When dad was a kid, he rode his horse to the school bus stop and the horse would go back home by itself. When he got a little older, during the deer hunts he was the driver. Why walk when you can drive, he would say. Dad made his own short cuts. We would say, “that was the road dad made.” Then later on the grandkids would say, “that’s the road Papap made.” They were proud to show their friends, the sometimes scary, straight up and down, tippy, and sluffie offie roads that not many dared to drive, just so he could get there faster or get a better look off the side of the hill without having to walk.

There was no mechanic better or stronger than our dad. There wasn’t anything that he couldn’t fix or jerry rig with baling wire and chewing gum. EXCEPT the most important thing, our baby buggy. He fixed semis, cars, trucks, but he couldn’t fix a baby buggy. I don’t think Cathy ever forgave him for that.

Dad was the waterskiing chauffeur. He would spend hours on the lake pulling us kids and just maybe we were lucky enough to see an amazing skier. Dad hated water. So, he would start on the edge of the shore with one ski lifted up, and say “hit it.” He skied with his Levi’s on, a lit Pall Mall hanging out of his mouth, and the package in his front pocket. The driver knew to pull in as close to the shore as possible, then whip him in. He would ski right onto the shore, never getting wet. However, there were a couple of mishaps. One time he started out on the back of the boat, said “hit it,” and went face first in the water and mud.

Cathy and I went hunting with dad. We were sitting on the hood of the jeep looking for the deer. There was a big mud puddle in the middle of the road, we looked back at him and he smiled and gassed it. This is what he told everyone “it was so funny, that mud just jumped up and slapped them in the face.” All the time smiling and chuckling. After that, it was game on. I got him good one time, however, it was never good enough. One of his favorite things to say to us girls and then later on to the grandkids, on a muddy or snowy road was “stick your head out the window and see if that front tire is spinning.” Then we got smacked in the face with mud or snow.

He was the best dad and he worked hard for us, so we were able to do the things we did. He was an amazing Papap to his grandkids and their friends, also to his great-grandkids and all of their friends. Up until the end, their friends didn’t leave without giving dad a hug.

In the last couple of years, when dad’s health was declining, Rick took care of him. Rick was the best caregiver for dad like nobody else or facility could be. They became especially close. Rick told dad that he was like a father to him. There wasn’t a night that went by, that Rick didn’t tell dad that he loved him, and dad would tell him the same thing back, then finish it off with a, “thank you Rick for everything”. Everyone told us to put him in a facility as it was getting too hard on us. But Rick refused, telling them that he would never do that to him. You could always see the relief on dad’s face when he said that. I can’t thank Rick enough or love him any more for the sacrifices that he has made. And our boys, daughters-in-law and grandchildren for their help whenever we needed it, when we didn’t need it, or just to check on us and make sure we were ok. They were always there when no one else would help. It made his day every time he saw them. I love how his great-grandchildren and him were so close. They all had their own special bond with him.

Dad will be sadly missed by his friends and family. Daughter’s, Cathy (Don) Brown – Midvale, Tracy (Rick) Collins – Helper with whom he lived with for the last seven and a half years of his life. His grandchildren, Ricky (Rachelle) Collins – Helper, Tony (Denise) Collins – Helper, Caycee Brown (Clancy) – Midvale; great- grandchildren, Cenjia, Rickelle, Brodee and Dallen Collins, all of Helper; sister-in-law, Cathy “George” (Ed) Cooper – St. George, brother-in-law, Ricky (Kathy) Orlandi – Murray; and all of his loving nieces and nephews.

Dad is preceded in the passing by his parents, amazing wife Vicki, with whom they would have spent 67 years together; childhood best friend, and fearless companion, his dog Teddy. In his adult years it was Tippy, and finally Skye and Gizmo. We would say that Gizmo had an umbilical cord attached to dad. She never left his side.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude and appreciation to Angela from Rocky Mountain Home Health for always being there when we needed her. Also, a very big thank you to Debbie for all you did, the respect, dignity, and funny times you spent with our dad will never be forgotten.

Per dads wishes, he chose to be cremated so that he would be in the same place as our mom, Vicki, the love of his life.  A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 30, 2024, 2:00 p.m., at Mitchell Funeral Home (233 East Main Street) in Price where friends are welcome to join the family one hour prior to service.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a contribution to the American Diabetes Association. PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023 or by calling – 800-DIABETES (342-2383).

Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net