The Stump Ranchover up-river for the final time. |
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UP-RIVER CROSSINGS!
This Up-River Crossings section is dedicated in remembrance to a truly loved and great friend of mine, Nelson Hazel. Who! during what I will politely call the Denny Years sometime in the 1980's, helped make life bearable during our hectic work schedules and the all consuming customer satisfaction. We used a lot of humor, laughter and made for a great comedy team to keep the troops entertained. He'd really only get irritated if you tried to call him by his real first name.He had finished college and was starting a new job with the County when his life and that of his girlfriend, was tragically cut short by a female drunk driver. For me at the time, losing my two best friends (Nick Marshall of cancer) within a year and at the end of my first marriage made for some rough times. It is fairly self evident during these periods we all go through in our life...that life at times breaks our heart. We become better people through the hard times or we use it as an excuse to not self improve. My friends would want me to keep plugging away at being a better person. They were both and still are irreplaceable. Dan Royal, Christmas 2004 "ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG" BILLY JOEL, SINGER & SONGWRITER Nelson Hazel, 25, a resident of Birdsview, died Monday, June 1, 987, near Burlington as a result of an automobile accident. He was born Dec. 3, 1961, in Seattle, a son of Linda M. Hazel and Percy N. Hazel III. He was a 1980 graduate of Concrete High School and a 1986 graduate of Skagit Valley College. Hazel was employed as a cook for Denny's Restaurant in Mount Vernon. He was an avid basketball player in high school, community college and local industrial leagues. Survivors include his parents, at home; two brothers...A memorial fund has been established by his graduating classmates. Contributions may be made to the Nelson Hazel Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of State Bank of Concrete. The funeral was held June 9, 1987, at Concrete Community Bible Church. Interment followed at Concrete Cemetary. Edited obituary, Skagit Valley Herald. |
Also passing (and the nephew of the Johnson's) this past 09 Septmeber 2004 was John Steen of Seattle at age 59 of cancer. John was the son of the late Warren Steen and Ruth Johnson Steen. John was also the grandson of the late Theman & Johanna Steen family of Birdsview/Hamilton [which I'm also currently working on a bio of]. Theman was the brother of Ollen [Olando] Steen who was the second husband to my great grandmother Mabel Boyd Royal (of this website).
