Ken Staples
Ken Staples died this week. He was a great guy and a good friend.
My family spent time with Ken at his place in Red River, NM a few summers ago. He was not well. His blood disease was advancing. It required transfusions and constant monitoring of his temperature. We went to Red River in part because we were concerned it might be our last opportunity to spend some time like that with Ken. Yet that week, as always, he was all about life and living it well.
The Sunday we were there Ken gathered a large circle of friends, from a variety of denominational backgrounds, to share communion on the deck of his home. Then that same crowd joined a few hundred others at "Community House," a unique Red River gathering where anyone is welcome for worship. Ken and Mildred were key participants in CH for many years. I was honored to speak and my family was blown away when Ken went to the stage and joined in a quartet for special music, backed up by acoustic guitar and piano. It was old time Gospel Hour starring Ken Staples!
Our last day in RR Ken suggested we drive to Goose Lake. He described the winding seven mile one lane dirt road up the mountain which begins at about 8,500 feet elevation and ends at the lake at about 11,500. Once there you have a spectacular view of NM's highest peak, Wheeler Mountain (13,161 feet). Its snow melt creates Goose Lake.
Old mining cabins, moose, and eye-popping drop-offs along the trail make for interesting photo ops and dangerous rubbernecking too. Ken manned the jeep with Suzanne and Hannah plus all the fishing and cooking gear. I drove a four wheeler with Elijah in tow.
Ken described the road, the vehicles, the elevation change, the degree of difficulty... I was concerned about a two or three hour drive on an unfamiliar road, straight up a mountain on a four wheeler. And I wondered about Ken at the wheel of the jeep in his weakened state.
No need for worry. Ken loved every minute of it. Once we arrived at the breathtaking lake (its beauty as well as its elevation) Ken walked all around the edge throwing his line in. The sun was bright, the day was, well in a word, perfect.
Over lunch (yes, we caught trout!) Ken wistfully looked up at the summit of Wheeler Mt. and for a brief moment we thought about taking the trail...
No, we had come far enough. But it was perfect indeed.
Suzanne and I often think about that moment, sitting in the sun on the top of a mountain beside a crystal clear lake, enjoying family and friends.
God bless you Ken. Enjoy communion with your friends at the big Community House, you and Mildred together again. And enjoy that mountain along with the crystal lake. We'll keep driving the road and look forward to seeing you there, OK?
My family spent time with Ken at his place in Red River, NM a few summers ago. He was not well. His blood disease was advancing. It required transfusions and constant monitoring of his temperature. We went to Red River in part because we were concerned it might be our last opportunity to spend some time like that with Ken. Yet that week, as always, he was all about life and living it well.
The Sunday we were there Ken gathered a large circle of friends, from a variety of denominational backgrounds, to share communion on the deck of his home. Then that same crowd joined a few hundred others at "Community House," a unique Red River gathering where anyone is welcome for worship. Ken and Mildred were key participants in CH for many years. I was honored to speak and my family was blown away when Ken went to the stage and joined in a quartet for special music, backed up by acoustic guitar and piano. It was old time Gospel Hour starring Ken Staples!
Our last day in RR Ken suggested we drive to Goose Lake. He described the winding seven mile one lane dirt road up the mountain which begins at about 8,500 feet elevation and ends at the lake at about 11,500. Once there you have a spectacular view of NM's highest peak, Wheeler Mountain (13,161 feet). Its snow melt creates Goose Lake.
Old mining cabins, moose, and eye-popping drop-offs along the trail make for interesting photo ops and dangerous rubbernecking too. Ken manned the jeep with Suzanne and Hannah plus all the fishing and cooking gear. I drove a four wheeler with Elijah in tow.
Ken described the road, the vehicles, the elevation change, the degree of difficulty... I was concerned about a two or three hour drive on an unfamiliar road, straight up a mountain on a four wheeler. And I wondered about Ken at the wheel of the jeep in his weakened state.
No need for worry. Ken loved every minute of it. Once we arrived at the breathtaking lake (its beauty as well as its elevation) Ken walked all around the edge throwing his line in. The sun was bright, the day was, well in a word, perfect.
Over lunch (yes, we caught trout!) Ken wistfully looked up at the summit of Wheeler Mt. and for a brief moment we thought about taking the trail...
No, we had come far enough. But it was perfect indeed.
Suzanne and I often think about that moment, sitting in the sun on the top of a mountain beside a crystal clear lake, enjoying family and friends.
God bless you Ken. Enjoy communion with your friends at the big Community House, you and Mildred together again. And enjoy that mountain along with the crystal lake. We'll keep driving the road and look forward to seeing you there, OK?
posted by Danny Sims | 5:42 AM 
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