By Clarice McKenney
I was loading my trunk for a huckleberry picking morning when I saw a for-sale sign at the house of my deceased neighbor and dear friend, Barb Brown. I was shocked because I love having her family next door, and having them here eased the pain for me of losing Barb last year. I also now miss Dick, who recently has been fulltime with his older son’s family in North Dakota.
Another Brown family member leaving for work that morning explained the need to sell and relieved my concern for the family.
Barb had shared with me about Dick’s diminished cognitive abilities. She would have been so proud of their care and that of those they hired to help Dick remain in his home.
One community member with very special skills had cared for Dick soon after Barb’s death and took him on drives and community events. Since then I have enjoyed watching the family here caring for Dick, cleaning and reorganizing the house and gardens. Family was there at all times.
When Nancy Wycoff called to say that Dick was near her house, blocks away, his grandson went after him. Another time, when he strayed a bit, a new neighbor and her little girl watched for him as they rode her bike through the area. Donna Jo Dirks frequently took Dick to their get-togethers with other retired Forest Service employees. Karen Pedey told me how heart warming it was to see Dick with the old gang every month.
On a personal level, I consulted members of the Brown family many times about where I could safely pick huckleberries, my yearly passion overwhelmed by commercial pickers. We also talked about our local wildlife and birds, another passion of mine.
Whenever something was too hard or heavy for me, one of them always came to my rescue. They have been great neighbors.
But sharing what I am going to miss is all about my selfish needs. The essential thing is that Dick’s health has worsened considerably of late, and he no longer has the attachment to his home here. So the family decided he would remain in North Dakota and to sell the home.
All of Dick’s Bonners Ferry family and friends, including me, will miss his presence amongst us.
Editor’s note: You can read Clarice’s first article about the Brown family, “Barb and me,” at https://9b.news/2024/03/20/barb-and-me/