Please Make Note: The primary memorial service is Monday, February 4th @ 11AM…..there are additional services in conjunction that are mentioned. If you have any questions please ping me on the site.
Gavin’s Celebration of Life Service
Funeral Service will be held at:
New Song Community Church
2511 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Portland, Oregon 97212
(503)493-1301
Monday 2/04/08 at 11:00am
**Open Casket from 10am to 10:50am**
Committal Service
Willamette National Cemetery
11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd
Portland, OR 97266
(503)273-5250
Monday 2/04/08 1:30pm
Reception to follow at New Song Community Center (next to church) at 2:45pm
My Man, Gavin, tussles with some Chrome on his family’s famous EC property
1/28/08 11:23pm
“I guess I will write the short version now since I am lost for words at this time. After fighting for so long Gavin’s body needed to rest. Although he was ready to face his new journey head on, he still gave it a good fight in the end.
…His bus came early and I had to bid him farewell and continue to wait for mine. After so many wonderful experiences together the sad day came to see him go without me. I knew this would happen eventually but really was hoping it wouldn’t happen this soon
Thank you for your continued support and prayers, I am at piece knowing he is headed back home…I look forward to meeting back with him again when the time is right and only God knows, when and how.
I can’t begin to tell you how hard this has been on his kids now that it happened though…
Thanks again,
Maritza”
Although our dear friend and fishing partner, Gavin, has left this Earth, he lives among us, in our hearts. Thank you, Gavin, for showing all of us what life is really about….I’ll see you on another river~H3llcat
The doctor finally called at around 8:30pm or so this evening with not so great news to share. It was just Gavin his mom and I. Results from blood work done on Thursday came back and 2 out of 2 tests results came back more elevated than before. The doctor basically said that at this point it is the disease taking its course and that the outcome is not favorable because his life expectancy was again measured in terms of weeks. Hospice’s job now is mainly to keep him comfortable and although I knew that is why they were called, I was holding on to hope although understanding reality. Again he is not afraid to face his fate but more concerned about us.
To be honest I don’t really know how to react at this point or what to tell you all, so I will leave it here for now. He needs me to be strong for him, his kids, our families and friends. God gives us strength, understanding and knowledge thru experience and I hope to use mine the best I can.
You strength is what has kept everything together. We all love both of you very much and would like to come see you guys this weekend if possible. I know you will probably be flooded with people today, but maybe tomorrow, as Brandon mentioned. Unless today would be okay in which case we’ll be there. You let us know if you can.
Thank you for sharing so much with all of us through this trying time in your very young lives. Gavin’s courage, strength, sense of humor, loyalty as a friend and everything else that makes us all cry for our own loss of his friendship. You mention that he is not afraid, yet afraid for those who are left behind. That sounds just like my man, Gavin.
He believes in his place in this world and I’m sure he knows his place in the next world will be so beautiful and pain free. We love you. All of us from the fishing crew, and a few of us who became much more to him and him to us, than fishing. It was a catalyst for us to explore a wonderful man. Teach him to fish and learn from him about life. I just don’t have any more words, Maritza. Thank you again for all of yours.
Love Chris, Brandon, Mila, Dave, the rest of our families and the entire Team Salmon
Get used to pics of my man, Gavin up on my site. I’ll be recycling some for awhile as he takes his toughest stand yet. Something for us all to think of him from. Having the time of his life. Fishing. We all love you so much, Gavin. So much, my man.
Gavin Fighting a fish on the Wilson in ‘05
Gavin, Jed and Myself on the Wilson. Just some friends drift fishing a Fall day away…..
Gavin with some Nickel! Thank you for all that you have taught us about living life, Gavin. We love you.
I called a buddy to see if he wanted to make a day on the river. He had been sick and said that he was not at full speed. He also noted that this would be another in a number of trips lately that could end up fishless. I suggested a short trip to the Sandy and he took the bait.
We started at Big Bend but there was too much flow and even more bedload sediment covering the bottom. Wading was a challenge as it was not uncommon to sink knee deep in the soft sand. We figure that Oxbow was the next best bet. We started around the boat launch about the time the rain started falling in earnest. I showed my friend what I thought was a nice piece of water. It was a bit fast but had a nice slot along the bank. He politely offered that he would go upstream to a stretch visible from where we were standing. I said that I would see him soon unless I got into the fish.
I started by drifting a big Luhr Jensen egg and a skiff of pink yarn. After a few casts I lifted the rod tip at the end of the drift and thought I felt a bit of a tug. I figured I would try the same drift again. About two thirds of the way around, I got slammed. The fish rolled on the surface and made about a fity to sixty yard run. The fast current was definitely making this a little one sided. After three more nice runs, I slid the fish up on the rocky bank. The minute I took the pressure off the line the hook fell out. I could see it was a hatchery fish and as it started flopping around I realized that there was a good chance of losing it. I tossed the rod and pounced on the fish using the well-tested, head and gill grab. I ended up with a chrome, eight pound hen. I was a happy camper.
I fished the rest of the run with no more luck. My buddy ended up getting blanked but thanked me for getting him out and off his kiester for part of a day. It was pouring by this time but I was happy and thinking how great it would be to have Gavin out there with us. I am counting on it down the road.
Thinking that it is about time to get out and *Hell-er-file* some stretch of river again. Now I don’t mind doing this solo time and again since my fishing partner is getting old (not you Nook im talking about my dog). But its always fun to spend the time with the friends of All Around Angler. Even if some of you use smelly eggs.(and yes that actually includes you Nook – applying that smelly crap to your fly- oops I said I wouldn’t say anything about that didn’t i). So please let me know if *YOU* are headed out anytime soon and want some company.
.
JT stop fishing my river without telling me. That’s the equivalent of prison sex without a reach around. Oh I didn’t just go there did i? Hmmm maybe comments like these have some correlation to the lack of fishing offers I receive. Or maybe it’s the lack of fishing that leads to these types of comments. I will have to work that one out in my head over a double chocolate chunk.
.
None the less I just got some film for my 1978 Canon Super 8 Auto Zoom 814 to document the next few outings. Thinking Blair Witch meets Winter Steelhead staring triple A members.
.
The number hasn’t changed so use it.
.
Meskel
AKA Che Guevara
.
Just some eye candy from the last outing
Water was up
Murr’s loops where tight
He did bring the Fly rod so thats a start. Although I didn’t see him use it except to whack some brush!
Note the blue Kangol and the one rolled up gravel guard. You can let the Kid out of Grant but you cant take Grant out of the Kid (Gravel guard stayed in the upright position all day) ..
Thanks
Meskel
AKA Che Guevara
.
YOU = any individual or entity that reads this post. Not limited to or excluding any and all fishing styles legal or other in the Greater state of Oregon. With the exception of TNT and a can of corn. –God rest his sole, grandpa had his own fishing style- while affective not very sporting. Also note that I have all of my teeth which in turn disqualifies myself for any noodling outings – not to mention I didn’t marry my cousin nor do I currently own overalls. And before you say anything I did say currently.
THIS IS AN ACTUAL LETTER CHAIN COURTESY OF SAL MONID’S BUDDY, MIKE RAMSEY.
Subject: The reason why I need a Graphite III, 10150-3 piece.
Dear Wendy at Sage:
I am Mike from Canada. You guys probably saved my life. There I was
fishing a remote Canadian River, with my trusty Sage Graphite III
10150-3 spey rod. I was feeling good, probably only 3-5 grizzly bears
behind me and only one angler down stream. I was thinking pleasant
thoughts Canadian beer, how fat and satisfied the bears looked, how
they were looking at the other guy not me…..anyway I was wading along
pretty good booming spey casts with my Graphite III 10150-3 Spey Rod.
Over head an eagle soared….your bird…remember….When I had a tug,
no a yank. I did not have time to set the hook, that I remember. The
reel started screaming at octaves only dogs could hear, 40 miles away,
…. some poor reel engineer would have cried if he heard it…and I am
sure we could have generated enough power to run the camp that day if I
had a turbine…Anyway…then it rolled..at first I though it was a
small marine mammal…perhaps a seal or sea lion…or dolphin…no,
there are no dolphins in fresh water so it had to be a salmon. It shot
off down one run then the next then the next….I made more moves than
Sidney Crosby on a penalty shot (you do watch hockey don’t you?). So
after 45 minutes the salmon started to wonder if I was gonna make it and
seeing I probably was not…came into shore. When I crawled over to see
how big it was I was aghast….and yelled so loud for my partner to come
and get a photo the area is still suffering from glacial ice
slides….Without that Sage Graphite III I could have never landed that
fish or cast to it….I have tried all of your others the 10151-4
piece…that often becomes the 10151- 12 piece… the TCR series the
9140’s the 10150-4’s…and I just can not pull it all together……
One of your great fore-fathers once said ” for every good man…..there
is only one good rod”…..we have given you Canadian beer, a good place
to fish, a dollar that never is as high as yours (even though you guys
have a quat-trillion dollars debt (figure that out), our water, our
lumber, infected cows and women who can ride live stock…..all I want
in return is one Graphite III 10150-3 piece, oh and you to change your
horrific music on your call waiting…..otherwise you may drive someone
to alcoholism…..
Please consider my request attached is the fish, length 47 inches,
girth 30 inches….estimated 53 pounds, released.
Thank you Wendy at Sage……
SAGE MANUFACTURING RESPONSE
Hello Mike from Canada,
Thank you very much for sharing with us the story behind your epic
battle with the giant king. I know I speak for everyone when I say that
your tale, along with the photo made us smile big toothy grins. And, we
really do appreciate all that you Canucks have given us……Canadian
beer ( PBR me ASAP ), a good place to fish ( which one? ), a dollar that
never is as high as ours( give it a few more days ), your water, your
lumber, infected cows and women who can ride live stock( my personal
favorite ).
As for the 10150-3, we at Sage also understand that ” for every good
man…..there is only one good rod”. Therefore, Mike, we would be
pleased to honor your request to build one last 10150-3 graphite III two
handed rod for your casting/fishing pleasure. If you are interested,
the cost for the rod along with shipping and handling will be $398.00.
All we will need from you to get started is your credit card information
and a mailing address. You could either send me an email or give me a
call with that information and we could likely get the rod in the mail
to you sometime next week. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks again and have a great day!
Cheers,
Chris Andersen
Sales Manager
Sage Manufacturing
THANKS FOR THE STORY SAL…AND THANK YOU, MASTER MIKE!
