Saturday, March 3, 2012
We have wonderful memories of John, a dedicated worker at the farm for about 20 years. He became much more than a hired hand, he was like a member of the family and a true friend. While at the farm he lived in the bunkhouse, which he said had running water, he ran in with it and out with it. He would come to the house early in the morning for his coffee and smoke, then ready for a hard days work. No food was needed until lunch. No hours were too many, especially in harvest. As W.O. Mitchell said in his book, the old fashioned hired man had one leg in the child's world and one in the adult world. John was that person for our son, Bob, wittling a sling-shot for him and just being there while he was growing up. His many sayings come to mind on many occasions, still bringing a chuckle and a smile on our faces. We always knew what John was thinking. When we shingled our house with shakes he said he would burn it down if he had a house that looked like that! He retired from the farm at the age of 65. He didn't think he would live very long after that, but … that certainly wasn't so. We are sorry to be in Arizona and not at the funeral. How we would like to be there! We will be thinking of you on Monday and send our sympathy to all. Bill and Alma Copeland
