True love

Every year when we would go up for the 24th of July to snowflake has always a fond memory for me.  One year I remember going with a group of women to the arts and crafts show, the quilt show, antique stops, etc...  Somehow your dad ended up driving us girls around for hours (I am sure not his favorite task).  It was nice of him but the part of the day that keeps running through my mind was when someone thanked Jeff and I looked up and saw this exchange between your parents.  The way your mom looked at him made it so transparent how much she adored him.  It was really sweet.  She was beaming.


Veronica

Milk Guzzler

Growin up every time we would walk by the Fridge Jeff was guzzling

from a gallon of milk.. are you kiddin him pour himself a glass of milk... no way he would say..
it doesn't taste the same unless i drink it straight...

He could guzzle the whole gallon in one sitting..no kidding....!!!!!

Luv ya,
Cyndi your Sis....

Spuda knawin on bones....

Knawin on the bones was the Best part...
MeeMee taught us to knaw on the bones....
The Crispier the Better....
Luv ya,

Cyndi your Sis

Stacy's Dad..

I Remember Growin Up with Stacy she had a Spell on Uncle Jeff.. She would Rub..Rubb.. on those thick ear lobes of his and turn around and get WHATEVER I mean Seriously WHATEVER she WANTED from her Dad.. So i thought Hey i Wanna turn.. Dah.. What the Heck.. it was like a Genie Lamp.. Poof you get what you Want..
Uncle Jeff and his brothers and sisters would talk using their Redneck Slang.. it was Hilarious to listen and watch them together.. nobody could follow or understand the conversation but them..
Sit them down to eat corn on the cob.. i don't think they swallow any of the corn.. you look up and it's all stuck up in their teeth.. and they just Laugh about it.. when he wouuld start Laughing I would just start Cracking Up.. I could sit there for hours and be entertained..
We sit at a table at the Family Reunions and everyone gets a Kick watching them all Chowing Down..
I Remember going to Uncle Jeff's cabin and nearly Drowning in the Frozen Pond.. My Cousin Sarah saved me.. I was Traumatized..
My Favorite thing to do at the cabin was Spotlighting looking for Elk.. Deer.. Moose.. Uncle Jeff would throw us all in the back of his truck and drive around the forest Shining his Spotlight in the dark looking for animals..
He would just show up and say Hi and be on his way to the next Project.. A Great Hard Worker.. I Admired that in him..
I Share my Birthday in the month of July with My Uncle Jeff.. Uncle Bill.. Aunt Crystal.. so I thought I was pretty Special..
I always looked up to Uncle Jeff.. I
Remember on Holidays and Family get together's Uncle Jeff always gave the Blessing and Prayers because he was the oldest and head of the family..
Love you Soooo Much Uncle Jeff..
Thankyou for the FUN Memories.

Family Man, Friend and Servant

Happy Birthday Jeff. What a life you've lived. I've know you for more then thirty year and feel like our lives have enter-wined like brothers. I've been blessed by your friendship and your continual acts of service. I couldn't even get out of my basement if it weren't for your custom made handrail you designed and installed for me. I'd probably still be hanging out there if it weren't for you.

I remember the first time I saw you ski. We had take a group of Young Men up to Sunrise. I was raised in the snow but I never developed your skills. I watched you and thought, "Now there is one coordinated Dude." It just seemed to me that you could do it all.

With all of you service I am sure you have gone through several pick-ups taking the youth on activities. You've hauled kids all over the state time and time again, never asking for help or any financial reimbursement. The Lord loves you for all of that.

When I think of your skills, there are only three other people that I know that are your equal. One is my father-in-law, Dan Thompson, my brother - in law and our brother in the ward, Ralph Mousseau. You are a dying breed and one that can't be replaced. People can use the computer, but who in the world is there that can problem solve, build and create things of beauty like Jeff Kartchner, and usually for half the cost. If there had been more of you Jeff, you wouldn't have had to work so hard.

Suzie and I were talking. We can't remember a time when your kids were growing up that you didn't have one of them in your truck going someplace together. Little Stephanie was the apple of you eye and everyone knew it. Then Jefferey came along. We all called him Lee Lee. He looked up to you and carried your big broad smile. You were surprised when you baby Stacy came along and you one day had to look up to her. It is no secret to anyone that each of the Grandchildren, stole your heart. Yes, your family has always been number one with you and you'd be the first to admit that many of your blessings have come from being a partner with you smart capable and wonderful wife Vickie.

Suzie and I love you Jeff. You ahve endurded and hung in with such bravery. We are sorry you've had to suffere so much and hope that soon you will be doing and feeling better. We need our old problem solver to be up and going if the good Lord is willin. When you are read, just let me know and we'll go buy the meal of your choice. You deserve the best.
Happy Birthday dear brother-

Suanne & Mike Huso

Gratitude

July 25, 2013

Dear Jeff

Happy Birthday!!!   

How I remember your 1^st birthday.  Considering I was only 3 years old you were the first chance I Had of getting a baby brother and I took it very personally.  Your birth re configured the Brigham Dewey and Maudie Margaret (Jackson) Perkins family.  From that point forward they would be known as MeMe and DaDa to everyone.  You inherited Gayles work ethic who inherited it from MeMe. Early to bed and early to rise, Work while the sun shines and then after the sun goes down labor in service for someone else is your style. 

Our personal relationship strengthened when we had Rheumatic fever at the same time.   I’ve always felt you contracted it from me as I was with you when mine began with strep throat. I’m sorry for that.  As I suffered under Meme’s care (everyone knows the quality there) I was always concerned if you were getting good care as you had already taken on the responsibility that came with being the oldest of a large family as well as having a part time father and a working mother.  The important thing is even as sick as you were you still managed with Debby’s help to keep all the kids from drowning in the ditch at the Labaron home where you lived that summer. 

I won’t even bring up the Mayor and the grapefruit incident again but I now have half a corvette so I will come and take you for a ride.

Your mission was a huge deal and I always knew it was a struggle for you to make it happen but as always you came through.  Most would not even know how hard it was for you to do it.  I did!!!!!

One Sunday when we lived in Glendale we heard a knock on our door.  There you stood with the most beautiful woman.  I knew immediately Vickie was going to be someone who would make a huge impact on me.  We visited and later we began dinner and asked you to stay.  You indicated that the two of you were conducting a special and important fast.  The day was ending and you stated perhaps you could end it.  We sent you and Vickie into the living room for some privacy while we put the dinner on the table.  When you returned you stated the two of you had the inspiration needed to make an announcement.   You were to be married.  We were all joyous and personally I thought “there is one lucky man.” I was right.  Once again I knew the tides of our family were changing its flow.  And they did. 

Jeff the language we use is very inadequate sometimes and I’ll never be able to express our gratitude to you for standing by our sides during the days following the death of our wonderful Brad.  Your quiet suggestions and acts helped us make some very crucial decisions that we never would have had the capacity, energy, or thought on our own to make during those bitter sweet days.  Each time we opened the door to make the next step you were sitting outside our door ready to chauffeur us and help us remain standing.  Thank you is not enough but it is all I have along with my love. 

We’ve absolutely loved being your neighbor.  We are so grateful for all your help, working with Bill, getting the permits, the lot, and all you’ve done for us since we decided to move to Gilbert.  We’ll always remember the kids walking the fence between our yards and will never forget Stephanie’s prize car that got her and Jessica where they needed to go as long as Jess held up the top lining while Steph drove.  And Vickie only a mother can know the importance of a prom dress for a daughter.  Thank you so much for taking that on in my absence.  It meant so much to Jessica and to me. 

You are one of the most patient individuals I have known.  Jessica’s wedding!!!! Oh my goodness.  You’d fix the electricity and I’d mess it up over and over again.  You brought all those trees in and planted them in the ground as if we were in the pines. 

Always quietly and unassuming you walk.  You don’t stand around asking you just start doing.

When we are in charge of the reunions I make assignments and then put for Jeff – everything else and you always do.

Have a very happy birthday brother Jeff…and all else inclusive.

Sue Sandsom

Dan asked me to write this for him.  He wanted to thank you for all you have taught him. 

He told of the day he went to help you with your remodeling project.  He strapped his work belt on and went over to ask how he could help.  He said you told him to stand on the fence and place struts etc in place and nail them down.  He said he was so scared but didn’t want to let on to you that he was unable to do it.  He said he looked down at you and you looked up with absolutely not a doubt in your expression that he could and he would – and he did.  That is truly esteem building.

True Friend

Memories of my friend Jeff Kartchner,

I feel honored to share a few thoughts and memories of a great man in my eyes, my friend Jeff Kartchner. Our family moved to the Gilbert area about 22 years ago, Jeff was the third or fourth person I can remember meeting the first time we attended our new ward. Ironically it wasn’t long before Jeff and I would be working together in the young men’s. During this time of serving together I began to see many noteworthy character strengths Jeff possessed. We all have different memories that would differ greatly about a person, here are a few that I would like to share about Jeff.

When I think of Jeff I think of an old blue dump truck, it looked scary, it looked old, but it always seemed to start and get the job done. We used this old blue dump truck for many service projects hauling off trash, teaching young men to work, helping neighbors and so forth. I can remember often getting calls from Jeff stating he would be a little late and that he was returning from a job somewhere in the valley. Next thing you know here comes the old smoking, dirty blue dump truck often with a tractor in the back. Jeff would jump out, dust off his pants from the day’s work and jump right in with whatever needed to be done. Then there was the blue Chevy truck Jeff drove for work, I’m here to testify to anyone whoever reads this that Jeff will never be accused of being prideful, anyone one who would drive that truck is a humble man!! That Chevy truck looked like it had hit everything but the lottery! I’m sure Jeff has many fond memories of that truck and all the many projects he built using that blue truck.

My next memory is short, but as I reflect on the first time I saw the house Jeff framed and completed the exterior on for Bob and Cindy Yost in the White Mountains I can remember vividly how breath taking it looked. I know there are a few young-men from our ward who Jeff took with him to help build it, I’m sure they still talk about it to this day and will someday share the story with their grandchildren as well.

The last memory I would like to share is about a supper activity Jeff and I were in charge of, this is so long ago Jeff may not remember, but to me the memory is as clear as yesterday. At the tail end of the activity we joined all the Stake young-men for 2 days somewhere between Eagar and Show Low in the White Mountains. We had many activities and learned many new skills. On the last day before we were to go home (I really wanted to go home) we had a morning fireside on top of what Jeff called a hill; I’m here to tell you it was a mountain (to me it was Mount Everest). Walking up this mountain was a very hard task, it took me over an hour and fifteen minutes, I stopped many times to catch my breath, my heart hurt so bad I honestly thought this would be where I would die. When I was about 80% of the way to the top Jeff passed me headed down, I thought oh good we are going to do something different and I won’t have to finish the climb. I asked Jeff where he was going, he said he needed to go get something or maybe he had to find someone? I remember getting to the top, sitting down thinking someone needs to get a helicopter to get me back down. Within 30 minutes Jeff was back, I was amazed he could go down and up again so fast and this made 2 times for him, I was still red in the face and breathing hard, Jeff just stood there, breathing normally, able to talk unlike me I couldn’t get my breath for over an hour. Jeff asked me once or twice if I was okay? I had to man up and say yes, but I was dying inside wondering if my Life Insurance payments were current? I was very mad when I found out many of the other leaders came up the back way in trucks (not fair). I decided that day that Jeff was part Goat or part Donkey what human could do what he did?

In closing I want to share my love for Jeff, for the true friend he has been. The unbelievable best Home Teacher our family has ever had. The best compliment I could ever pay to Jeff is he is the only man who I can compare to my Grandfather, both were honest hardworking men. Both were good humble priesthood holders, both spent much of their lives serving in young men’s calling, both taught many boys to work and to be men.

Happy Birthday Jeff, this has been a hard hard year, you have endured it well, you have set such a Christ-like example to us all.

Love you,

Dean