This photo was the official one marking dad's first retirement from the Air Force He stayed retired for 6 months and them went back to work for them as a civilian.

Notice mark's head, still bandaged after the fall that fractured his skull.

I will never forget that phone call. My father never called me and this day he started off with "what are you doing?" Believe it or not, I was actually ironing. When I told him, it got very strange. He said. "Put the iron down and turn it off. Then go sit down ". 

The bottom dropped out of my belly as I did. And then he told me about Mark's  accident and used words I'd never heard before like subdural hematoma etc. And he ended with asking me to pray with him.

I didn't fully realize until later that they had not expected Mark to survive. This photograph must have berm taken very shortly after that.

This is the last photograph taken as a family living in Spokane Washington. A few months later the family moved to Riverside.

"You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.”  - Anne Lamott

Mom and i send our deepest sympathy for your loss of a great man, who had so many meanings to so many people. We want to thank you for welcomeing us with sincere warmth into your home each christmas, it was a time we looked forward to always.

We are praying for all of you, that the loard holds you in his arms during this most difficult time. You are, and always will be in our hearts and prayers.

With sincere love, and care,
Jan Johnson & julie