Randy Fink
REMEMBRIES
OF OUR DEPARTED FRIENDS
January 19, 2014
By: Rick Marty
Dan
asked me to speak this evening in acknowledgement of our members that have left
us since the founding of the Shasta Garden Railroad Society. This being the
eighteenth year of our club
and about the tenth annual January Dinner Gathering it seemed like an
appropriate time to do so. I will just
mention their names and a couple of sentences about each of them and let your
memories fill in the open spaces.
1--
Bob Edkin, as I recall, was the first member we lost. Maybe some remember him
better as Shasta Sam
of newspaper editorial fame. Bob was the
editor of the Record Searchlight Newspaper for many years and a member of our
little group for too few. Bob was an
interesting man that really enjoyed his garden railroad and the large scale
train hobby.
2--
Mel Neathery was the next member to leave us.
What can I say about Mel, a founding member of this group he was a man
that marched to his own drummer. For
those that knew him you know what I am talking about for those of you that
didn’t have the privilege, well I’m sure you have an idea of the type.
Mel and Dorothy had a huge and beautiful
garden railroad at their home in Millville and the club members were lucky
enough to attend many gatherings there through the years.
3--Wayne
Molter, a quiet guy that didn’t have a garden railroad of his own but dearly
loved the hobby and was always willing to pitch in and help anybody with any
railroad project. I think his favorite
part of the hobby was keeping the club roster current and accurate to the last
comma and making sure at each meeting that everyone had an up to date
copy.
4--Art
Spicer was next, Art came to the SGRS
late and only spent a year or two with us and though he built a beautiful
garden line in his back yard I think most of us will remember him for his
fabulous HO scale layout in a room attached to his garage.
5--Bill
Schaffhirt, what to say about Bill. I think the thing I remember most about
Bill was his willingness to instantly drop whatever he was doing and help you
do whatever it was that you were trying to do.
Bill seemed to know when you needed help even when you didn’t. Bill
and Dottie were mainstays of this group
for many years and I know we all miss them to this day.
6--Duane
and Mary Wainwright, founding members and driving forces of this group for many
years. I think we all have fond memories
of the July Breakfast Train Meets at the Wainwright’s, and regrets that they
will be no more. Duane was another
quiet guy with a wicked, dry, sense of humor that could catch you by surprise
and have you rolling on the floor in laughter.
Mary was a gracious lady that loved her garden, and was very
knowledgeable and supportive of our railroad hobby.
7--Joyce
Zell, I didn’t have the privilege of knowing Joyce well but she was always a
gracious hostess opening her home to us when her and Rick hosted a club
gathering. Patty and I did spend a few
fun hours with Joyce and Rick in Tacoma, WA in 2011 at the Western Regional
Meet. We shared a couple of meals and a
great morning out at Camp 6 logging exhibit before we all had to start for
home.
8--Glen
Hunt could have starred in the movie “the quiet man” He didn’t say much but
when he did it was certainly worth listening to. Very knowledgeable model
railroader and train buff. Unfortunately
we, as a club, were only able to see Glen’s great indoor garden railroad once
after he had left us, just exceptional craftsmanship.
9--Boyd
Hammer, a master model builder and machinist, a real stickler for detail. A
rivet counter you might think, nawww, he
worked in 1:29 scale. Train buff and all
around nice guy, one of the most knowledgeable people on Southern Pacific
Railroad practice I have ever met. What
an outdoor railroad he had, winding down the mountain side and his “step
ladder” overhead indoor lines that wound through the home, just outstanding.
10--Bruce
Eaton was only marginally involved with garden railroading his main hobby and
love were for his ride on trains and he spent many hours at Train Mountain in
Oregon. Bruce did have an outdoor garden
railroad at his home near Shingletown, unfortunately I was never able to see it
but other club members were luckier than I, in this respect.
11--Ron
Hill, the latest member to leave our ranks.
Ron was unfortunately with the club for way to short a time. His enthusiasm
and joy of the hobby were
contagious, and every time I talked with him I found my own interest
regenerating. Ron and Linda, in a very
short time created in their back yard one of the finest garden railroads I have
ever seen, and it was a joy to visit.
Ron was full of enthusiasm and ideas but he did confide in me once that
it was actually Linda that did most of the work.
These
are the people that have been in our Garden Railroad Club lives and have left
us. I’m sure we all have special
memories of these people and miss them on a regular basis. Remember them we
should, but we also need to
look forward as a club. We need to
increase our clubs exposure in the community, each and every one of us needs to
bring someone new to our club activities and convince them to join with us in
enjoying this great hobby.
To
all those that have left us all I can say is; Thanks for the memories