"I started photographing my domestic world and writing not just about what I had made,
but why I made it, examining the thoughts that accompany creativity and the act of making."
Jane Brocket from The Gentle Art of Domesticity p. 189 UK edition

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Memorial Day 2013


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Last week I drove 700 miles south of Portland, Oregon, to be with my oldest sister, whose husband died.  A portion of the road I traveled on was dedicated to the Armed Forces who have defended the United States of America.


 And I felt so grateful to safely drive along the Pacific Coast of the USA.

 I drove through Crescent City, CA, where my oldest daughter met and married her husband who was serving in the U, S. Coast Guard.

This Memorial Day in the USA I am celebrating the life of my brother-in-law who served in the Armed Forces, and I am keenly appreciating not only his service, but the service of other members of my family and many other families who have or are serving in the Armed Forces so that I can live in freedom here.  Following is some of my brother-in-law's life story.

FRED T. SHULTZ
March 5, 1923 – May 20, 2013

Fred Townsend Shultz was born in Grinnell, Iowa to Veterinarian, J Gordon Shultz and Teacher, Katharine Lucy Townsend Shultz.  When he was in high school he moved west with his family who eventually settled in Sacramento, California.

Fred entered the Army Air Force during WWII serving from 1942 to 1945, reaching the rank of 2nd Lt.  He was trained to fly and ready to be sent overseas when the war ended.  After leaving the service, he served in the National Guard.  He continued his love of flying and bought a Beechcraft Bonanza to fly to his clients all around the United States. Fred’s main mode of transportation during college, graduate school and a total of 20 years, was his Harley Davidson motorcycle.  He also enjoyed sailing his 20 foot, one man Zephyr sailboat built especially to sail on the bay.  He played the accordion in high school and throughout his life. He was a champion archer in college.  He also enjoyed folk dancing, performing for years with a group from Oakland.

Fred received his bachelor’s degree from Stanford in 1947.  His PhD in genetics was earned in 1952 under the esteemed Professor, I. Michael Lerner at UC Berkeley. Fred started his own consulting firm, Animal Breeding Consultants, in which he worked as a consulting geneticist in the poultry industry. His major employer was Nicholas Turkey Breeding Farms whose central office was in Sonoma, CA.
He also consulted with salmon growers off the coast of Scotland in the Outer Hebrides islands, worked with Monterey Abalone Farms, developing ways to grow abalone on shore in tanks, and consulted with Maple Leaf Duck Farms in Indiana, McFarlane Pheasant Farms in Wisconsin, and poultry growers in England,  Ghana and Australia.  Fred was a quiet man who thoroughly enjoyed his work and was a very highly respected man of integrity. 

Fred met Carolyn Covell, when he worked with a client in Pleasant Hill, Missouri; they married and raised four dearly loved children and have eight dearly loved grandchildren. In the last few years of his life, Fred accepted Christ.  He and Carolyn shared a nightly prayer which both found comforting and strengthening. Hospice by the Bay provided care and guidance for Fred and his family during his last six months. He died peacefully at home with his family and Hospice caregivers surrounding him.

Blessings to you and yours,
Gracie xx


25 comments:

  1. What a lovely way to remember your brother in law.

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  2. Oh Gracie, I am so, so sorry to hear of your loss....but thank you for sharing the story of the life of this amazing man with us. I hope that you and your sister will accept my blessings and hugs. Thinking of you both x x

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    1. Thanks you so much, Sarah. We appreciate and receive all the love you are sending us :-)

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  3. Thankyou for sharing your brother inlaw story.

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  4. Oh Gracie, I think your sister was blessed to have met and married such a fine man. I know you are feeling his loss. You are so generous with your love and Faith, I know you are a blessing to your sister right now.
    Hugs to you,
    Meredith

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  5. Gracie
    A lovely tribute to a life well lived!~

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  6. Thank you for the great story about Granddad!
    ♥♥
    Katie

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    1. You're welcome, Katie. Your Gran wrote most of what I posted. I was privileged to know your granddad for over 52 years. He was one of my main role models for Prince Charming :-) and I have many good memories to treasure thanks to him. He was so proud of you and your family and loved you dearly as I know you know. Love with hugs from Great Auntie G.

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  7. Hello Gracie,
    I'm sure your sister was very comforted to have you with her this past week. Your patient love and care are surely much appreciated. Such a beautiful tribute to your brother-in-law. He was almost exactly the age of my father!
    Blessings always my friend,
    Betsy

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  8. What a nice tribute to your brother-in-law. I'm sorry for your loss but he sounds like he lived a very full life. He was very handsome as a young man. Thanks for sharing his story.

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  9. What an amazing man! I wonder if he ever met my uncle, William Shaklee, he was a poultry geneticist. I'm glad you got your car fixed up before this trip! I'm also glad that you were there to help your sister, you're so nice and kind. I hope to see you soon. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  10. Gracie~
    So happy to know you made it safely to your destination! Your brother-in-law sounds like a good, good man and I am sure he will be sorely missed by friends, family and others who knew him.
    Blessings and peace to his family--may God be with them and bring them comfort.
    Aimee

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  11. He sounds like a lovely man who lived his life well.

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  12. It's so nice that you could be with your sister to comfort her. It's very hard to lose the ones we love. It sounds as though he led a very active and interesting life and he certainly was a very handsome young man. My thoughts are with you, your sister and your family.

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  13. Beautiful Gracie and you know you are in my thoughts always.
    take care my blog friend xoxo ♥
    heading off in the morning so maybe offline for a while

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  14. What a handsome young man he was Gracie. It also sounds as though he had a good man who lived a good life and achieved much. My condolences to your sister and everyone else. Your post is a lovely tribute to him, Love and hugs Anne x

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  15. Gracie, what a loving memorial. Thank you for sharing your brother-in-law's life with us.

    Hugs,
    Sharon

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  16. A truly emotive tribute to your brother-in-law Gracie.

    What a very interesting life he led and what a wonderful family history to retain for his grandchildren and for the generations to come.

    keep well

    Amanda :-)

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  17. I am sorry for your loss and especially to his immediate family. The best words though were that he accepted Christ. What an interesting life he had with so much travel. (Crescent City is an interesting place--some of my ancestral roots are in Ferndale/Eureka)

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  18. This is such lovely memorial and beautifully written tribute to your very special brother in law, Gracie.
    Helen x

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  19. Wow, Gracey, you'll be so close to me in Burbank. I'm just over the LA/Ventura County line. If you go shopping at the Camarillo Outlets, you'll drive within 1/2 mile of my house!

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  20. Much love being sent to you, Gracie. I'm so sorry for your loss. I love your blog! Please try to post again soon!

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  21. Such a special journey. Love to you Jo x

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  22. I'm so sorry for yours and your sister's loss my dear friend. Even though we do know he is a Bette place we still miss the. I hope you find comfort in knowing you have so many friends who loves you and may all the great moments you had with your brother-in-law keep him alive in your heart. My sincere sympathy to you and your family. With much love. Taci

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