Submitted by Chris Beith
Hi everyone. It has been brought to my attention that people are using the kitchen but not cleaning up. If you use anything in the kitchen, please be sure to clean up after yourself. This includes wiping out microwave, washing AND putting dishes, utensils etc. and cookware away.
Please everyone, let’s do our part in keeping our park clean. Thank you.
submitted by Gene’s Family….
Ivan Gene Schrader was born to Ivan and Lorna Schrader on April 5, 1931, in Bandon, Oregon. He graduated from Bandon High School and served as a corporal in the Army during the Korean War from 1951 to 1952. Upon returning to Bandon, Gene married his sweetheart, Helen Wehner, in 1954 in what would become a 70-year love story celebrated on their anniversary in 2024.
Family was everything to Gene. He and Helen raised three children: Mindy Rund (married to Mark), Don Schrader (married to Jeannine), and Ken Schrader (married to Julie). Gene is also survived by his brother-in-law, Bill Wehner and his wife Lora. He was a beloved grandfather to seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, who lovingly called him ‘Papa.’ His extended family, including many nieces and nephews, loved him dearly. Continue reading
Submitted by Suzi Rupert
Leonard Bachtell, Lot #70 (new member), said he had been searching for Mr. Gobble for quite some time. He said, “I was enjoying my ice cream at the Sunday Social hour and spotted Mr. Gobble looking at me from the fireplace in the dining room”. The others in the room said, “oh good, you found the turkey”.
Who will find Mr. Gobble next month????
Timber Valley lowered the Member flag to half staff in honor of Barry Getis, Lot #173, who passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Barry had suffered a broken arm and leg recently and had been out of the park. Barry and his wife, Regina “Regi” moved to Timber Valley on September 11, 2017.
Barry resided in many places during his life, among them Kansas, New York, Seattle, and Florida. He made Florida his home for 35 years and was employed as a waiter in a well-known steak house as well as a car salesman. In Seattle he was an insurance adjuster with State Farm. During his time in Seattle he answered an ad for a tennis partner and found Regi whom he married in 1996. Together they joined Escapees and RV’d for many years full-time before finding Timber Valley.
Barry is survived by his wife, Regi, a daughter and 2 grandchildren who live in Florida.
The New Member Orientation Committee and the Board of Directors are holding a Workshop to discuss the possible new procedures for prospective members to get on the Active Wait List. The Workshop will be held in the big room at the Clubhouse on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 1:00. All members are invited. Copies of the new procedures are available in the office or online.
You can find a link to this document in Members Only under Directories/Rosters/ Other.
Furry Friends
Say hello to Dottie. Dottie is a 16-year-old mixed breed of love and care. Lee Roy’s late wife, Carol, was wandering through the flea market in Bowling Green, Kentucky, when she spotted this little girl, and it was love at first glance. Dottie was so tiny, she fit into Carol’s shirt pocket. As time went on, Dottie and Carol developed a special bond. Dottie was licensed as a support animal for Carol.
Dottie was the first one in the kitchen in the morning. She was a hungry little one. She was also very clever. One day Lee Roy and Carol could not
find her anywhere. It was discovered that Dottie used the Afghan on the
couch to pull her little frame onto the couch and then cover herself. Lee Roy and Carol finally found her after many scary moments while Dottie was snoozing away under the Afghan.
If you want to meet Dottie just stop by Lee Roy’s lot, #203. And, make sure and bring a treat.
Start looking on April 21st I am ready for the Escapees of Timber Valley SKP Park to start searching for me.
REMEMBER, I WILL NOT BE ON ANYONE’S LOT. I will be hiding inside or outside the Clubhouse, Mailroom, or Snoopy’s Meadow. (Snoopy’s only in the Spring, Summer, and Fall Season) When you find me, bring me to, Suzi Rupert, Lot 200. You will get your photo taken with me and get your finder’s reward, a $15.00 gift certificate to Dairy Queen. Your
photo will be published in the TV Log/Website.
I look forward to meeting you!!!
Mark and Melinda Rund – Lot 78
Mark and Melinda have been coming to the Park for 17 years. Here they visited with Melinda’s parents, Gene and Helen Schrader, who were long time members of Timber Valley. Mark and Melinda lived in Astoria, Oregon prior to moving here. Melinda has had a career as an x-ray technician and is now retired and Mark is a retired electrician. They have 2 daughters. One lives in Portland and the other is in Idaho. They also have 5 grandchildren. When they retired from their respective occupations they were looking forward to traveling in their RV, but family matters intervened and their travels were interrupted to care for Melinda’s father whose health was failing. As you drive Lot 78 you will notice all the many plants on their lot. Melinda says she enjoys gardening and Mark says he does the work. Welcome Mark and Melinda!
George and Debora Urban – Lot 47
George was born in Queens and Debora was born In Denver. They met in Florida and moved back to Colorado. They most recently have been living in Loveland, Colorado. They have been RVing for 12 years, mostly in the West. Debora said she picked up a copy of our Escapees magazine in a waiting room and became curious about Escapees and the Parks. She started investigating and it led to their getting on our AWL. Debora is an Enrolled Agent licensed by the government and does tax work. She likes to crochet when she has time and he has been latch hooking rugs for the past 30 years. They have 2 cats named Teeger and Punkin. Welcome George and Debora!
I have often said, in jest, that my musings have become famous on three continents. The U.S., Canada and England. Geography teachers please withhold your scorn. I write a lot of made up stuff. But, sometimes, it’s based on facts. In November of 2022 I cobbled together a story about a man who lived in his car. I named him John Tucker and placed him in Ratcheds. There was such a man in a similar town. Nobody knew his real name or his story. I now do.
The internet is a magical place. You can find anything from a cure for hemorrhoids to how to contact anyone. You can also write a story that is initially read by a hundred people and can be forwarded and reread multiple times. And if the gods of cyberspace are in a particularly generous mood, you can get the following letter.
“Dear Mr Prout, I am hoping that this reaches you. I Googled your name, and, hopefully got the right address. A relative of mine recently read your article titled ‘A Thanksgiving Story’. When she sent it to me my heart almost exploded. ‘That’s my brother Tom!’ I yelled. Ed, my husband, and Margie , my daughter came running into the kitchen. I guess they thought I was hallucinating. When my heart stopped racing, we read and reread your story. I understand that you took some basic facts and wove them into the story. Many of your suppositions are off the mark, but there is enough for me to know that you were writing about my brother, Tom Berman. I am giving you my phone number in the hope that you will call me and find out the real story of Tom Berman.” Sincerely Virginia Cruz.
This blew my mind. I have no idea where to start, so here goes nothing. I have written several dozen pieces over the past few years. “ A Thanksgiving Story “ about the fictional John Tucker has given me the most satisfaction.
I have spoken with Virginia several times over the past few weeks. It’s her wish that I tell enough of her brother’s story that his family may treasure it. She insisted that I doctor the facts so they can keep it in the family. So, Tom Berman, aka John Tucker, is a walking contradiction. Partly truth and partly fiction.
Tom Berman was born and raised in the southwestern part of the United States. Let’s say Arizona. Normal kid. A little shy. An average student. When he was a teen, he decided he wanted to be an engineer. His family didn’t have much, so, Tom worked with his dad as a carpenter. He was very good at what he did and loved doing it. He had a girlfriend named Ellie and started applying to colleges.
One day he received a letter. YOU ARE HEREBY ORDERED TO REPORT…
He left home a week later. “ The last letter Ed and I got from him was written the night before he was sent over there. A place that wasn’t even on our old maps. He didn’t say much, but, I could sense the terror he felt.” Tom put in his time. Saw and did things that broke him. He went home with an honorable discharge for what was called P.T.S.D. Virginia said he had a vacant look. Almost catatonic at times. Withdrawn. He never talked about his service. Hardly talked at all. He pushed Ellie away and just hid. Ed and Virginia tried to get him some help. No help ever came. They don’t understand why.
“ He started drinking. At first I thought it was to help kill the pain he was in. The terrible mental pain. Then my pastor suggested it was to kill what he had become. See, Tom couldn’t get help. So I had to “
This is a story repeated and repeated over millennia. Everyone has a breaking point. Fortunately most of us never have to reach it. Ed and Virginia did. “ One night we asked Tom to join us at the kitchen table. We wanted to discuss our options. We never got a chance. Tom took one look at our faces and walked out. We never saw him again. Years later we got a post card from Oregon. The name of the place was blacked out. It just said
‘I am well.’
The gods of cyberspace cooperated again. Virginia had read about the church where Tom stayed and was able to contact the current incarnation of Pastor Don. He’s been in Ratcheds for ten years and worked with Tom. Tom had lived in the church parking lot in the old Ford. “ He told me he kind of inherited Tom. Previous pastors kept a history of working with Tom. Much of your story was spot on. Tom became a part of Ratcheds. He lived in that old car almost thirty years. He worked as a handyman and was loved by everyone he met. One morning he didn’t come to breakfast. Pastor Don went to check. Tom had died in his sleep. Whatever demons possessed him were also dead.”
Ed and Virginia now have closure. They understand that they didn’t lose Tom, they loaned him to a community that loved and appreciated him. He led a meaningful life and touched many hearts.
I’ve learned a valuable lesson from all of this. Words have power. Words, true or not, can make a difference in people’s lives. A story I wrote for a small number of friends reached far beyond what my imagination could conceive. My words reunited a family.
R.I.P. Tom Berman. R.I.P. John Tucker. Your life story touched more than you could ever know.
P.S. As agreed, I sent this finished piece to Ed and Virginia. They asked for some small changes and asked that I end this tale with the following:
TO ALL THE TOM BERMANS AND JOHN TUCKERS OUT THERE; YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. WE , WHO LOVE YOU WILL KEEP YOUR SPIRIT. FOREVER.
Fred