Bayou Packet #34

November 2004 The Bayou Packet # 34 Page 1 of 4

This Very Special Edition is Dedicated to Betsy

In Mawgan, England where “byroads twist rather more than seems strictly necessary,” there is a direful inscriptionin singsong words:

Shall we all dye.We shall dye all.All dye shall we.Dye all we shall.

My good wife, my friend, my love and my life for 32 years fought the hard fight for over three years before tellingour friend Kim Pierce that: “She was ready to go.” And, about 5:15 in the morning of 01 November 2004, she did.She was in the ICU of Clear Lake Hospital in Webster Texas with an unknown infection, with which her fragileimmune system and the antibiotics could not cope. Per her wishes, she will be cremated and her ashes strewnover Oregon, where her son David Andrew Gacke lives, and The Gulf of Mexico where we have sailed togetherso many times.

Betsy Anna Hoffman Epps16 August 1938 – 01 November 2004

Sailing friend “Preacher” John Mincher spoke a eulogy at her memorial service on 02 November which was moreof a celebration than a mourning. We celebrated her life as she did while she lived. Friends Eric Wall, MarcyFryday and Fred Parrott spoke remembrances. Fred, owner of Café Blonde where we often went for music andwine, also played the guitar. There were no tears of sorrow at her service, only tears of nostalgia as we allremembered her impact on each of us. She truly left the world a better place than it was when she entered it and Ithink that is the best any of us can ask for. Goodbye Betsy – I love you.

Special Edition The Bayou Packet # 34 Page 2 of 4

Preacher John Mincher Fred Parrott

Attendees, in addition to me, were:

Betsy’s son David Gacke from Oregon Boat Captain Aaron & Kim PierceMy daughter Lesley Epps Bowen and son-in-law Ken Bowen from Dallas Boat Neighbor Eric Wall & Katrina CoxMy brother David Epps & sister-in-law Peggy Epps from Dallas Neighbor Pauline HittMy niece Whitney Epps Parsons from Dallas Neighbor Marcy FrydayStructural Engineer Don Davis from Dallas Neighbor Don CottrellArchitect Kenn Hornbeck from Dallas Neighbor Peter KinserBetsy’s former boss Chuck & Leti Stack Preacher John & Linda Mincher fro DickinsonFred & Susie Parrott from Café Blonde John LlewellynRon Wicker Bill Kerber from Kemah

Photos of all, except Bill Kerber who only stayed a little while and my brother David who was the photographer,are available for viewing on-line at:

http://www.ofoto.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=3kuqwzcf.50xlzg7v&Uy=-6ii2gu&Upost_signin=BrowsePhotos.jsp%3fshowSlide%3dtrue&Ux=1

Thank you notes have been sent to those who sent flowers, but I want to thank them again here:

Reubin Harle from China Publicus Staff fron DallasAaron & Kim Pierce from Seabrook MVS-USA Staff from NJ & RussiaJack & Marcy Fryday from Seabrook Deborah Deffaa from NJJack and Gayl Hancock from Seabrook Mr. & Mrs. Louis Deffaa from NJ

Peter Liberi from NJ

We had a gathering at our house after the service at Jack Rowe Funeral Home in League City. Several goodfriends were here. Special thanks to Fred & Susie Parrott from Café Blonde for snacks and wine.


Along with his numerous other writings, William Randolph Hearst penned the following poem, which has becomethe favorite of all of those in the Hearst organization. Reprinting the poem is the traditional method of the HearstNewspapers for remembering the founder on the annual anniversary of his death on 14 August 1951.

“The song of the River” has also become a favorite of mine. I am repeating it herein for your enjoyment and tocommemorate Betsy’s passing.

The Song of the River– W.R. Hearst

The snow melts on the mountainAnd the water runs down to the spring,and the spring in a turbulent fountain,

With a song of youth to sing,Runs down to the riotous river,And the river flows to the sea,

And the water againGoes back in rain

To the hills where it used to be.

And I wonder if life’s deep mysteryIsn’t much like the rain and the snow

Returning through all eternityTo the places it used to know.

For life was born on the lofty heightsAnd flows in a laughing stream,

To the river belowWhose onward flow

Ends in a peaceful dream.

And so at last,When our life has passed

And the river has run its course,It again goes back,

O’er the selfsame track,To the mountain which was its source.

So why prize lifeOr why fear death,

Or dread what is to be?The river ran

Its allotted spanTill it reached the silent sea.

Then the water harked backTo the mountain-top

To begin its course once more.So we shall run

The course begunTill we reach the silent shore.

Then revisit earthIn a pure rebirth

From the heart of the virgin snow.So don’t ask why

We live or die,Or whither, or when we go,

Or wonder about the mysteriesThat only God may know.


At the moment starlight reaches our eyes, we are experiencing the end of a cosmic odyssey that began beforehuman beings existed. Viewing the stars connects us to the multitude of generations that preceded us. We seeand experience the same starry configurations as our grandparents and their grandparents before them.

When I Heard the Learned Astronomer– Walt Whitman

When I heard the learn'd astronomer,When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,

When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide,and measure them,

When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured withmuch applause in the lecture-room,

How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself,

In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars.

I have always look’d up at the stars. I will do so now, more intently, with a different purpose – looking for Betsy. If,as is said, there truly is a better place, I know that there is where she is.__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Jess Stimpson “Wink” Epps, Jr. — AIA / CSI

Husband of Betsy Anna (HOFFMAN) GACKEEx-husband of Pollyanna (LOVE) SUMBLIN

Father of Lesley Elayne (EPPS) BOWENStepfather of David Andrew GACKE

Step-grandfather of Jacob Ryan and Joshua Allen GACKEBrother of David Oscar EPPS

Son of Jess Stimpson EPPS and Martha Olivia McCAINPaternal Grandson of David Thomas EPPS and Martha Ann “Mattie“ RAMBO

Maternal Grandson of Samuel Oscar McCAIN and Ida Giss LESTERPaternal Great-grandson of Joel Stimpson EPPS and Anna HARKEY

Paternal Great-grandson of Jesse Clinton RAMBO and Lauzy CHAPMANMaternal Great-grandson of Rev. William Franklin McCAIN and Elizabeth Olivia ACKERMaternal Great-grandson of Elisha Lockhart LESTER and Martha A. "Mattie" SULLIVAN

Ship: Mail:817 Bryan Avenue (West Corner at 5th Street) P.O. Box 476(Old) Seabrook, TX 77586-3814 Seabrook, TX 77586-0476

Telephones: Faxes:281+474-2292 Residence + Office 281+474-5002 Office281+468-4626 Mobile 561-760-8113 Office via E-Mail

E-Mail:Jess Epps: [email protected]

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Bayou Packet #34