Arizona Pioneer
& Cemetery Research
Project
Internet Presentation
Version 112213
MEMORIAL TO:
EDWARD WESLEY BLOCK
DECEMBER 8, 1938 TO SEPTEMBER 1,
2013
74 Years, 8 Months, 24 Days
By Kathy Block
This
memorial article celebrates Ed Block's varied, active life. "Thank you" for the generous
contributions to the APCRP Ed Block Memorial Fund and for the many kind cards. It
comforts me to know that people cared!
These
two posters displayed at the memorial service show many photos from Ed's life.
|
Poster - Ed's Memorial |
|
Second poster at Ed's Memorial |
Ed was
very outdoors oriented and over the years we enjoyed trips for rifle and
archery hunting, camping, and fishing. He loved to hike and backpack. One of his
favorite backpacking adventures, done twice, was up a steep mountain trail to
historic Spanish Caves in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado. We Spelunked in caves in many places: lava caves in the NW,
and after our move to Arizona, mud caves near Death Valley, limestone caves in
Utah, and others. He became interested in gold prospecting and we explored many
back-country areas in his search for spots to dry wash, pan, and metal detect.
We camped with our beat-up 1973 Shasta trailer on these excursions. Ed also
liked to visit national parks, and photograph scenic vistas. We visited many
local history museums. On our last trip a week before his untimely stroke and
death, we'd toured the expanded Buffalo Bill Cody Museum in Cody, Wyoming. He
particularly liked this display.
|
Favorite display - Buffalo Bill Cody Museum, one
of last photos taken by Ed Block |
Ed's photos displayed behind
computer. |
|
Ed looking at mud caves near
Shoshone, CA (East end of Death Valley). |
Ed
in Parchment Cave, Utah. Photo by Dr. William Halliday. |
Ed
could talk amiably and enjoyably, about various topics, and also was a good
listener. On every trip, strangers seemed drawn to him. His quiet sense of
humor was noted by many friends. He was an avid reader, particularly about
physics and astronomy, and helped at public star-gazing parties of the local
astronomy club. He cheerfully participated in APCRP projects, such as Cedar
Glade, Puntenney, and Del Rio, helping to record
graves, erect cemetery name plaques, do cleanup tasks. He always appreciated
the various friendships he had with neighbors and in APCRP.
His
brother Bill, of Prescott Valley, myself, and a great friend, Judy Bryant, and
her mother, drove up to Gold Basin to scatter his ashes above his favorite wash
for prospecting. Neighbors B.J. and Jean Buckout,
followed us in their jeep. Judy shared a poem she wrote as we saluted Ed's
memory with champagne.
"To Ed Block, Good husband, brother and
friend, you are missed,
We raise to you the parting glass
For all good company must pass;
May all good memories live on,
Til we meet again as time goes on.
|
Judy Bryant toasting Ed's
memory at base of wash reading poem she wrote. Photo by Bill Block. |
We
stood by Ed's photo placed over his ashes on a plateau beside his favorite wash
and read a Hopi prayer.
|
Hopi prayer read at ceremony |
Then,
dried rose petals, from a plant a friend sent, were scattered over the site. I
like to think that we received closure and comfort and that Ed's spirit was
released in this beautiful spot.
|
B.J.s Jeep at plateau beside
wash |
Plaque in Ed's Memory |
Generous
donations to APCRP paid for this plaque that was placed in a discrete location
to further honor Ed's memory.
|
Ed's Memorial folder |
|
Last photo taken of Ed. Goulding Trading Post, Monument Valley, August 2013.
Photo by Kathy Block |
These
words, photos and actions honor the memory of Ed Block, a kind, generous,
loving husband and friend. Ed seems to be saying goodbye in this photo taken on
our last trip, before he departed from this life.
Arizona Pioneer
& Cemetery Research
Project
Internet Presentation
Version 112213
WebMaster: Neal Du Shane
Copyright
© 2013 Neal Du Shane
All rights reserved. Information contained within this website
may be used
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All contents of this website are willed to the Arizona
Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project (APCRP).