Most of my memories of Don revolve around sports and the time that he spent in Weippe, ID. In the 60's he and Jean came to Idaho and Don worked at the Jaype Plywood plant in Pierce. He formed a fast pitch softball team at that time and he often called on me to fill in a gap in the line up..., where I was barely a teenager and scared to death to be playing against grown men..., and praying that a ball wouldn't be hit in my direction🙏 He also played on a town team basketball team and I used to watch him and my other cousin Jim Spence play. They used to come to my games in high school and watch me sit on the bench.
There was a gap in sporting scene when he left town after the marriage to Jean fell apart..., but he returned with his new love, Marilyn and a new life. He joined our Fraser Hippie fast pitch softball team. Don wasn't a hippie like Jim and I..., but he fit right in. It soon became apparent to him that our team was more in need of a manager than another player and once he assumed that responsibility our success brought a new sponsor and we became The Elk Horn Team. Our teams had good success "up on the hill" as the communities of Weippe, Pierce and Headquarters were often referred to..., but until Don became our manager we had never won the yearly invitational weekend tournament because the larger cities we invited from down in the valley like Orofino, Kamiah, Grangeville and Lewiston had a much larger talent pool to draw from. It was a big feather in our caps to finally take that trophy in what became the Mel Dahl Memorial Tournament. We also won a tourney in Lewiston against those big city teams under Don's direction.
Another special memory was when cousin Rob Spence got a work assignment from the phone company he work for in our area one summer and was able to play on our team..., four Spence boys on the team 😀
It wasn't just sports that we teamed up together on. Don had hired on setting chokers for our Uncle LeRoy Chapman and his logging operation. One winter Jim and I got hire on as well and though winter logging is generally no fun..., the landing fire at lunch time made it worth it. The only thing better than toasting a sandwich with cheese on it in a wax paper baggie and warming up soup around the fire..., is sharing it with family and friends.
So..., Jimmy and I may end up in a place where we won't need a fire to toast sandwiches and warm soup due to some of our previous antics..., but I will do my best..., if I have to get on my knees and beg..., to get up there where Don deserves to be and sit around a nice little campfire and share a little grub and some wonderful old stories and memories.
RIP cousin..., love ya 💖
