friends here that really respected him. I am forever blessed he touched my life. <3
Submitted by: Susan Tavernese-Durksen, Wife
Sunday, 26 August 2012
Saturday, 25 August 2012
Big Fish
Papa was a very big story teller like his grandfather. He told us many stories over the years. I never questioned any of them. Reality gets very dull sometimes, so it's fun to think of UFOs, mythical creatures, ghosts, sasquatches and dinosaurs in the water. I've come to accept that I don't know everything. The universe is too vast and complicated for the human mind to fully comprehend. I always believed Papa felt the same way. He kept himself open to the possibility of these things. He often said, "You just never know."
Papa liked to wait for the right moment to tell his stories. Often it was when we were around the campfire at night, or laying down in the tent by the old house at the farm while the wind wailed around us. He told me many times about the ghost in the old house at the farm. He said his grandpa saw the ghost of a long-dead relative in the livingroom. He also told us how Pop-Pops would put salamanders in people's shoes. This was obviously passed down to Papa because there were three times when we found salamanders in our shoes at the farm. Papa told us it was the ghost of Pop-Pops playing tricks on us, but looking back on it now I think it may have been Papa himself who did it.
He also told us about the UFO. He said he was camping with some friends one time. They were laying around the fire in their sleeping bags, looking up at the stars. There was a light in the sky that was darting back and forth. It would cross the entire sky, bounce back and move around in strange shapes. Papa said they all looked at each other, didn't say a word and went to sleep. He believed it was a UFO. He said there was no aircraft or shooting star that could move around like that.
He told us a story once about him walking through the woods. He was all alone and was looking for a fishing spot along Old Man River. He came to a clearing in the forest where there was an ancient Indian burial ground. He described the birds going completely silent once he stepped into the clearing and how the hair on the back of his neck was standing up straight. He said a feeling washed over him that told him he needed to leave that place immediately and never come back.
Papa never made it to Scotland, but if I bet if he had he would've had stories to tell about the Lochness Monster. He did, however, speak of Ogopogo in Okanogen Lake. He never admitted to seeing such a creature, but he said the natives believed in it and that was enough to convince him as they know things that we don't.
Sasquatches were something that really interested Papa. We spent hours watching documentaries and TV shows about them together. He had many books about sasquatches. One of his favourite stories turned out to be a hoax, but even that didn't destroy his belief in them. Papa travelled to the Seattle area three times in his life. The last two times I was able to go along with him. He said there used to be a lot of sightings in the Washington area, especially around Mount St. Helens. According to him, sasquatches lived and thrived in the lava tunnels before Mount St. Helens errupted. After the natural disaster occurred, there were less and less sightings. While on vacation with him down there, we camped around in some very densely wooded areas. Papa told us very seriously to watch out for sasquatches. He even entertained the idea that sasquatches were dropped on Earth by alien spaceships.
Papa believed in ghosts more than anything else. We used to watch a TV show together called Creepy Canada. It covered all kinds of local ghost stories. It came on right when I got home from school. Papa would have dinner waiting. We would sit in the livingroom, watch Creepy Canada and eat dinner. For a while it was the highlight of each day for me. I looked forward to it. Many times he told me that once he passed away, he would try to come back and visit his grandkids in spirit form. I have not yet seen or heard from him since his passing, but I like to keep an open mind because you just never know.
Submitted by: Amber Copeland, Granddaughter
Papa liked to wait for the right moment to tell his stories. Often it was when we were around the campfire at night, or laying down in the tent by the old house at the farm while the wind wailed around us. He told me many times about the ghost in the old house at the farm. He said his grandpa saw the ghost of a long-dead relative in the livingroom. He also told us how Pop-Pops would put salamanders in people's shoes. This was obviously passed down to Papa because there were three times when we found salamanders in our shoes at the farm. Papa told us it was the ghost of Pop-Pops playing tricks on us, but looking back on it now I think it may have been Papa himself who did it.
He also told us about the UFO. He said he was camping with some friends one time. They were laying around the fire in their sleeping bags, looking up at the stars. There was a light in the sky that was darting back and forth. It would cross the entire sky, bounce back and move around in strange shapes. Papa said they all looked at each other, didn't say a word and went to sleep. He believed it was a UFO. He said there was no aircraft or shooting star that could move around like that.
Papa's grandpa passed down stories to him about hooshers and wendigos. He said hooshers were very slim, tall creatures that stood behind trees and made sounds that went like, "Hooooosh!" He said they had voices like the wind and that you would never be able to see them because they would move around the trees, or go from tree to tree very quickly. Wendigos were either bears or wolverines possessed by evil spirits. He said you could tell them apart from regular bears and wolverines because they had silver-tipped hair that took the form of a stripe down their backs. He also said you could feel their presence because it would make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Wendigos were dangerous and you would never be able to escape from one.
Papa never made it to Scotland, but if I bet if he had he would've had stories to tell about the Lochness Monster. He did, however, speak of Ogopogo in Okanogen Lake. He never admitted to seeing such a creature, but he said the natives believed in it and that was enough to convince him as they know things that we don't.
Sasquatches were something that really interested Papa. We spent hours watching documentaries and TV shows about them together. He had many books about sasquatches. One of his favourite stories turned out to be a hoax, but even that didn't destroy his belief in them. Papa travelled to the Seattle area three times in his life. The last two times I was able to go along with him. He said there used to be a lot of sightings in the Washington area, especially around Mount St. Helens. According to him, sasquatches lived and thrived in the lava tunnels before Mount St. Helens errupted. After the natural disaster occurred, there were less and less sightings. While on vacation with him down there, we camped around in some very densely wooded areas. Papa told us very seriously to watch out for sasquatches. He even entertained the idea that sasquatches were dropped on Earth by alien spaceships.
Papa believed in ghosts more than anything else. We used to watch a TV show together called Creepy Canada. It covered all kinds of local ghost stories. It came on right when I got home from school. Papa would have dinner waiting. We would sit in the livingroom, watch Creepy Canada and eat dinner. For a while it was the highlight of each day for me. I looked forward to it. Many times he told me that once he passed away, he would try to come back and visit his grandkids in spirit form. I have not yet seen or heard from him since his passing, but I like to keep an open mind because you just never know.
Submitted by: Amber Copeland, Granddaughter
Thursday, 23 August 2012
The Bear
I remember when I was very young, before I started school, my dad
was away at the hospital across the street from our house because he had
an injury. I do remember going to visit him once in there, he came
down to the lobby to meet us.
Well this injury, apparently, was from a massive grizzly bear. It
was on his shoulder, had a big scar all his life. You could see where
every stitch went in. My whole childhood, he told us that he was mauled
by a bear, but he beat that bear, he won! He totally bossed that bear,
he was a hero. He had even snapped a picture of it before it all went
down.
As I grew, I found out that, the picture of the bear is a picture
from a bear in a museum. And the scar on his shoulder is because he
skiied off a steep hill, hurting his shoulder and he had to get surgery
to repair it.
As Papa lay in the hospital, the nurse asked what the
scar was from, I smiled. The whole bear story went through my head.
But my mouth said, "Skiing." Lol.
Submitted by: Jackie Dietrich, Daughter
Sunday, 19 August 2012
Song: Johnny Horton - North to Alaska
This goes back to the when Gary & Susan, Mike & I were dating. Our favourite Restaurant was the Exchange Cafe. At each table was a mini jukebox where .25 cents would play three songs. This is the one Song that Gary would play. Going to way back then, he had his dream of Alaska. As your Granny (Susan) can tell you, it was fulfilled.
Submitted by: Maryann Munro, Former Sister-In-Law
Submitted by: Maryann Munro, Former Sister-In-Law
Song: Frank Sinatra - My Way
I've been listening to this song quite often. Papa lived a very full, rich life. He lived it his way. He did many of the things he wanted to do.
This song was written by Paul Anka for his buddy, Frank Sinatra. It has been covered by many artists and is a very uplifting song.
Submitted by: Amber Copeland, Granddaughter
This song was written by Paul Anka for his buddy, Frank Sinatra. It has been covered by many artists and is a very uplifting song.
Submitted by: Amber Copeland, Granddaughter
Poem: A Cowboy's Last Request
This poem was written by Terry Ike Clanton. Papa always believed he was a cowboy at heart. He would love this poem.
Submitted by: Amber Copeland, Granddaughter
"Let me tell you folksWho have gathered here today
That I'm a proud and thankful cowboy
Who has just passed away
I know it's hard
But, please don't cry
Fer I'm now ridin' Gods trails
High up in the sky
The hoss I'm ridin' now
Don't spook, buck or kick
Fer God stables perfect horses
And now I have my pick
Lord, please forgive me of all my sins
Fer I haven't been perfect
But I know that he who believes in You
Forever wins!
I have lived a good life
A cowboys dream come true
Thank You Lord,
Fer I'm now ready to ride into eternityMe, my horse, and You."
Submitted by: Amber Copeland, Granddaughter
Saturday, 11 August 2012
Matty's Letter to Papa
This was Matty's letter to Papa while Papa was in the hospital.
I found it really touching. Matty was Papa's little best friend.
Submitted by: Amber Copeland, Granddaughter
I found it really touching. Matty was Papa's little best friend.
Submitted by: Amber Copeland, Granddaughter
Guest Book
Here are a collection of messages that were posted in the memorial guest book for Gary Durksen since his passing.
Song: Michael Martin Murphy - Red River Valley
Papa enjoyed this song a lot.
It's a cowboy folk song. Here is the Wikipedia page for it.
Submitted by: Amber Copeland, Granddaughter
It's a cowboy folk song. Here is the Wikipedia page for it.
Submitted by: Amber Copeland, Granddaughter
Sunday, 5 August 2012
Papa and Matty: Buddies Forever
Papa and Matty were such good buddies, they were very close since the beginning.
Me and Matty would visit Papa every Tuesday, on his day off. They had lots of fun goofing off! Whether it was croc wars, coloring on Papa while he napped on the floor, wrestling, playing in the fish pond or building Mr. Potato heads.
This picture is one of my favorite memories during one of our weekly visits. When Papa would answer the phone, he got serious and told Matty it's time to be quiet for a minute. Matty listened, but it didn't stop him from getting right in Papa's face.. Making silly faces at him until he noticed. Papa would try hard not to laugh, that just made Matty do it more.
Submitted by: Jennifer Copeland, Granddaughter
Friday, 3 August 2012
The Bicycle
When I was 12 years old, I was quite envious of my sister's new bicycle.
It was one of those fancy new 10-speeds. It had low riding handle bars
that curled down and around like a mountain ram's horn. It was
red. And it had the number 10 blazoned down the frame to let the world
(especially me) know just how fast it could go.
I loved that bike. I wanted that bike. I needed that bike. But it looked expensive, so I kept my mouth firmly shut around my parents. I was pretty sure they would be broke after buying a bike like that.
A couple of weeks later, I returned home from school to find my mom and dad smiling quite a bit more than usual. I could sense something was going on, but having the attention span of a 12-year-old, I put it out of my mind.
Dad then asked me to go get his coffee cup for him out of the garage. With an arrogance that can only be displayed by a preteen, I rolled my eyes inward and resigned myself to one of the mundane tasks that parents ask their children to do.
I ran out to the back door to the garage, and flung open the screen door. That's when I saw the bicycle.
However, this bicycle wasn't the subject of my previous envy. This bike was black. It had ram-horn shaped handle bars. It was new. It had 10 speeds.
IT WAS FOR ME!
I wish every kid in the world could have the opportunity to feel the joy I felt that day. My parents rocked!
I miss you dad. Thanks for the awesome bike, and the awesome life.
Submitted by: Liesa Evans, Daughter
I loved that bike. I wanted that bike. I needed that bike. But it looked expensive, so I kept my mouth firmly shut around my parents. I was pretty sure they would be broke after buying a bike like that.
A couple of weeks later, I returned home from school to find my mom and dad smiling quite a bit more than usual. I could sense something was going on, but having the attention span of a 12-year-old, I put it out of my mind.
Dad then asked me to go get his coffee cup for him out of the garage. With an arrogance that can only be displayed by a preteen, I rolled my eyes inward and resigned myself to one of the mundane tasks that parents ask their children to do.
I ran out to the back door to the garage, and flung open the screen door. That's when I saw the bicycle.
However, this bicycle wasn't the subject of my previous envy. This bike was black. It had ram-horn shaped handle bars. It was new. It had 10 speeds.
IT WAS FOR ME!
I wish every kid in the world could have the opportunity to feel the joy I felt that day. My parents rocked!
I miss you dad. Thanks for the awesome bike, and the awesome life.
Submitted by: Liesa Evans, Daughter
Thursday, 2 August 2012
Song: Willie Nelson & Ray Charles - Seven Spanish Angels
Papa adored this song. He used to play it for me all the time. It was played to him over and over while he was in the hospital. I'm sure he appreciated it.
Submitted by: Amber Copeland, Granddaughter
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