Before we bought our home in Winnemucca, NV, we paid to have our septic tank inspected with a camera to make sure all was well. Just about a month or so after moving in, the septic tank starting backing up. Long story short, they did not inspect the line nor the tank, as Kenton could not get a screw driver to penetrate into the mass of roots in the pipe. The look on Kenton's face says it all.
Kenton and I met each other because of our mutual friend Steve Pettitt. He worked on the Mendocino N.F. and had talked Kenton and I into applying for jobs there. Thanks Steve!
Well, if you knew this Wills' family, then you know they did not like having their pictures taken. So when I asked them to please smile for the camera. This is the picture they left us with. Great picture, just wished I had all 3 faces smiling at us.
Larry and Teri, were helping us out, by driving us to Elko, NV for a job interview Kenton had there. No Job offer....good thing, as it wasn't in fire. Kenton said we needed to check out Lamoille canyon and so we did. It's prettier in the earlier part of summer. Take a road trip some summer and enjoy!
Front Row: 1. Myra Marcum 2. Randy Ames 3. Steve Johnson 4. George Battaglia 5. Rick Addy 6. Cyndie Hogg 7. Tracy Kramer 8. Phyllis Kipp 9. Ed Hotalen 10. Kit Kemsley 11. Tom Rosenberg 12. Susie Stingley-Russell 13. John Thompson. Back Row: 14. Mark Vore 15. Pat Butler 16. Ricky Smith 17. Karen Feary 18. Rita Chandler 19. Tammy Wodarczak 20. Beth Spencer 21. Joan Drnjevic 22. Brandi Hecker 23. Gwenan Boirier 24. Anna Lincoln 25. Lanette Estes 26. Irene Mora 27. Mike Kerrigan 28. Kathy Shelton 29. Becki Zimmerman 30. Thomas Evans 31. Tony Lubke 32. Lorette Sandoval 33. Kenton Wills 34. Jon Gregg 35. Dave Emery 36. Tad Kolwicz 37. Donna Hawkins 38. Kenan Jaycox 39. Dave Quinn 40. Ann Walker 41. Andy Kramer 42. Marva Willey 43. Dana Shuford 44. Dave Hendren 45. Dennis Sheridan 46. Julie Polutnik 47. Gary Boyd 48. Mary Jo Lommen 49. Randy Hart 50. Chuck Wamack 51. Dave Curry 52. Judy Dunnam 53. Cathy Hutton
Don Wood was a very good friend of Kenton's, They hunted, fished, camped and just hung out with each other. Although, we had lost contact with him, he was never far from Kenton's thoughts. I think this was their doe hunt in x5b, CA
After surviving a little over a year living in Yuma AZ, Kenton and I had just recently moved to Winnemucca, NV and seen this billboard at the junction of 140 and 95. He had me snap a quick picture, because for us, this was a new start and a new life that we both enjoyed. We spent many hours exploring the Great Basin.
Peto was a good friend of Kenton's, They played football together during their high school years. They spent many hours together fishing the Sacramento River and Shasta Lake. And let's not forget to mention the hours they spent hunting together too.
This is where Kenton and I met, worked and fell in love.
Kenton and I went to Log Springs in July of 2007 and what we found was heartbreaking for the both of us. The work station was boarded up, no firefighters roaming the grounds. Just our memories of how it used to be.
Alot of meetings and good food was cooked in this building. July, 2007.
The good ole barracks. July 2007.
In 2008, LIFC was named Center of the year for 2007! LIFC also received the Good Neighbor award for 2007.
As Center Manager of LIFC, Kenton believed in following policies and procedures, as they were written and getting his fire folks out on fire assignments. Kenton was highly against micro managing his folks, as he knew they were fully capable of doing the jobs they were hired to do. And if not, they knew they could always asks questions and get the correct answers from Kenton. So many times Kenton would come home from work and say to me, so and so from (location) called me up today and ask my advice about such and such. He had a good head on his shoulders and knew every aspect of fighting wildland fires. He was an excellent Center Manager and is missed at LIFC.
