... From
Richard Wehren (DeWayne's Stepfather)
Dear DeWayne
Well Son it looks like you've done it good this time. I thought I'd taught you better. You always were a risk taker - But I guess it wouldn't be fun without a little risk. Perhaps that's my fault. I took you on your first hunt when you were 9 and it looks like you followed my example.
I remember the Grouse you chased around camp with a bow and arrow for 4 hrs, and your frustration when it got away. I remember the look on your face as we walked through the tall timber high above Stolle Meadows and your excitement seeing the fish swimming in the water in Long Lake - how they looked so close but you couldn't get at them. I remember you growing up and the first shotgun I bought you that one Christmas. I remember having to smack your ass with a boat paddle to get your attention and teach you what your responsibilities were and how to respect the world around you. As you grew into a man, the kid in you never left. Like the time you were chasing Chester the cat around your apartment with a remote controlled car - The cats still alive so you must have cared. As time passed I saw the man in you and all I taught you become a person I was proud of, never so much as when your daughter was born. The change in you was a surprise even to me. She brought out the best in you and you discovered what it meant to be a father and what love is all about. You had some hard times in your life and some great ones. You lived life for the love of it. You followed God's most demanding law, to love your neighbor as yourself. By the people here, paying their respects to you is your testament to God that you did well. Looks as though I wasn't such a bad teacher after all. Your Spirit will always be in the mountains and they will be your final resting place. Each time I go there I will know that your there watching, sharing in our joy and laughing with us at our mistakes.
Well Son it looks like you've done it good this time. I thought I'd taught you better. You always were a risk taker - But I guess it wouldn't be fun without a little risk. Perhaps that's my fault. I took you on your first hunt when you were 9 and it looks like you followed my example.
I remember the Grouse you chased around camp with a bow and arrow for 4 hrs, and your frustration when it got away. I remember the look on your face as we walked through the tall timber high above Stolle Meadows and your excitement seeing the fish swimming in the water in Long Lake - how they looked so close but you couldn't get at them. I remember you growing up and the first shotgun I bought you that one Christmas. I remember having to smack your ass with a boat paddle to get your attention and teach you what your responsibilities were and how to respect the world around you. As you grew into a man, the kid in you never left. Like the time you were chasing Chester the cat around your apartment with a remote controlled car - The cats still alive so you must have cared. As time passed I saw the man in you and all I taught you become a person I was proud of, never so much as when your daughter was born. The change in you was a surprise even to me. She brought out the best in you and you discovered what it meant to be a father and what love is all about. You had some hard times in your life and some great ones. You lived life for the love of it. You followed God's most demanding law, to love your neighbor as yourself. By the people here, paying their respects to you is your testament to God that you did well. Looks as though I wasn't such a bad teacher after all. Your Spirit will always be in the mountains and they will be your final resting place. Each time I go there I will know that your there watching, sharing in our joy and laughing with us at our mistakes.
Be at peace my son, and soar with the
eagles.
DAD