Our "affectionate daddy" was a good cook; a tenor, a debater, a wedding
singer, a ladies' man, a cigarette smoker, a legislator, Liquor Board
Chairman, hunter of mallards and morels; chicken farmer, cattleman,
banker, notary public; and a damn fine swimmer, too.
Born in Ferndale, Washington; he attended Whitman College, married our mother twice and two others, once each.
He died in Tucson at the age of 72 of the smoking disease.
He was an unrepentant Republican who never lost an election; a cohort of Dan Evans, Joel Pritchard, Ralph Munro, and was more liberal than Gary Locke or Bill Clinton.
He was beloved to all who knew him and to many who did not. He tried with all his heart to pencil in his family.
We think about him in salmon season and always wish we could hear him sing The Foggy, Foggy Dew just one more time.
Here's a commentary about being at his deathbed we did for NPR's All Things Considered.
Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads..and to my doggie's daddy :P
Posted by: sparky | June 21, 2009 at 05:37 AM
I went here today! It is way cool!
Posted by: sparky sees America | June 21, 2009 at 07:06 PM
Wish I were with you! We got out of school this last Friday and I'm signed up for classes all next week!
Don't teachers have it easy?
Feels like we're getting the guided tour! Keep it up, please.
J
Posted by: joanie | June 21, 2009 at 09:47 PM
And happy fathers' day redux!
(Seems like we've done this before, Michael. But I do still enjoy your NPR commentary.)
You know, when my kids come back to see me after our fifth-grade graduation, I realize I'm half a decade older! Not a good feeling.
Posted by: joanie | June 21, 2009 at 09:59 PM
it has been fun, joanie, I am tired from all the driving, though, I will be glad to be home soon. Drove through some scary storms along i-84 today,,,the temp dropped from 71 to 59 in a little less than an hour,,,
Duffman's plane should be landing soon from the Garage Band World Tour.
Posted by: sparky sees America | June 22, 2009 at 06:52 AM