My Grandpa known as Papa. Is a great man with many capabilities. He uses
his capabilities for service to others. He is a fantastic man with a
huge heart! I remember while working with him I learned many things
like mowing, hedging, trimming and blowing lawns. Painting interior and
exteriors of homes. How to put a toilet, doorknobs, doors, backboard,
splash, tile, and the list goes on. I love my Papa more than words
could ever say. Papa thanks so much for caring and teaching me how to be
a man and to do my family proud. I am thankful I have the opportunity
to cary on our Kartchner family name.
Austin Kartchner
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Good and Goldy Man
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I'm not sure how to put years of memories into a few words, but
I'll give it a try. The very first thing that came to my mind was you
are a GOOD and GODLY man. I remember years ( and I do mean YEARS) ago
having help building huts for Cultural Refinment RS lessons in the
Lindsey-Guadalupe building. You and Delwyn (especially you) never did
much grumbling. That goes for anything anyone would ask of you.
You are a great friend to everyone especially my good husband.
There have beens highs and lows for all of us over the years, raising
our kids together. I remember looking out the doll house window one
night and seeing Jeral and Stephanie (when they were first
dating) parked there and wondering...; what really goes on that we (the
parents) don't have a clue about.
The generous nature you have has been a blessing to almost everyone I know.
I came across this scripture this morning in 3 Nephi 12:40-42 :
"And if any man will sue thee at the law and take away thy coat,
let him have thy cloak also; And whosoever shall compel thee to go a
mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that
would borrow of thee turn thou not away"
That scripture is a description of YOU! You love the Lord, your
wife,kids and grandchildren- then add to that friends and anyone you
meet and what more could you ask for?!
My whole family loves and admires the man you are,
Dana
Ready and Willing to assist
I have had the opportunity to work for the Kartchners in
some capacity (always with kids involved) for almost 39 years now. They
are like a 2nd family to me.
Debbie Johnson
You’re not just by brother, you’ve been my best friend
My early
memories of you, remind me of the relationship of my grandchildren, Bradock and
Raylee. When we were small we were the best of friends and did everything
together. We really didn’t need to be around other children or friends, because
we had each other and we depended on each other. Even in High School at
Westwood, we ate lunch together and shared our food. I remember once, how badly
you wanted this piece of chocolate cake that I had and really wanted to eat,
but I gave in, because you wanted it more. People that didn’t know us thought
we were boyfriend and girlfriend. I loved going to your track meets. I don’t
think I every missed one that was close enough to attend. I missed you terribly
when you were on your mission, especially my senior year. It made the year
miserable and maybe that’s why I hated my last year of high school.
When Bill
and I were in medical school, Mom had just passed away December 14th
and Christmas was approaching, we didn’t have extra money for a big Christmas.
Bill’s family was coming and any extra money was needed for food. Our children
had voiced their wishes for Christmas that year already. Justin wanted a club
house and Donnie and Sarah each wanted Stereo/CD players. We couldn’t afford
them, but you somehow found out, and told Bill that you had some materials left
over from a job and we could have it for the club house if Bill could build it.
The floor, walls, and roof were built, sided, and shingled in your driveway and
brought over and assembled in the backyard that Christmas without Justin
knowing. Bill’s brother, Jim, even got involved helping carrying in the pieces
and ended up falling into the pool, and as you always do, thinking of others, brought
over the two stereo/CD players for the girls making that Christmas very
special. Thank you again.
In 1995, I
was helping you during the construction of Stephanie and Jerel’s
home in Val Vista Lakes and one afternoon, Mom called and told us she was
bringing us lunch. We had just eaten, but not wanting to hurt her feelings by turning
her down, said “sure, bring it on over”. We literally had to choke it down. It
was Chinese food, which I don’t like very much anyway, but you ate yours and then
helped me eat mine.
In 2000, I
decided to do something about that old “popcorn” ceiling I hated in our house
on Catalina. Always wanting to help, you came over and taught me how to do it
myself and I did it. I got more energetic and wanted to replace the old
Southwest white oak flooring that was scratched and missing some of the
white-wash stain. I got this vinyl flooring and you took the time to help me lay
it and I loved it. Jeff, I have always loved and appreciated the way you have
always been there for me and my family when we needed help. I admire you for
the service you have done for those you are associated with. I have so many
wonderful memories of working on projects together here in Mesa, at your cabin
in Hunter Creek, and at my cabin in Pinetop. You’re not just by brother, you’ve
been my best friend and I love you so much.
Debby
Caring and Concerned about others welfare
Debby and I
had only been married about 5 weeks and You, Randy, and Beverly came to San
Diego and you baptized me into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
on December 29, 1974. What a Great Day. I was in the Navy then, and left on January 1,
1975 for nearly 9 months on a West Pac Cruise. After getting back, I still had
about 3 months left to serve and I remember coming to Mesa and renting a U-Haul
truck to move our things back to San Diego. Debby and I had this beat-up old Datsun
B-210 sedan and we decided to put that car into that truck but we had no
loading dock. You had a couple of 2x12’ and some cinder blocks and out in front
of your house, I got a running start and drove up that make-shift ramp into the
truck. Heavenly father certainly knows those whose need his help.
I got out of
the Navy December 1975, and as soon as the Mesa Temple reopened after
remodeling in January, I got my endowments and Debby and I were sealed for Time
and All Eternity. You were my escort during
the endowment and the witness at our sealing.
I tried to
find work in electronics since that is what I had been doing for 6 years in
Navy, but IBM, Motorola, Honeywell were not hiring, so Jeff figured out a way
to let me come to work for him as a laborer on his framing crew. You have to
understand the times. I made $3.50/hr, Randy and Doyle Shumway made $5.00/hr,
and Jeff (the crew boss and the one with the license) made only $7.50/hr. We
could frame out a 900 to 1,000 square foot block house in 10 hours. Jeff always
thought it was best if everyone knew each other’s job, so he spent extra time
teaching each of us how to layout, build fur down, cut studs to proper length.
I have always been grateful for those skills because they have come in handy over
the years feeding my family.
I wanted to
attend MCC at night and I asked you about work hours. It will be fine you said.
We will get off at 1 -2 pm since we started at 5am, so I could go home, shower,
study, and prepare for class. I can’t tell you how many times I showed up to
class in my work clothes, because I don’t think we ever got off until before
5pm. I have never known a man that works harder than you. But at those wages,
we made money by spending long hours at work. Now days, most carpenters don’t
know how to swing a hammer, they use nail guns, and a crane to set trusses. Who
needs a crane when you have 4 crazy guys on the job site. We would push up the
gable end, which was already sided, to you. I think you were hanging from a sky
hook. After we got it braced, Randy and Doyle would climb up and walk the
outside walls carrying or dragging the trusses that I had handed up and you rode
the center making sure they stayed on 2 foot centers. It was hard but very
honest work.
Remember the
time we took your old ’64 or ’65 Chevy truck to Queen Creek to get the left
over potatoes from the digging machines. We loaded that truck and had it
sitting on the axles. We couldn’t have eaten that many potatoes in a life time.
Debby and I
were Summer Birds for several years while I was at Texas A&M. You always
put me to work framing. One summer, Randy, Steve Wiltbank, and I went up to
Snowflake to frame Jim Ballard’s house and we stayed over near Springerville in
a cabin on land owned by Steve’s father. You had come up to visit make sure
everything was going well, and you stayed in the cabin with and one night a
mouse ran across the floor. What a sight! Randy jumped up on the bed and was
throwing his boots at the mouse when he came out from behind something. You
were jumping up and down trying to hit the mouse with your boot. I was laughing
so hard just watching. These two grown men actually seemed afraid of a mouse.
Later that night, Steve came over and we went spot-lighting elk. We spotted a group
of bachelor bulls and you and Randy ran down in the meadow chasing the elk.
What an oxymoron. They’ll chase an elk but run from a mouse.
When Debby
and I came back from Texas in 1983, I started framing for you again, but this
time I was the crew boss of your scouts and the young men in your ward. They
were the best crew I have ever worked with. I always admired the way you
provided ways for your young men to afford their Super Activities. You even taught them to how to install tile
roofing. If they wanted and showed
interest, you provided the means and encouragement for all of them to become
Eagle Scouts. It wasn’t just the kids. I
don’t think any of the widows or elderly couples in your ward ever needed
anything. They only had to call you and if you couldn’t do it, you would call
in a marker on someone that owed you something to get the problem resolved. I
have never known anyone that is more caring and concerned about the welfare of
other than you. I can truly testify that this world would be a lot better off
if there were more people like you Jeff. It has certainly
been an honor for me to be associated with you and I would be more than willing
to write your next resume.
Love you, Jeff.
Bill Tindall
Loving Grandfather
My favorite memories of Jeff.
One of the memories that stands out is the day we moved into Riata home. Our
move in day happened to fall on a ward wide service day that involved
the whole ward going out and cleaning all the ditches and canals in the
ward boundaries as well as cleaning up the widows of the wards yards. I
loved going out and working alongside Jeff, perhaps because I knew how
everybody knows Jeff for the service he renders, and knowing how much I
want to emulate that example. While I would knock down the mud and weeds from the canal, Jeff would scrape away and level out the road with his tractor. Afterwards, he took Eli and Liam around on the tractor and they loved it. We
worked all morning and into the afternoon, and I love him for setting
that example of hard work to me, and for my boys to see that example as
well.
Things I'll never forget:
-Liam sitting on Jeff's lap on his recliner while they watch westerns together
-His hash browns and eggs he makes on General Conference morning
-Will never forget Eli on Jeff's shoulders and Gail and Velmas land as he walked around and showed him the garden and horses.
-How ticked off and passionate he gets when the government does something stupid or unnecessary
-His truck that is so destroyed but that he is so proud of how many miles he has put on it.
-How emotional he gets when he talked about the pioneers.
-How unconcerned he is with worldly things.
-How perfect of a home teacher he is.
-How Jeff will drop anything in order to help someone, even if he has just recently finished a long hard day working.
Jacob Ash
A pleasure to know
Happy Birthday Jeff!
You are truly an
angel on earth! You are one who is always using your talents and skills
for good. Thank you for the countless times you have helped us on our
home projects--from new construction to repairs to digging drywells and
plumbing. Your knowledge has saved us many times with the Town of
Gilbert too! THANK YOU! :)
I attribute a lot of Derec's fine ability to work
and provide for our family to your example. He also has learned to use
his sikill to bless others, just like you and his dad. Thank you for
teaching him and giving him the opportunity to learn at your hand. Not
only do you provide an exapmle of service and work, you are willing to
share your testimony and share words of wisdom you have learned over the
years. Thank you for that! I have no doubt of your love for the
Savior, your family, and the temple and the covenants you've made,
through your words and your actions.
It is a pleasure for me to know you and your
family. Your influence is far reaching and impacts your posterity and
all who have been blessed by you for the good! I have watched you with your kids and grandkids and admire the way you are there for them. I
hear your name, these are the words that come to mind: humble, courage,
faith, generous, service, testimony, strong, hard work, teacher,
supporter, leader, thoughtful....The list goes on. Thank you for
blessing our family!
We love you!
Happy Birthday!
Luanne Bradshaw
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)