Athol Eugene "Pete" Reynolds

August 14, 1920 - December 03, 2011

Celebrated in four printed volumes of Pete’s Pebbles, Pete is remembered fondly.

Pete died peacefully on December 3, 2011 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. He was born August 14, 1920 in a dirt-roofed, log house in Eagle County Colorado, to Floyd Hayes “Shorty” Reynolds and Alice Raye Rabedew. The oldest of eleven siblings, Pete was educated in a rural, one-room schoolhouse, and went on to engage varied professional roles in construction, sales, and cattle ranching, eventually retiring from highway engineering and other positions with the federal government. Pete enjoyed the outdoors, was an avid rock hound for many years. He explored the world through camping, family vacations, and travel with his wife of 59 years, Muriel. After retirement, and in spite of his visual impairment due to macular degeneration, he wrote a book about his life; “Trail of One Life,” and went on to write a series of poetry books; “Pete’s Pebbles” volumes one through four.

Pete met “His Lady,” Muriel, in 1952 at a square dance in Denver, Colorado which led to the beginning of their adventures. Over the next 59 years they lived in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and Washington State. Annually, for decades, Pete returned to a familiar apple orchard in Eastern Washington where he had an established relationship with the owner to glean apples. These were brought back for applesauce, apple butter, and sharing with local food banks and others in need. When not tending a garden, cattle ranching, or writing, the two were off exploring England, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Russia, and the Cook Islands.

Remembered for his kindness, poetry, knowledge of geology, and perseverance, Pete is survived by

four brothers; Royce E. Reynolds, Donald “Duke” N. Reynolds, Theodore “Ted” Reynolds, and Felix R. Reynolds

four children; Darlene Wimmer, Glen Reynolds, Kenneth Reynolds, and Sherry Anderson

seven grand-children; LouAnn Smith, Clinton Reynolds, Darla Reynolds, Adam Reynolds, Aubrie Reynolds, Rachel Anderson and Kelly Anderson

six great-grand children; Lisa Peters, Carrie Smith, Rebba Reynolds, Jameel Reynolds, Crystal Reynolds, William Reynolds

seven great-great-grand children; Jazmine Peters, Nevaeh Smith, Chloe Peters, Traeh Smith, Jackson Forbes, Braehden Smith, Jace Peters

DONATIONS

Pete had requested that donations be made to the Eagle County Historical Society or to the Northshore Senior Center.

Memorial

MY PRAYER

With a feeble mind and a humble heart I bow to You tonight
and if there is wrong in what I say I hope to make it right.
Dear God, I have trusted you to guide me night and day,
as I tried to bring folks happiness through words I had to say.

So here I bow before you Lord and ask you once again
to be with all the readers for I don't mean to bring them pain.
My prayer is that they can enjoy every single poem
and that they might share with others and bring gladness to a home.

Lord, heal the ones among us that are feeling very bad
you may take a part of me if it will make that person glad.
God, my prayers go far beyond the poems that I write
I pray that you will touch each one as they pray to you each night.

I sat me down this evening, Lord, to write this simple verse.
I suppose it could be better but then I suppose it could be worse.
I hope that you will stay with me and guide this feeble mind
for now and then I need your help to get me out of a bind.

Now once again I thank you, Lord, for all that you have done
for there is no earthly way that I could have done it all alone.
Lord, you and time are much alike, both are everywhere.
I know that you are ever near and that is the answer to MY PRAYER

by Pete Reynolds

A LONG TIME AGO

Since I was born in 1920 in a dirt-roofed cabin of logs
I walked with my old great grandad as he fed them old red hogs.
I just moved on from three-cornered pants to denim overalls.
Too many people in the tiny house, some were climbing the walls.

Other wee ones came to life in the house where I was born
and to young ones like me, old folks looked weathered and worn.
In those days the people were happy with what they had
and when neighbors came to visit everyone was glad.

They made a batch of biscuits and stew in an iron pot
then gathered around the table while the tasty food was hot.
It took some time to have a meal because it takes time to chat,
these were folks who took the time to stop and chew the fat.

Modern times kept creeping in and old folks passed away,
and younger generations saw the changes were here to stay.
Cars replaced the horse and buggy and the roads were very nice
to get things cold just flip a switch and they had no need for ice.

Electricity- radios then television - each found a place in life.
Some men watched the tube so much they forgot they had a wife.
Now we have these computer things and life is faster still
but they don't have a computer to run the 'bootleggers whiskey still'.

There was a railroad through the valley and a dusty old dirt road
and at times a team of horses pulled a mighty hefty load.
Most everyone was happy then and the way of life was slow
but dear friends and neighbors - that was A LONG TIME AGO.