Winnie Cross
How fascinating to find this after five years. I have been commemorating David's life every year on my Facebook Page and every place else I could find to do so. This is the first time I have found anything that had any kind of a write-up of his life or passing in any way. I have to add here that including his brush with opioids in the write-up may have made some living person feel righteous, but it would have broken David’s heart. I sincerely doubt Jonathan Nish would have endorsed it, sounding like he was involved. David and I were friends in Junior High and High School, when, yes, I called him Kim. He came to my home in Logan to see me often and spent time with me and my family there. My mother, Zetta Benson Peterson, especially always remembered him. We "found" each other again and started writing the year before he died. He asked me to call him David, which I have always done since. I sent flowers to his service in Salt Lake, because I couldn’t get a flight out of Oregon fast enough to get there myself. I sent several large plants as well as other flowers. I always hoped there was someone there to take them home, but I wasn’t even sure there would be. I remember David constantly, and I do it publicly every year by planting trees in his name. Does anyone else do anything? I planted a grove of trees in Utah for two years until Utah took themselves out of the “Plant a Tree” Living Tree Tribute Program of the National Forests. For the last three years, I have planted a grove in his name in Oregon, where I live. I did the same thing today. I will continue to do so as long as I am able. After I am gone, my will will stipulate that the planting continue. This is the message that I left with my trees today, in case anyone cares.
Because we both always remembered, because we always understood
Because we knew what was sterling, time-worthy and basically just good
Because we read the same books and could sing each important song
Because we used humanity when we looked at right and wrong
Our tears, laughter, and celebration are stronger than the grave
So, while I’m still here, I’m building you a Growing Green Enclave
The world may find it inappropriate, odd or just plain strange
But the friendship deep that holds our hearts neither time nor death will change
©️ EPCross
All my love – forever – Winnie