(Nedhudson1) Ned Hudson

Ned Hudson, known throughout DG as Nedhudson1, passed away November 20, 2008.

Ned lived in Thorne Bay AK, and joined Dave's Garden on May 19, 2006. He was very active in the daily coffee threads in the Parking Lot forum.

Ned will be missed by many of his Dave's Garden friends.

The photo below is of Ned with his good friend Ernie (eweed) Ned is on the right.

(This post will be updated when more information becomes available)

This message was edited Nov 21, 2008 1:37 PM

Ned's courage from suffering this terrible illness was more then most of us could follow through with such humor and wonderful spirit. We will miss him but he finally is free from his pains that now will give him peace forever .

I missed meeting Ned last summer since I spent a few weeks with Ernie and Linda right after Ned was there too, now I am very sad I lost that chance.

Maria

This message was edited Nov 21, 2008 4:28 PM

Ned never complained. That in itself takes the courage of a fine man like Ned. He will be missed.

Ned was such a wonderful addition to Parking Lot. Always scrambling to get a seat in the morning and never anything but a kind word for all. His passing has left such a hole in our DG family but everyday he was with us was a blessing. His sense of humour, his kindness, compassion and his vast knowledge will always be remembered when I think of our sweet Ned. I always imagined him with a twinkle in his eye.

Although he must have been in unbearable pain, he never complained and was always there to lend an ear to all of us. In time, I hope that I can remember him and smile but his passing, even though it was expected, is so devastating. Their was nothing "cyber" about the friendships he so easily made. I miss him but take solace that he is not suffering anymore. Ned - We loved you and you will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Elaine and Otis

Very sorry. prayers for all his family and friends.

Ned and I went to the same high school in the Pacific Northwest in Washington. He graduated in 1960 from Meridian High School at a little bump in the road called Laurel, Half way between Bellingham and Lynden At that time Laurel consisted of 2 cafes,one tractor shop,one barber shop, and one little grocery store with gas pumps. Today it is much the same except the barber shop is gone.

Ned loved Mt Baker and he loved to ski and he was quite accomplished at it allways pushing himself.He did a lot of this with his family and one of my friends of today.

After Ned left school I lost track of him because as soon as I graduated I joinded the Navy and then worked for a couple of years in Seattle. Ned began timber crusing some place in Washington. Timber crusing was what took him to Southeast Alaska and at last to Prince of Wales Island and Thorne Bay.

Ned found me on the coffee and thread and asked about me and my reply to him was not only did I know him but told him where he lived and thats where we took up after almost 50 years.

When Ned came down this summer we spent some lazy days in my yard where we grew to know each other again. Darned if we didnt share a love at poking fun especially at George W. Though it was obvious he didn't feel 100% he did not complain and was stoic about his sickness.He showed me what true grit is and not once did he ever say why me. In Fact it was hard to believe most of the time he was as sick as he was.

Ned had a great sometimes subtle sense of humor. He had a twinkle in his eye that suggested he was like a cartoon character who had just dispached Barney the dragon and as his body leaned foreward just a bit those twinkling eyes said go ahead sucker open up again or maybe how did you like that jack lol. Like a bulldog saying go ahead bite me lol.

How pleased I was to host a group of his old friends and watch him enjoy himself with them.We did this twice and the second time one of his friends who was a timber cruiser in his earlier days and continues in forestry showed up and they jawed brightly for a long time.When the last one left he just slumped into a chair like a spent dishrag and said damed if I was going to let them see how weak I have gotten.That was Ned he refused to let people know he had a problem.His theory was they have enough problems of their own they don't need to share his.

Ned got to enjoy the logging show we went to but his real treat was our trip up the mountian.We spent most of the morning going up stopping at the falls and making jokes about past and present politicans.We intended to go up the mountin and get past the ski area but after Neds operation he was in a hurry to get home. Next summer when they get the road open to Artist I will go back and who knows maybe Ned will go with me with a twinkle in his eye.

we spent a quiet hour here on the way

Near the top

Another near the top

The ski area in July

It was a privledge to know you my friend I enjoyed our summer. I would have loved to hooked you up to a bright fish fresh home from the sea on the end of my four ounce Fenwick and had you tell me oh fishing is not so hot. Perhaps

I was reluctant to post here, but just wanted to add my memories to those already posted. I don't really remember the year, the month or the day that Ned found us on the Parking Lot forum, and the Coffee...and thread, that is not important. What is important is that he had had a disappointment on another web site, and was looking for comradrie, and people who loved to garden. Well, he found us, and as they say, it is all history now.

I enjoyed Ned's sense of humor, along with, and prodded on sometimes by Ernie. They played leacherous old men with us gals, which made us giggle, and his enthusiasiam for growing the calendulas in his garden. I think he may have shared seeds with some.

I remember the pride that he took in showing us the quilt that his friends from the former chat site made him. He posted a picture for all of us to see, and I knew then that if a group of people cared enough about him to do that, that indeed he was a fine person.

He didn't complain, he just stated the facts. After his last surgery, I think he had hopes that his health would be better, but alas, that wasn't in the grand scheme of things.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Ned in person, but I am sure that we would have had much in common to share.

I will remember him with a gleam in his eye, sliding into the first chair when the new daily Coffee...and thread was posted, tempting us females with candy and cookies, calling us little girls, so that we would sit next to him. I had the pleasure many late nights of doing just that. Since we have a rule, no saving seats, I think Ned and I tried harder than anybody there to be first and second respectively.

I think Ned had regrets about his early life, and tried extra hard to compensate for those years. Since I didn't know him then, it didn't bother me what his past may have been, only what he was able to share with his friends that he found.

I picture him now in the presence of Our Lord, and being given an escorted tour of heaven. I am sure that as humble as he was, he will choose a modest dwelling, with cats sitting in the windows, a fine fire built in the fireplace, a computer, and a connection that will never fail, so that he can still communicate with those he left behind.

Good Speed to you Ned, you enriched my life by becoming a part of it. I learned much from you, and will never forget it. Thanks my friend, for being such an example to all of of us.

Hello All,

I’m one of Ned’s long time buddy-ettes from WA. I think I (WE – NHGC-MC-BC friends) have been chatting daily with Ned for about 6 years. We’d start our mornings with the usual weather reports (from North-East-South and West), trying to claim braggarts rights on who had the best/worst/wettest/driest/hottest/coldest temperatures of the morning. Ned drew his boundaries with us early on and we rapidly learned that Folgers was the only coffee he considered edible and he liked his email jokes just a weeeee bit naughty...lol .

He was such a stand up guy! Wickedly funny, not too concerned about being PC (lol) smart....kind hearted and a man who didn’t care for a lot of pomp and circumstance. His knowledge of all things great and small was vast, and I always suspected that Al Borland (from Tool Time) was his wardrobe consultant.

A couple years ago Ned (aka Nedster – Nedward - Mintman) met a handful of us at the Gig Harbor, WA garden tour. We had such a grand time, and Ned deserved a medal (possibly a Purple Heart) for putting up with a group of middle aged, hormonally deprived menopausal women for 36 hours. Worse yet...he was the DD (designated driver) so he had 5 back seat drivers the entire time. He was a blue ribbon “good sport” and the day was rich with laughs, bad driving, good food and lots of rain. During that trip Ned was continually beaming as he shared the excitement of reuniting with his family and grandchildren prior to catching up with us. Life is not always perfect, but it appeared that it was a wonderful event that had touched him very deeply. It was indeed a trip I will cherish forever!

I’m also part of the group that constructed “Ned’s Signature Quilt”. One day a kind hearted compliment from Ned (about a quilt photo posted in our thread)...prompted an idea... that prompted some whispering...that prompted some emails...that prompted some ideas...that prompted some efforts...that prompted some donations...that alllllll eventually produced a fine quilt to enfold him in our love and well wishes while he rested and battled his health problems. I work in a cancer center and I see miracles happen every day. It totally broke my heart that a miracle wasn’t in store for Ned, but the more I think about it... we had lived the “miracle” as a group of total strangers that began to chat years ago...drinking our morning coffee and learning all about each other’s lives, and worlds while sitting at a keyboard. Who woulda “thunk” it.

There are no words to really express how much I’ll miss Ned and his insightful posts. I feel a huge sense of “loss” when I boot up my computer every morning looking for him in the morning banter. He was a grand green thumber, and an even a BETTER friend! Whewwwwwwwwwww......... God’s speed my sweet friend.... it was an honor to be part of your world.

With Sincere Love,

Felicia

Photo - Left to right:
Felicia (Dirt Ball), Ned, Kim(Booner) Cinda
Front - Dori (Doriwithani)



This message was edited Nov 21, 2008 8:56 PM

This message was edited Nov 21, 2008 9:06 PM

Felicia, thank you for this wonderful photo with Ned looking still very healthy. You are very fortunate to have known him in person.
Maria

Ha while he never bragged about it I allways expected he was a chaser now I am convinced of it.

Neddie great picture you look so good.

Carol posted this on the coffee thread I am taking the liberty to copy and post it here.

okus
New York(UK!)Lincoln
(United Kingdom)
(Zone 8b)

November 22, 2008
2:18 AM

Post #5818537

Morning All,

I found this after much searching I think Ned would approve so I'm posting it here for you all to share.

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

Christina Rossetti

This message was edited Nov 22, 2008 5:20 AM

Now Now..Ernie...
Nedward was not a chaser...lol....but..I could see how his charismatic “boyish charm” could certainly be a babe magnet...lol I'm sure he had been chased more then a few times over the years. The first 15 min we were all together (in Gig Harbor) he had that "uhoh....what did I get myself into" look on his face...but in no time he was bantering away...and just one of the "goils"...lol We teased him about being our “token male” on the trip.

Maria..
I assure you...if you chatted with Ned ONCE....you knew him. We only hung out for a Saturday and part of a Sunday (for breakfast). But...the Ned we all knew online...was the real Ned. He was as real in chat as he was in person. Nothing pretentious about him...he was just all heart....and Alaska suspenders.

I really can't believe he's gone... that was wayyyy too fast...and he was way too young. *sigh*

I had only "known" Ned for just over a year, but in him I found a real friend. He didn't always have a lot to say but what he did say was always to the point and relevant and he had a wicked sense of humour.

He and Ernie competing over the best seats next to their favourite girls in Coffee was a cheerful way to start every morning and for that alone he will be sorely missed. I am glad he did not have to suffer the indignity of losing his independance and that the end was mercifully swift, but very sad to have lost a friend so recently found.

Sleep in Peace Ned.

Carol

I am so thrilled to see such great memories of Ned posted here!!

It eases my heart somehow-in our time of coming to grips with his passing.

Felicia, thank you so much for sharing your experiences with Ned, especially that wonderfully robust picture of him, with you and your other friends. What a delightful group, with happiness so evident on all your faces.

I never got to meet Ned "in person", but had the privilege of his cyber friendship, and it doesn't surprise me one bit to know that the Ned that we "saw" daily on "Coffee and..." was just as he was "in the flesh"!

I think we are all a little richer for having crossed paths in this life and God willing, I hope we all will do that in the next one.

Ned, we are sad now, but time will help turn our memories to joy.

Deanna

Hmmmmmm................ now...what I see shaping up in here.....and WHAT I’d like to know is ....HOW THE HECK did Ned keep up with this many “morning coffee” threads??........lololol

NED!!...Git yer scrawny buns BACK HERE and e’splain dat to Lucy (and friends) would you???

Early on...Ned typed about 4 words a minute...but then he got better...up to about 15 wpm I think (by his own words we made him DIZZY the first time we actually conned him into going into a live chat board with us). The rapidly scrolling text was just toooo much for him...lol Now.. I’m getting the drift that he was talking to 2-3 boards at once...so maybe he had his toes up there too....lol It would be fun to know just exactly HOW MANY people Ned chatted with every morning...lol This really has me chuckling.

Here's the only other picture I have of Ned. I had razzed him about this one (also taken at the garden tour). I told him it was his "WHAT ME WORRY?" look. He was looking very closely at some needles on a tree trying to ID it (no doubt by genus and species).



This message was edited Nov 22, 2008 8:45 AM

Oh my! I didn't feel right posting over here until Ernie had done so. And now I've got tears streaming down my cheeks.

Like Bonnie, I don't remember exactly when Ned joined Coffee but he stayed and was a regular and he will be greatly missed. Like so many of the rest of you, I never had a chance to meet him in person. Was hoping to do that one day on a western trip (I've got a daughter in Vancouver and a sister in Alaska; so it wouldn't have been out of the question). Alas, it is not to be.

Ned had told us that his condition would be fatal, but I think we were all taken aback somewhat with how quickly it progressed. I do know that while he tried not to complain, he was in severe pain. Now that pain has eased. Ned, my friend, may you rest in peace.

Ann

Ned was a fantastic friend and I thoroughly enjoyed every conversation I had with him. He was unpretentious, courageous, strong, and just an all around "good guy".

I loved his passion for learning about new things. He loved the library and looking things up in books and online. I could always count on him to provide some input to questions or issues that anyone was looking for an answer for.

I loved how Ned was always there with encouraging words and I also loved how he spoke his mind. There was nothing "false" about Ned and one always knew where they stood with him.

I was never fortunate enough to meet Ned in person, but I did have some wonderful conversations with him online. That his passing is so painful is a testament to the kind of person he was! His absence in our lives is starkly noted.

God Speed, Ned. Love and hugs,
Linda
a.k.a. Agent99
a.k.a. LAKelley2

I wonder how many millions of people have just faded away from life. And then there was Ned.

What an amazing thing that he was winning friends and charming babes all over the world, right to his last days. You have to smile about that.

AS highmtn said above, who woulda thunk? And who woulda thunk we would have had the chance to get to know him and enjoy his company, far away as he is from most of us? That is a wonderful thing.

My condolences to all of you, his friends.

How wonderful to see photos of Ned when he had some girth, and looked healthy. He sure was stoic about his terrible illness. I felt bad sometimes talking about food on our Coffee thread, knowing he had no way to enjoy it. And he loved his coffee. He joined us early in '08, but it seemed like we knew him for a long time....we enjoyed his sense of humor, and were glad he felt right at home with us. I was also glad he was able to take a couple of "road trips" with our Ernie, which he so enjoyed. Sayonara, Ned, we're glad to have known you.

Ned had a wonderful sense of humor and will be greatly missed around our coffee table. He was a real trooper, and never complained. It was different for me, though. I had a very uneasy feeling about him and had talked to my DH about him during the past couple of weeks. I'm glad he's no longer in pain and is able to have a cup of coffee now. Ernie, you've been especially in my prayers lately. I'm glad you had the opportunity to renew your friendship with him.

To all those who have shared from other sites ... thanks so much. It's easy to see him blessed with so many friends. He had a kind heart.

To his family, prayers of comfort go out to you.

Hugs&blessings ... ~Susan

Here's to you all (raising my mug of Folger's)!!

So enjoyed knowing Ned. As Meezer said elsewhere I didn't know I would be affected like this. I would of loved to of met Ned as in some ways he reminded me of my dad. His willingness to help. Look for answers. The way he lived.

Ned sent me some mint plants. Where I have planted them I can look out my kitchen window and see where they are and think of Ned and know he is happy and healthy and drinking his coffee!

Vicki

Ned was a once in a lifetime kinda guy..as were his quiet humor and stoic statements about his health. We all knew he was hurting, but never did I guess how much pain he was in. He seldom talked about it, but we all knew it was his bedfellow. I was shocked that he passed so soon - thinking he would be with us for years...fighting his demon illness.

I only saw one picture of Ned and that was the one with Ernie...he looked frail in that one. I really got a kick out of seeing the others in which he was so healthy looking...but the twinkle in his eye remained no matter what size he was.

Glad that Ned's journey is complete ... I see him with a big cuppa Folgers in his hand....bidding us good morning...

Not many words to say. But my life is richer from the fellowship we had with Ned at "Coffee and.....".

Ned, you were one of a kind and I am so glad to have know you.

Neds good friend Janna who cared for him right to the end. Janna and her hubby were very good to Ned as he was to them.She is standing next to him.A special thanks to you Janna even though you cant see this.

Connie is the other friend who cared for his kitties while he was gone.

This message was edited Nov 23, 2008 11:58 AM

I remember how happy I was to see somebody posting on Coffee and.... from Thorne Bay, Alaska, because I had been there when it was a big logging camp about 1980-81. We lived near Ketchikan, maybe 40 miles as the crow (raven or eagle) flies from Ned, but he settled in Thorne Bay after we left Alaska. He and I had several conversations about the stormy weather, fishing, water systems, travel by floatplane, and other oddities of everyday life in SE Alaska. It was nice to chat with somebody who knew what I was saying and to be brought up to date with changes on Prince of Wales Island. Goodness! roads now connect towns that used to be logging camps and were only reached by air or boat. Phones instead of radio contact, a Doctor on the Island, and all the rest.

His time with us was much too short. I'm sure we all expected him to be with us a while longer, but I guess it was true to his nature to hide his true condition from us to keep us from worrying. When his posts became confused last week, I thought it was just his new pain medicine making him a bit fuzzy, and that once he got them adjusted again, he would be ok for a while longer. He really kept us in the dark.

Thanks for posting the pictures of Ned when he looked healthy, even though he had the seeds of a terrible disease and was facing unpleasant treatments. I can see a bit of mischief on his face in most of the pictures, especially the one where he is surrounded by his harem!

Hi all. I haven't posted for some time but I'm mauryhillfarms DH. Holly hangs out on the PNW forum. She spotted Ned on there a year or so ago. I knew Ned when he still lived in Olympia. In fact it was about the time he was making the transition to Alaska. He worked for a small timber consulting company on Hood Canal(Union) and they would send him to Alaska to do contracted timber cruising. During the years I knew him we played a lot of pool and drank a lot of beer together. For two winters when he would come to Olympia from Alaska he would stay with me in the small cabin I was renting at the time. Many of you can remember roommates from your past I'm sure where things didn't work out to well and as I was reading the bad news one thing that struck me about Ned was in all the time we spent together I don't recall one disagreeable moment. Even in the long dreary winters in the cabin we shared there was never any of the acrimony that goes with roommates and close quarters. Of course we played a lot of cribbage and drank a lot of Buckhorn. Usually he would bring fish down from Alaska to share. And this introduced me to one of my favorite kinds of fresh fish, halibut. Being from the mid-west this was new to me. Like others I lost track of Ned after he moved to Alaska. About 5-6 years ago he contacted me while in Washington and we spent the day going to Olympia and visiting some of our old haunts together. I ended up on his e-mail list after that and we corresponded electronically since then. I am not a prolific writer so mostly I enjoyed Ned's e-mails, jokes and pictures and sent him an occasional note. I visited some with him on Coffee and forum. I will remember him as a genuinely warm, friendly man with a great sense of humor. He will be missed and is constantly in my thoughts.

Harley Miedema
Maury Hill Farm

Harley, thank you so much for more of Ned's life and friendship being shared here on this thread.

Joy

*BOARD NOTICE*

There are several of Ned’s friends who are TRYING to post in here, but evidently you have to be a paid member to access (or view?) this “Memory Garden” thread.

I told the locked out folks (from a couple other chat sites) that I'd post their "Ned thoughts" in here (under my name or LAKELLY's name) if they would forward them. I hope that’s not breaking any rules, but maybe this one time it would be acceptable under these circumstances.

Thanks...


This message was edited Nov 24, 2008 7:23 AM

Thanks HighMtn... I was going to put a notice over on Moose Creek and let anyone know who wanted to post that I'd post over here for them. I don't think DG would have an issue with that....... but, if there is, speak now so I don't get in trouble! Hmmmm, or maybe in this instance we should "do first" and "ask permission" later.... somehow I think Ned would engage in that theory! :-)

Hehe....

Good Morning LAKELLY2

“Proceed until apprehended!! 'Tis easier to ask for forgiveness then ask for permission”

That’s my motto at work...lolol..... and I’ve been employed by the same place for 7 years... *wink*.

We discussed this, and as long as the comments you are posting for others don't contain anything offensive, (can't imagine why they would), it is fine to post here for those that are unable to do so.

Thanks Joan! Appreciate the quick reply!!!!!

We wouldn't allow that to happen either. This is for Ned and his family.