Dan Byford

Today is a sad day indeed, for me, and the flyfishing community as a whole.

I just learned that Dan Byford, Pete's best friend, and one time mentor, has passed away. He was struggling with lung cancer, and has lost his battle.

May they meet in Heaven, and turn the place upside down.

Henry "Harry" Ledyard

I am sorry to say that a dear friend of Pete and I, Harry Ledyard, has passed away. His wonderful wife, Kay, told me that he passed on in April. This was a shock to me, although I knew he had been ill. I am so sorry for his family's loss. He was a great man.

This is what the Canyon Courier had to say:

Henry B. Ledyard died Saturday, April 23, 2011, at Lutheran Medical Center, under hospice care.

Harry Ledyard accepts an award from Trout Unlimited in the late summer of 2009.

He is survived by his wife, Katherine, and a brother and sister.

Henry was born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Mich., within a family mentioned in Revolutionary War Chronicles. In the 1960s, he came to Colorado, where he met his wife, and they began lives of phenomenal service to the mountain community. Harry was an early member of the Alpine Rescue Team. He and Kay were Red Cross instructors for more than 20 years, as well as participants in training Colorado Rescue Dogs.

Harry served on the Lookout Mountain Fire Department and West Denver and Evergreen Trout Unlimited, where he was given lifetime awards. He volunteered at the Denver Museum of Natural History (now the Museum of Nature & Science). He was on the ski patrol at Loveland for many years and belonged to the Curmudgeons and the League of Women Voters. He also taught a first-aid class for deaf participants who all achieved certification.

He will be missed by many, not only because of his service but also for his long and deep friendships.

Memorial

We will be celebrating the life, and honoring the passing of our Father, Grandfather, Brother, and Best Friend, Mr. Ralph "Pete" Parker.

All are welcome, but please RSVP. If you did not receive the "Evite" online, please let me know, and give me your current email, and I will make sure you get the invitation. Please, also, feel free to share the invite with anyone, again, we just ask for an RSVP.

There will be speakers, a tribute from the U.S. Marines, as well as other things Pete would have enjoyed. If you have any stories, or would like to speak, we would be honored to hear your memories of Pete.

He lived lift to the fullest, and always loved a great party, surrounded by family and friends. We hope to see you there, to honor the unforgettable icon, Pete Parker.

If you are interested in fishing while in the area, there are some AMAZING places to check out. My ultimate recommendation is to check out the Blue Quill Angler fly shop while you are in town, and check out their website for current fishing conditions.

Lair O' the Bear Park is also another fine place to explore and fish. Pete took me here a few times when we were both in need of a "quick fix." The Conifer Chamber of Commerce can also provide more information on what to do in the area, and where to go.

To get your Colorado Fishing License, please check out this website.

Finally, if you are interested in staying in there area, here are some options for lodging and camping:

To stay at the site of the memorial, check out the Tipi Lodge website.

There is a great list of places at Trip Adviser. We do not have a specific hotel in reserved, nor do we have any special rates set aside, unfortunately. But, as Pete would always say, "It's an Adventure!"

If you have any questions at all, or would like to get the Evite invitation, feel free to email directly at gam.smc@gmail.com

See you in September!

Long Time No See

It has been too long since this blogger checked in.

There is really nothing new to report. Still no idea about when there might be an auction, or how we are going to accomplish it. Also, still no news on a memorial.

Really, though, the main reason for the long hiatus, is grief. At first, it was hard, but writing about Pete, posting pictures, and sharing memories was a comfort. Slowly, it became too painful. Finally, it was too much to handle, and I had to take a break. With nothing going right, and with him being gone finally hitting this girl, it became too much.

Just like with all grief, some days are better than others. Lately, it seems like it has been harder to cope with the loss of such a great man. Is it the warm weather he would have loved? The fact that the roses are getting ready to bloom on his porch?

One thing that has been salt in the wound has been this writers new job. Working in a Deli is stressful enough, but when you are constantly bombarded with memories of road trips and sandwiches, seeing new things he would enjoy eating, and smelling familiar smells that remind one of adventure, often the night ends in tears. Especially when there has been a particularly bad day, or someone has been rude to the Deli Girl, the pain is almost unbearable, because the confidant is gone.

Apologies for the "Debbie Downer" blog. Just, an explanation for the lack of content.

When we know more, or anything for that matter, we will let you know. There is still hopes for a Memorial, and an auction, but no leads yet as to how this will be accomplished.

Until next time...May your lines be tight, may your memory be sharp, and may your laughter ring out through the hills.

Evergreen TU Auction Update

Hello!

There is some news coming out of Evergreen, CO...

Pamela and Genna went to the Evergreen Trout Unlimited meeting this evening, and started setting some things in motion for the Auction.

It looks like there is enough interest...so instead of happening in April, the Auction is now going to be in Mid-May. We still don't have a date, as we don't have a facility yet.

There will be a live auction with a silent auction on the side, drinks, food, conversation, and great times had by all!

We are officially accepting donations! If you would like to donate, please contact Genna McClure at gam.smc@gmail.com, or you can send an email - or your donations directly to

Henry "Harry" Ledyard

2414 Pine Tree Lane

Evergreen CO 80439

303.526.0188

hbledyard@evcohs.com

Harry is currently the official liaison for the Pete's items, and is compiling a complete inventory for the Parker/McClure family. He is the bee's knee's!

We will post more info when we get more. There are plans to reserve some hotel rooms for the event, and there will be an official map of hot fishing spots around the area available soon.

Hope to see you there!

A couple signature favorites

Pete's Blue Winged Olive, and his Helicopter Fly:

Secret Spots Revealed!

Are you planning on coming to Colorado for the Auction in April? Looking for some places to fish while you are here? Or are you planning your next fishing trip, and would like some hints? Well my friend, you are in the right place!

Here is a small collection of Pete's Favorites, though by no means a complete list (that's coming later)...


View Pete's Places in a larger map

If you are looking to get your Colorado Fishing License for your trip, you can go to the Colorado Division of Wildlife and get one online!


coming soon - where to stay on your Colorado Adventure!

More Rememberances

Gary Borger posted this on his site:

"My very good and long time friend, “Pete” Parker has died suddenly. His grand daughter Genna indicated that it was most likely a heart attack or stroke. Pete had been diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and had beaten it, being declared cancer-free in 2010. Pete will be remembered by many in the fly tying community. He organized the fly tying theater for the ISE Shows for many years, and had great fun with all the “personalities” and “characters” that fly tying brought to him–me being one of them.

I have a great remembrance of Pete that he tied just for me–his red hot cigar fly. He actually used it on several occasions to catch fish. It is a very creative design. I never had the opportunity to ask if it worked better when tied with Cubans or not.

We will miss you Pete, but I know where you are and how very much your are enjoying yourself . I look forward to tying flies with you when we meet again."

Thank you Gary. This meant a lot to me, as does your friendship to both Pete and I.

Words of Sympathy

Over the past few weeks we have received many wonderful emails from friends and the like...
Here are some of the kind words passed on:

"I hadn't talked to Pete for quite a while, so I was happy to see his name and expected it was an e-mail from Pete himself. You can imagine my surprise when I got your message. There's no easy way to tell people, is there? For what it's worth, I think just saying it is as good a way as any, and I appreciate getting the news, sad as it is. Pete was a genuinely good guy--and a damn fine tier--and I always truly enjoyed working with him. We had some real fun at the shows. So sorry to hear he's gone. Wish I'd got to know him better, but I'll miss him all the same. " Sincerely, Skip Morris

"Our deepest sympathy and prayers are with you in this time of sorrow. Pete was a great man." Rob Crandall www.watertimeoutfitters.com

This next one from Charlie Schillinksy really touched my heart. "this is really hard news to accept. Please accept my condolences and please pass on my prayers to you and your family. I will severely miss Pete. He had been a true friend and a tremendous mentor. I will cherish the memories of our times together. God bless you and I hope you are able to remember to good things. We have not lost Pete, he will dwell in our hearts forever. Charlie.

PS: I posted the following on several of the chat boards around in the West:

I just received word from Genna McClure, Pete Parker's granddaughter, who accompanied him on many of his trips to various shows around the country. Pete was an exquisit fly tier, a very professional fly fisherman, and an outstanding member of our community. He passed away from what is thought a stroke or heart attack yesterday, January 12th. Pete had been diagnosed with lung cancer but this is not thought to be connected with his passing. Many of you have heard his voice at the fly fishing venues, especially the ISC shows in the past when he introduced the tiers who went up on stage to display their talents. I have known him for about 30 years now and feel priviledged to call him a friend. Pete will be missed by all of us and no one will fill the void he has left. Semper Fi Pete. " - Thank you Charlie. I am sorry for your loss of a friend, and the loss of a wonderful Grandfather/father to me.

"I'm so sorry to hear this terrible news. It really is a shock as we all thought Pete would be with us for a while after the great news that he'd beaten the lung cancer.

He was a great guy and I'm thankful to have gotten to know him. Please let me know when the memorial is planned.

Take care and the best to you and your family"

Dave Kruss

This next story has always been one of my personal favorites of Pete's, gross as it is...He could always put a fun spin on things: "Pete was a special mentor to me as
> well as many others in Evergreen Trout Unlimited. I remember the
> minature fly tying 'room' he built and donated to an ETU fundraiser. I
> still have at least one wooden fly box that he built and donated to
> our auction.
>
> Pete once told me that as he was on an ocean fishing trip and when the
> seas got rough most everyone got sick. He suprised me by saying he was
> thinking of me. Then he related that he too had gotten sick and caught
> his teeth as they were about to depart to the briney deep. After that
> I had a 'spare set' made for him. Many times i've pictured this in my
> mind and subsequently made spare sets for other patients.
>
> I enjoyed other fishing stories that Pete related and I'm certain you
> have and will get many more. I hope you will let me know when and
> where the memorial service is to take place. I feel fortunate to have
> known Pete and to watch you grow up in our world of fishing friends.
>
> Memories are what we have that keep us going." - Richard Wheeler

"My prayers to all his family. He played an important role in my life and I'd certainly appreciate hearing about a memorial service." Ed Berg

"I am truly sorry to hear this. You and the family have my deepest sympathies. Pete was a great guy, always with a smile on his face. " Nick Curcione

"Pete was a very dear friend to me, who provided a great opportunity to tie flies at 
the Denver ISE shows during the past 5 or so years, and for that, I am grateful.  
I'm lucky to have known your grandfather and listen to his great stories about 
fishing and tying, and I'm grateful we spent a great deal of time sitting and 
talking just last Sunday afternoon.  We had a wonderful time together.  
I will miss him." - Mark McMillan

 "He gave me an opportunity as a new member of the fly tying community
 to showcase my tying at the Sacramento ISE show for the past several 
years. We will all miss him very much." - Steve Korbay

 "I am very saddened to hear about your Grandfather's passing. Pete 
was a warm and engaging man who cared about his friends. I especially 
remember his love for you. You were the apple of his eye for sure. He 
always beamed with pride when you were with him. That is what I will 
remember most. 

I pray your pain of losing him will heal quickly and I will forever have fond memories of a man who helped make me feel so welcome on my first trip to California and many other days thereafter.

God bless Pete and his loved ones. May he rest in peace. "

Sincerely,

Bob Popovics

" I will miss him terribly. Every time we saw each other we talked about our granddaughters. He love you and was proud of you. You made his life a happy place. You could not have been a better granddaughter to Pete. I am sorry for your loss and I am sorry for my loss. God Bless Pete. " - Eric Pettine

"Pete was a dear friend and I will miss him. I did many shows with him and have wondered for some time what he had been doing. I am so sorry for you, I remember how much he talked about you and how proud he was of you. Sincerely," - Marc Williamson

"Genna:
I am so sorry to learn of Pete's passing. You have my heartfelt sympathy. He will certainly be missed by the many people whose lives he touched, but of course, not as much he will be missed by members of his family like you, his very special granddaughter. He was a unique and very special individual, who always gave so much of himself, especially to the fly fishing fraternity.

I had many wonderful hours with Pete, but none more special than those I spent with you and he at Midway. I will always cherish those memories, and will never forget the man, his spirit,his puckish sense of humor, his warmth, his always positive attitude, even in the face of adversity." -Rick Gaffney

"Merry and I are very sad to hear of Pete's passing. We were lucky to be with him this past weekend in the tying theater at the Denver ISE. We have known Pete for many years and will miss him. He was indeed an icon in the fly fishing world and he carried the mantle with gentle dignity and humility. Please accept our condolences." - Mike and Merry of Baja Flyfishing.

"I'm sorry to here about the passing of your grand father and a real good
friend of mine.  Pete was the most enjoyable person to hang around with
at the shows.   I was really shocked when I received an email
from Sandi telling me that he passed away.  In December, I was looking
at the helicopter fly that he had given me years ago and now it has a
special place on my fly tying desk.
He was so proud to talk about you especially when you got into law enforcement."
- Jay Murakoshi

"What can I say except I am so sorry for the loss. This is very sad news, indeed! Pete was a great person and an important personality in fly fishing.

He gave me my first break as a celebrity tyer at the San Mateo ISE show many years ago, and I remain grateful to him for that opportunity. Fortunately I was able to express my gratitude to him before his illness.

He was the voice of the fly tying theatre. And those fortunate to have been introduced by him knew they had reached a special level of accomplishment in the tying arts.
His generosity, fairness, good nature and sincerity will be missed...... along with his hearty laugh.

With great sincerity and sorrow," - John Ryzanych

"Pete was the best friend I ever had and to say I will miss him would be a gross understatement." - Dan Byford

"I'm sitting here looking of a picture of Pete and
 I in Midway. He was truely a great man and truely a great friend. 
Please keep me informed of the service in the spring.  We had some great
 times and he made me laugh harder than anyone could. Keep a smile on 
your face he wouldn't want it anyother way!!  He will be missed"     Capt. Ed Hughes

I love how colorful fly-fishers are, this one really made me laugh. Thank you Rod Grant!
"I am very sorry to hear the news. Thanks so much for contacting me. I 
will move heaven and earth to make it to the memorial if only you let me
 know the when and where. Pete was my dearest and longest known friend 
in fly tying and I will miss him more than you can imagine. I am upset 
with him, however. I was hoping to go first. With him in heaven ahead of
 me, the fishing will be ruined by the time I get there. He'll have 
spooked all the fish and it will be impossible for me to have any fun. 
To know Pete is to have loved the big ol' bear. Let me know, please, 
when the memorial will take place?" - Rod Grant
I replied to Rod, and said that the fishing won't be that bad, as I was always the
better fisher. ;-) I am proud to say I ALWAYS caught more than he did when we went
together...maybe that's why he stopped taking me...

"your message knocked me out, I was just thinking last week about Pete
when I saw the various fly tiers at the shows.  He and I shared many a
libation in the palms, the artic, and now to know.  My thoughts go out
to everyone who knew
a great guy, super friend and holder of many distinctions, like the
ability to grab warm water lobsters under the shelfs of the Belize
reefs. We all will miss hearing his laughter and watching him marvel
some young one on how to tie a mouse.  Please let me
know when you have the memorial.  My thoughts of clear waters and tight
lines for his memory." - John Aaron

"He will be dearly missed and I will always cherish the times I spent with Pete.
His humor, warmth and plain generosity" - Lance Gray

"On behalf of the O'Loughlin family and myself our deepest condolences to you and your

family. As stated words can't express how much he will be missed, he was wonderful man

with a passion of doing things right. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Pete sure had a great smile!" - Joe Brennan

"Oh, no, this cannot be.  I can't believe
it.  Pete and I had a great time at the ISE Show on saturday, a
wonderful conversation.  I am so sorry, I can not adequately express my
grief.  Please accept my heart felt condolences to you and the entire
family.  Pete will be greatly missed and always remembered as a true friend
and very much the gentleman." - Al Makkai

"We are both so sorry to hear the sad news. None of us can believe he is gone. He was such a part of all of our lives in the fly fishing community.

Pete was a big man in many ways. He had a big heart and a kind personality. Even though we saw him only once or twice a year during the shows, it always felt like a reunion meeting up with him and all the other tiers. We always loved hearing him tell stories of his fishing adventures while we were there. He was a good story teller! 'And he always talked about you with nothing but love in his heart. You were the apple of his eye. He was always so proud of you.

All three of us are very saddened, but he lives on in our hearts. And he will live on in MANY hearts.

Best wishes to you and your family.

Sincerely," Raymond, Cindy and Raymond Jr

Thank you to everyone who as emailed and sent their condolences. These are just a
sampling of what people have sent to me. I am honored and humbled by these wonderful
words and memories.

Of course I am biased, but Pete was a wonderful man. He was the best Father/Grandfather
I could have ever hoped for, and I am extremely lucky to have had him in my life.
He took me on my first fishing trip when I was only three, and I still remember it
to this day. I out fished him, EVEN THEN! ;-)

I am still at a loss for words when it comes to expressing my own personal memories
and cherished, shared experiences with Pete. Thank you, again, to such a wonderful
community of people. You have all truly made his life wonderful, and mine.


As I get more time, I will post more emails and comments on here. 

****IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR COMMENT REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.****

Evergreen TU Auction

HI!

With the wonderful help of the Evergreen Trout Unlimited, we are going to have a dinner and an auction in April in honor of Pete.

We are going to be auctioning some AMAZING things! Fly tying material, reels, you name it. We are also accepting donations. If there is something that reminds you of Pete, or if you would like to make a fly and donate it in his honor...or whatever else you can think of, we would be honored and delighted to include it in the auction!

The proceeds are going to go to Reel Recovery, and to help the family of Pete.

Details are still up in the air, but as we know more, so will you! So far, the auction will be at Beau Jo's in Evergreen.

If you are coming from out of town and would like lodging, or fishing info, let us know. We should be able to post some favorite fishing spots and places to relax while you are in town.

Hope to see you there!

R.M. Pete Parker

Pete was born August 3, 1934, in Monongahela, PA, to Agnes and Ralph Parker. From the very beginning Pete was always looking for adventure, and would often run off on his own to find it.

He started fly fishing at 5 yrs old. His first fish in 1939 was a California Golden Trout. Pete learned to tie flies in 1946 from his dad.

Pete was an excellent athlete, as well as always being top of his class. Pete moved to California as a young boy and attended St. Catherine’s Military Academy and later Riverside Polytechnic High School where he graduated in 1952. Pete proudly served in the Marines from 1952-56. Later residences included New York and Colorado.

Pete married the love of his life, Barbara Duquette on Halloween, 1953. Barbara predeceased him in 2005. Pete and Barbara had three children, Ralph M Parker III, Patricia (McClure) and Pamela (Parker-Martin) and 7 grandchildren (Morgan, Adam, Jackson, Genna, Emily, Sarah, and Margo).

While living in New York Pete began fly fishing for Blues and Striped Bass off Long Island. In 1976 he, and his family, moved west to Colorado. There Pete co-founded the Evergreen Chapter for Trout Unlimited. Pete began giving fly tying demonstrations at local events and in 1989 was asked to appear as a featured tier at International Sportsmen's Expos.

1991 he was asked to assume duties as the 'Director' of the Fly Tying Video Theater for all International Sportsmen's Shows. Pete had been blending the talents of approximately 150 fly tiers each season ever since. You knew you had "made it" in the shows when Pete gave you a personalized, and sometimes, very colorful, introduction.

Pete fished all over the United States, Canada, Alaska, BC, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, P

anama, San Salvador, Mexico, plus seven long range blue water trips off Baja, Mexico and Midway Atoll in mid Pacific. He had four International Game Fish Association world records on the fly, with his favorite bein

g the Giant Trevali caught at Midway.

Pete was often found swimming with tiger sharks, diving into snake and crocodile infested waters, or sitting with bears for a morning coffee. Though he was known to accidentally start the odd fire here and there, At the age of 73, Pete worked as an Alaskan fishing guide for the Goodnews River Lodge.

His flies have been featured in many books such as Salt Water Flies 700 of the Best; Blue Water Fly-fishing; Supernaturals; Patterns of the Masters (past 3 issues); Secrets of the Salt Water Fly; Anglers Profiles. Recent magazines to feature Pete's flies have been Fly fisherman; Fly Tier; Gray's Sporting Journal; Calif, Outdoors; Fly Fishing in Salt Waters; and Southwest Fly-fishing.

Although Pete was known to unusual patterns (i.e.; the "literal" blue winged olive, a Christmas tree, mice, and his world famous helicopter out of deer hair), many of his more conventional flies have been placed in the American Museum of Fly Fishing, Vermont; and the National FFF Museum, Livingston, MT.

Lefty Kreh once stared at Pete’s flies for a moment, looked up and said: "We’re all nuts". Who else but Pete would tie a helicopter fly with spun deer hair, complete with rotating blades and pontoons.

Throughout Pete's life he was a gifted salesman, a hilarious practical joker, a leader, a loving and tough father, a deeply devoted husband and romantic, an animal lover, a computer whiz, a skilled mechanic, a craftsman, a woodworker, a potter, a singer, a deep sea fisher, a scuba instructor, a fishing guide, an entertainer, a loyal friend, a Master fly tyer, and a somewhat decent caster. He was a champion ballroom dancer, a skilled unicyclist, and in recent years had begun teaching jazz piano. Pete truly was a Super Hero, and could, and did, do everything.

One of his closest lifelong friends, Tony Morello, had this to say: "a John Wayne with the heart of a poet, a member of society of Mensa and a "dirt biker", a "boxing Marine" and a "potter". The first one to come to your (my) defense, fiercely loyal and Mr. Macho with a sensitive soul.

Now it is as if a light some where deep inside of me has gone out, my Best Friend Pete is gone but I know that I am, and have been, the better for knowing him."

Pete is now off on his Greatest Adventure, embarking on his own on January 12, 2011. He was 76.