Instructions: Critical Documents and Websites

NOTE: There's a great deal of sensitive information in this document. Please be careful. Further instructions are located here.

Instructions Upon My Death

First off, if it hasn’t already happened, as soon as possible please notify Donate Life Northwest (503.494.7888 or 1.800.452.1369). I wish to donate my eyes and corneas only to them. My registration ID is 0546-XBYJH-JXVH.

It is also my wish to donate my body for education or research to BioGift (503-670-1799 or 866-670-1799). I have registered with them and there's a card in my wallet with details. Arrangements for disposition are ordinarily done through a hospital upon the declaration of death. I’ve left instructions that my remains are to be cremated and ashes returned to the family at no expense.

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLSTs) for both of us are on our refrigerator.

The estate attorney who created our wills was Michael Sandoval, (503) 221-1332. (I believe Mike is retired, but his office still has hours.) If the handling of our accounts for tax purposes requires an accountant, Mike would be a good person to ask for a referral to an estate tax expert in the Portland area. The originals of our wills and other documents are in Mike's office: 520 SW Yamhill St 10th Floor, Portland, OR 97204.

Copies of the following for both of us are in the portable safe; the key to the safe is on my keychain:

Will

Power of Attorney

Advance Directive

(For information on powers of attorney, see this article by the Oregon State Bar).

I’m assuming that my immediate family will be aware of my death. In addition, if my brother and sister are still alive I’d like for them to be notified as convenient…

☑   Kevin Willis, 8870 Teal Lane, Wilmington, IL 60481 (815-476-9703)
☑   Kathy Pinchin, 264 Bonnechere West, Eganville, ON P0B 0X8 (613-628-5202)

I'd also like for the following to be informed:
☑   Carla Grant of Open Hearts Open Minds (503) 679-0724
☑   Maritza Perez of Meals for Kids (503) 953-8115
☑   Ann Barkley of our book group (202) 255-8985

What I'd like is for the finer dust of my ashes be mixed with sand topping mix (concrete without aggregate) and water, and poured into five molds (cups should do nicely). I wish for my remains to be left at several locations. I request that whatever family members (particularly my grandchildren and great grandchildren) might enjoy traveling/climbing/hiking to the following locations do so carrying my remains to be left there:

Illumination Saddle on Mt. Hood (may require crampons, ice axe and a guide).

Dog Mountain in mid-May among the wildflowers.

Eagle Creek trail near the west end of the Gorge.

The Molalla Timber Trail in Canby by the Willamette.

Tide pools at Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach.

It’s my fervent wish that someone close to me host a large party for friends and family, preferably before my death, but if not then shortly afterwards, the place and time to be left to the host’s discretion. (Use cash in the safes or my file drawer, and my credit card, to cover all expenses.)

I’d like for my "wake" to be an occasion for an abundance of cheer, outrageous stories about me—half truths, exaggerations and loooong winding stories are encouraged, 'cause that's the way I rolled—a reading of My Eulogy, and lots of toasts to the splendor and preciousness of life in all its wonderous diversity. And I’d like for it all to be recorded for the family's posterity.

All of the HTML content for my website is filed on my desktop. The path to the main folder: C:\Users\Dick\OneDrive\Desktop\My Website files\Current Website. I'd like for those files to be preserved and the work of archiving family history be continued by family members.

And speaking of fervent wishes, I very much wish that someone will keep up work on The Path, my effort to serve distressed populations here locally and anywhere where there's pain of dislocation and cruelty. The Path is the physical manifestation of my life-long mantra: "Ease their way."

I'm sure I'm missing a lot, but this should get you started. For taking all this on, you have my undying thanks.
Wait, that's not right.

You have my dying thanks.
No, that's not right either.

You have my eternal thanks. That's it. I thank you all! Mine has been a great life, a wonderful life, and you've all played a profound part in making it so. I'm smiling. And now I'm laughing. Take care. See you all soon.