Richard Nations

Richard Nations, 86 of Thatcher passed away at the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center in Safford on November 17, 2010. Funeral Services will be conducted Saturday, November 20th at 11 a.m. in the Thatcher Church Street Chapel with viewing one hour prior to services by Bishop David Udall of the Thatcher 7th Ward. Interment will follow in the Thatcher Cemetery. Richard Jefferson Nations was born in Hayden, Arizona February 23, 1924 (he was 86) to Jim and Erma Lee Nations. He was 14 months younger than his brother Raymond who passed away about 14 years ago. Jim and Erma Lee went on to have 3 more children through the years, Joy and Ben; then Bob was born quite a few years later and was tragically killed at 18 years of age in his brand new 57 Chevy near their home in Virden, New Mexico. When Dick was 6-8 months old the family moved to Chandler where his dad, Jim, worked on a farm with his brother-in-law for three or four years. They later moved to Jims mothers farm across the river from Virden to help her farm 50 acres. From there Jim got on for Phelps Dodge as a machinists helper and played baseball on one of the leagues. Eight players of the Chicago White Sox were caught in a gambling scandal back in the 1919 World Series. They were intentionally losing games and essentially giving the game to the Cincinnati Redshence the name they acquiredThe Black Sox. Those players moved out West where various companies and town teams hired them and put together Semi-pro leagues that played. That drew Jim to work for the mine so he could play on one of those teams. Dick remembered attending those exciting games as a child. Then in 1929 the Great Depression hit and Jim was laid off. He moved the family to Franklin, New Mexico and became a share cropper. Joy had been born during this time and Dick was about 6. Then it was back to Nibblet, New Mexico where Ben was born. Jim was the foreman in a CCC camp and they lived in Animas, New Mexico. Bob was born in 39. Then back to Nibblet and Dick graduated from 8th grade. Dick and Raymond walked 3 miles every day to catch the bus to attend high school in Duncan, Arizona. The younger kids went to school in New Mexico. Dick played football and tennis all four years. He and Bill Beavers won the state championship in doubles. He was going to teach me to play tennis one day and that was very funny. It only lasted about fifteen minutes. I couldnt even see the ball coming toward me it was so fast! In 1942, Dick graduated from high school, and 2 days later went to work for Phelps Dodge. But he said something deep in his heart called him to serve his country so he left his job; went to Phoenix and enlisted. Of course PD held his job for him. I asked him what was in his heart that made him leave a good-paying job to join the military. He couldnt explain it. He didnt know if he felt it was just what he needed to do, or a yearning or exactly what it was. He just knew he had to serve his country at any cost. They sent him to Fort McArthur, California to the distribution Army camp and then on to Fort Custer Michigan to Boot Camp. He was assigned to the Military Police Escort Guard Company. Their purpose was to escort prisoners from Boston Harbor to different parts of the country to internment camps where they were later taken under guard to different ranches or farms to work. During this time Dick was assigned for 18 months as part of one of the guard units over the prisoners at Camp Polk, Louisiana. He was also given side camps that were located close to Lafayette to which he escorted prisoners. The soldiers had week-end leaves and there he met and married Beatrice Dugas April 26, 1944. Dick was then transferred into the medical corp. where he became a male nurse. He worked a short while and was given a medical discharge because of severe asthma. Hed had asthma all his life but living in the swamp for several years must have intensified it. Returning to his job for Phelps Dodge, Bea and Dick had a wonderful life together. Their two sons were born in Morenci: Rick was born May 2, 1945; Randy was born Sept 6, 1947. Dick ran a shovel in the pit for 10 years loading trucks and trains. Bea worked at the company store and eventually became the County Deputy Treasure. He became a shift foreman and always laughed because he trained a few well educated men who then became his boss! As a result, he was always after his sons to get an education. He phrased it youve got get that sheep skin. Dick then became the general track foreman where he oversaw 110 men and women. He said it was a whole different ballgame having women on the job now. There had always been some women, but not on the track gang and not to the extent that there were now! He had to learn a whole new way of being the bosshad to learn and incorporate a little finesse. Bea and Dick always bowled on a league. They danced and met together with other couples to play cards. The boys remember what fun they had having picnics constantly with about five families Bea and Dick ran around with. They all went on jeep outings, campouts more picnics! They were active in their church where Dick served as part of the Bishopric. He was Ward Clerk for 2 years. He was the Boy Scout Leader for a year. He always was a home teacher till, in his later years, he just couldnt get around any more; then he had to bow out gracefully. Bea and Dick vacationed every summer with various friends and family. They spent much time with their Bishop Kenny Geitz and his beautiful wife Cheryl, with whom they became the closest friends, butmostly Beas family from Louisiana who had relocated to Colorado. They remained close friends for life with Pearl and Dennis. Theyve all gone to Branson to see the country stars and hear the wonderful country music. A bunch of them rented a house boat on Lake Powell several different years and Lefty Duhon fixed Cajun cuisine that kept everyone coming back for more. Dicks been surrounded by the Brusards the Begnos, the Dugas and all the French names you can think ofmany that we couldnt remember for this history! For the first ten years of their marriage, Dick took Bea back to Louisiana to see her family every summer. All by herself, Bea even took the boys on the train twice to see them. Dick accompanied them on a third trip, but alas, he was not a train man. Then they went less often with so much time in-between that eventually Bea could not remember her French language till shed been home about a week and a half; then it all came rushing back to her. When they had just married and Beas family gave them a welcoming party, Dick asked Bea to teach him how to say thank-you in French. When Dick was served his Cajun coffee in the demitasse cup, he politely said thank-you. When the serving lady screamed, all the family laughed. They said, Beas been teaching Dick how to say French words! Bea and Dicks younger son Randy and his first wife, Phyllis went to Mesa from Morenci where they lived and Randy worked in the mine. Phyllis unexpectedly went into labor with their first child, Darren, and gave birth in Mesa. Randy owed the hospital $1600.00 which was a lot 43 years ago. Dick happily gave him the money to pay it. Randy paid it back but never forgot how his dad had come in for him, so first chance he got; he did something nice for them he thought they would enjoy. He sent them to Maui! Bea and Dick talked about Hawaii for many years to come. The flowers and the greenery and the water falls really stuck in the recesses of their mind. Then in 2008, Randy took Dick and that first son of 44 years ago, Darren, to Alaska on a once-in-a-life-time cruise that Dick really enjoyed. He got to see things hed only seen on TV. In 1982, the price of copper dropped so the company offered the ones nearing retirement a full ride and Dick jumped on it. Bea still worked, but in Dicks spare time, he kept the grounds to their beautiful home in Loma Linda in tip top shape. The company decided to offer tours to the public and asked Dick to become a tour guide. He enjoyed doing that for the next ten years of his retirement. Dick had always been a horse enthusiast so in 1985, he gave our 13 year old daughter Maria a black stallion. So for the next 8 years we all bred, raised and rode horses in Loma Linda or Safford. Bea and Dick had built a house in Loma Linda in Aug of 1975 and Dick had his 3 horses nearby. We had ours in Safford, hence why we hauled horses back and forth on a continual basis. Dick has always cooked, but while he rode horses with Rick, Maria and whoever was else was involved, Bea cooked for all of us to gather around their table when the ride was over. All the grandkids have always begged Dick to fix them green chili burros or fried cabbage! In fact, he taught Bea to cook; she just added the Cajun fire to it after she learned. They were both avid Pitch players and taught the whole family! Bea and Dick decided to move to Safford where they built another home in Quail Ridge. I believe Safford calls Quail Ridge Little Morenci because so many have retired there. They moved in 1997 without their horses. Dick had begun having some ailments and Bea was worried and wanted him closer to a hospital; but instead Bea had one serious stroke and then kept having mini strokes till she passed away the day before Dicks birthday, Feb 22, 2005just eight years after theyd moved and two months before their 61st wedding anniversary. Dick has attended, in his little scooter, birthday parties, graduation parties, Christmas celebrations, weddings, and Thanksgiving gatherings, either here or in Gilbert or Prescott where Randy lives with his wife Debbie and their family. Hes been to the hospital a time or four where one or the other of his posterity was in the emergency room. Hes bailed a few of us out of tight spots time and again; and always had a few choice words to add to his smile as he did it. The last few years two of his teenage great-grandchildren Savannah and Levi lived with him and kept him on his toes. They played cards and checkers endlessly and of course he cooked for them endlessly! Earlier, the oldest great grandson, Lane lived with him also. From Dicks two sons, he has 22 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. He led a very rich life and will always be remembered with love by his family and many friends.