One Killer Obit

It was a group effort;  a comportment of aunts, uncles, cousins and my parents; the result, a grand slam of an obituary.  Now, if I can not screw up the format...

OBITUARY FOR “SWEET POTATO JOE”

JOE F. ALVERNAZ

With a strong peace of mind and joy in his heart, knowing that he would be joining his beloved Florence again, Joe slipped away quietly at Grace Nursing Home, at the age of 93, following a visit with family members.

Known as “Sweet Potato Joe” far and wide, he filled his life with love of family, had the greatest sense of community service and unselfishly helped anyone in need.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, Joe felt a desire to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.  His nickname of “Sweet Potato Joe” was given to him by his fellow Marine, close friend, and actor Brian Keith.  Joe was the first farmer Brian ever met and Brian was the first actor Joe ever knew.  While in boot camp, he married the former Florence Cardoza of Merced in 1942.

After the war, and during his life as a sweet potato farmer, he served as President of the California Sweet Potato Council, and US Sweet Potato Council, where he was a Director for over twenty years.  He was the first California farmer to attend the National Sweet Potato Convention, among other industry firsts.  Joe served as President of the Merced County Farm Bureau, and was on the Board of Directors of the Nisei Farmers League.  He formed the California Sweet Potato Growers Co-op in Livingston, along with several other local growers, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

His interests and community involvement were very diverse - from serving as a founding member of the Livingston Medical Group, to past-President of Livingston Rotary, to being known as the “Voice of Livingston.” From 1946 to 1996, he announced all the Livingston High School football games, lending his strong voice to the community by also announcing everything in Livingston from parades to radio programs. He served on the Livingston Elementary School Board and the Merced County Recreation Commission for many years. Joe’s acting skills even benefited the Livingston Little Theater Group, where he starred in several productions, most notably as Elwood P. Dowd in “Harvey”.

His love of baseball began at an early age and became a life-long interest that manifested itself into a devotion to the sport for over eighty years.  He organized the first kid’s hardball team in Merced County in the early 50’s.  He was particularly fond of American Legion Baseball, serving as a coach, sponsor, announcer and booster for over fifty years. This led to his being appointed the third Area Commissioner of Baseball.  All of these years of being involved in baseball in Livingston culminated in the community baseball field being renamed the “Joe F. Alvernaz Baseball Field,” something he was so proud of.

Joe was predeceased by his parents, Joe and Mabel Alvernaz, brothers, Arthur and John Alvernaz, and sister, Mary Geyer.  He was also predeceased by his oldest son, Joey Alvernaz, in 1980 and by his wife of 64 years, Florence, in 2007.

He is survived by five children, Judy Blevins, James (Colette) Alvernaz, and Benjamin (Debbie) Alvernaz of Livingston; Cecelia (James) Simon of San Diego, and Susan (Randall) Wilson of Mariposa, a sister, Cecelia Luker of Atwater, 17 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

His light on earth has dimmed, but heaven is brighter as he has joined Florence, the true love of his life.

So long to our Dad, coach, neighbor and everyone’s friend.  He will be deeply and painfully missed, yet celebrated, honored and never forgotten.

Visitation will be at Wilson Funeral Home in Atwater, California on Sunday, November 10 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Services are scheduled for Monday, November 11 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Atwater with internment following at Winton District Cemetery. A reception will be held afterward at St. Jude Thaddeus Church Hall in Livingston.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to Grace Nursing Home in Livingston or to the Joe F. Alvernaz Memorial Fund to benefit youth baseball in Livingston.

Prayer of Fortitude

"'If I must die, let me not be afraid of death, but let there be a meaning, O God, in my dying.'" - a prayer of Gladys Aylward taught to her by Mrs. Lawson.

Thoughts?

The quote is found on page 170 in the biography Gladys Aylward: The Adventure of a Lifetime by Janet and Geoff Benge

I Can't Resist....

....although you probably wish I had.

Apparently our federal government decided it needs a break. Sitting on the tractor yesterday and realized how ridiculous the whole thing is. Everyone agrees a budget needs to be made, the problem is people can’t agree what to include and what to cut.

 It’s like when we were kids and Mom told us we could watch a movie. Do you know how hard it is to get five or six kids to agree on what movie to watch? We’d end up with factions and alliances, trying to sway the others over to your side. It could take an hour to chose a movie and sometimes we took so long Mom would nix the whole thing. (There were other ways of ensuring something you didn’t like didn’t get watched too. One sibling disliked My Fair Lady, so they would intentionally swear in front of Mom and then blame the movie. It was very clever, but really annoying).

As adults we still don’t always agree, but the days of storming out of the room and getting really mad have faded as we’ve become adults. Which brings us full circle back to today.

Truthfully, this strike doesn’t really bother me. It’s still harvest time and the crop still needs to be gathered. My family and friends are still around and the grocery store is still open so I can get food. The thing that does bug are the poor average blokes getting “time off” because their employers are acting like squabbling kids.

I could end there, but I have two more thoughts, and the second one will probably get me in trouble. I apologize in advance for any frustration my observations may cause you.

First off; Forgive me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the idea of budgeting to a) insure you don’t go into debt; or b) that you get out of it in a timely manner? So why does our government budget always have a growing debt attached to it? I mean, am I missing something here? I’m pretty sure business don’t like the debt category and usually try to avoid it, or if it’s necessary hope the rewards out way the risks.

I have seen friends live frugally on small amounts of money to keep themselves out of debt or to pay off debts in a timely manner. It’s not impossible to do. (Although we are talking about government and traditionally they have been rather lavish with expenditures and often in debt).

Secondly, I think the government should stop trying to play god. It’s not the government’s job to take care of people;  that is the churches job. I believe that’s anyone who calls themselves a Christian/identifies with Christ or is generally religious; I believe it’s their responsibility.

I’ll admit it, I agree with the idea, you don't work, you don't eat. (Shocker to those who know me, Nicole work?!?) I may not like it, but I am physically fit, of mostly sound mind, and there is no reason why I cannot provide for my own basic needs. I realize there are some people who truly cannot do this.

For example, my youngest sister is physically and mentally handicapped; if she learns to walk or talk it’ll be a big deal. She will always need someone to take care of her, and is fortunate to have my parents. I get the idea that some people cannot fully support themselves and that responsibility falls on those of us who can work. (My sister can help put her blocks away.  Sometimes…)

 I also understand there are times when people are down on their luck. (Believe me I get that). And we should help people get back on their feet. But there comes a point in time where we have to grow up, and take responsibility. On the record, working a minimum wage job with a college degree is disillusioning and sometimes stinks. But it puts food on the table and allows me to pay my bills.

I am not an expert in world religions, but from the little bit I do know I’ve noticed something interesting; gods tend to demand some kind of sacrifice for their protection and favor. Government, I applaud your continual desire to recreate Eden. But maybe, just maybe, part of the solution would be giving us back responsibility, and letting us man up. At least that’s a sacrifice I understand. I can’t help but wonder what the cost of all this will be.

Awww, who am I kidding. Governments don’t relinquish power, and who wants to pay for what we can get for free anyway… Here’s to hoping they pick a movie soon. Although I’d hold off on the popcorn. It’s not so good stale.