Running away to start a new life together

Getting married

Friends in a van on the way to Tahoe

I met Kerry and Greg when Garrett started jr. high at Leggett Valley School, as I was one of Garrett’s teachers. It was clear from the beginning that Kerry and Greg valued his education and I soon became very fond of them. In the years that followed, Kerry and I started to work together to form the high school ski club. I always enjoyed working with her and knew Greg supported all of our efforts to give the high school students something positive to look forward to. While Kerry helped me chaperone those field trips, Greg manned the fort at home. As Shelby and Garrett spent more time together and became a couple, I couldn’t have been happier. I knew that he came from a very loving and supportive family. I was always excited to see Kerry and Greg because we didn’t get to do it very often, but it was always something to look forward to. I genuinely felt welcomed by both of them and appreciated Greg’s easy going attitude. He was a very kind and easy person to talk to and I’m going to miss him a lot. I felt like we were just getting to know him and I’m truly saddened to know he won’t be able to share all the future family get-togethers with us. My heart breaks for Garrett and Kerry and I hope they know how truly sorry I am for their loss.

I first met Greg in 1984. He and Kerry came up to the mountain to enjoy our experiment in Paradise. Many people came up there but most did not have the "staying power". They did. They contributed to the building of our community. They hosted Easter parties before they even had a house. You did not want to miss one of their Easter parties. Greg became president of the Middle Road Road association. The association had not previously been very functional. There were disparate views, strong opinions, and quite wacky personalities. Greg stood, smiling, calm, and facilitated giving positive guidance for the group. I went to Mexico a number of times with Greg. Despite the foreign language barrier, the Mexican corruption, the heat, culture differences, the "stranger in a strange land" situation, Greg always remained calm and positive.  I think growing up in the Heartland, serving in the military, working at Sonoma Developmental Center all contributed to forging the rock that Greg was. Recently we had a gathering at Caspar.  Greg was there. I had two sessions with him that I am so grateful for.  He loved music. We discussed the musicians, their style, their personalities, different idiosyncrasies. He was so insightful. 

Greg was a role model. I wish there were more people like him.

Rest in Peace, Greg. I love you.

My little family celebrated July 4th with Kerry, Greg, and Garrett for many years.  We would go to the parade and then a barbecue at our house. At the end of the evening we would meet up with the Rhoten clan and watch the fireworks, a highlight of the year .  Mostly I will miss calling him on the phone and catching up. My favorite part was at the end of the conversation he would say” okay Hon you take care,” always made me smile. 

Greg was Kerry’s rock, and he was our rock as well. He was always there with us,  joining in our celebrations and rocking out   dance parties. He was usually on the sidelines, watching and smiling at us. He was our pillar of grounded strength. He was the most nonjudgmental and accepting person I had ever known. You knew he cared for you and was truly interested in hearing what you had to say. My most favorite time with Greg was when we went to Mexico together.  The others were away dealing with the car rental, and  Greg and I were left alone. I saw how brilliant and funny Greg was, and I felt a closeness that I had never felt before.  His heart was so big and open and there for you when you slowed down enough to be close to him. The last time I saw him was at a outdoor gathering In Casper. I kept feeling his presence behind the group circle. Every time I turned around, I saw him standing there, watching and smiling. I stood with him a number of times that day and thanked him for holding us. He told me that was what he was doing. I feel so grateful that I took the time to stand with him and to feel his strong presence. When I think of him now, I can still feel his peaceful open hearted energy that touched my heart, and is now a part of me! He will always be with us as our faithful loving friend and our much needed “rock”.

Don and Polly Dooley

     We feel so lucky to have had Greg as a long time friend. We have always appreciated his  company, insight, sense of humor, and all his other amazing qualities. We will miss you sweet Greg immensely.❤️

       I first met Greg in the spring of '84 at the James Creek crossing, 10 miles up Spyrock Rd, in the hills northeast of Laytonville.  We both had come to the creek to pump water into tanks in the back of our pickups.  We had no water on the parcels of land we had just moved onto.  We were in our early 30's, and we were so excited to make our home amongst those wild, rugged coastal mountains, and get "back to the land".

       I first met Kerry later that summer.  I'd driven over to Domestic Pig Rd, off Registered Guest Rd, to meet with a friend of a friend for the first time.  I got to Steve Kelly's place, but the gate was locked, so I climbed over it.  As I hiked up the dirt and graveled driveway, I saw an old Airstream trailer on a hillside in the distance.  It was a hot August afternoon, so I was pretty sweaty by the time I got to the door.  Inside, I met Steve Kelly, and two friends he had visiting...Kerry and Polly.  They were spending this hot afternoon sipping on ice cold margaritas, blended on Steve's new 12 volt blender, as there were no public utilities of any sort back there in those hills.  They invited me to join their little party, and I knew right then and there that I wanted to get to know this group better.

       Kerry moved up to the mountain in 1985, and it was then that I started to get to know Greg and Kerry better, either through dinners at each other's places, or at local parties.  I believe it was 1986 when I asked Greg if he'd like to be partners with me in a garden I was growing on an absentee landowner's piece.  We were partners for several years, and we, including Kerry, spent a lot of time together working, and playing.  We were becoming really good friends.

       I was living alone, about a 10 minute drive from their place.  As we spent more and more time together, they made me feel as though I was part of the family.  On holidays, they wanted to make sure I wasn't alone.  They would always invite me to dinner at their place, just in case I wasn't headed south to be with my family.  They would often welcome other neighbors to the table as well.  Their son, Garrett, was born in 1992, and he grew up calling me "Uncle Charlie".  I felt very privileged and loved.

       There as so many adjectives that come to mind to describe Greg...warm, kind-hearted, gentle, welcoming, calm and collected, humble, caring...a great listener.  Greg was the president of our road association for many years.  As anyone in a road association knows, it takes a cool head to run road meetings, as not everyone has come in an agreeable mood.  Greg, being widely respected and loved, managed to keep peace more often than not.  Greg and Kerry's place kind of became the hub for those of us on the east side of the mountain, in Blue Rock Ranches.  Their driveway was off the main road coming in, and they were one of the first, and the few, to get a phone.  They were at a high enough elevation that their cb and other radios could reach not only the east side, but also the west side of the mountain...Registered Guest Rd Association, where we had a lot of friends.  So whenever some crazy shit was going down, or in any kind of emergency, people would head up to Greg and Kerry's place.  Not only because of their ability to reach everyone, or that they had the most information. but because of their warm and welcoming ways.  Plus, Greg "the Rock", calm and cool, was there.  It always felt the safest place to be, together.  

       I know that my life up on the mountain would not have been as rich and rewarding without you Greg...Kerry too.  I appreciate and love you more than you know.  Thanks so much for all the memories.  I will miss you Greg, and your warm ways.  I'll be looking for you on the other side...

Charlie Young