after suz was found on sunday, she was flown to mccall muni hospital and extensively x-rayed and was found to have a compression fracture on one of the lumbar verterbra, many bruises and cuts, and a pretty good cut on her throat. she stayed the nite in the hospital and the next afternoon was relessed. her sister rosie and husband george, her brother everitt , and his wife heratini and berk's sister leila, and myself rented a house in mccall for the next two nights, to be together, talk, cry, and hug one another, and of course to tell each other how much we all loved berk.
during those two days we had to go to the mortuary and arrange all the things you have to do and we also saw berk. after the required faa autopsy, it was said that he suffered a massive brain hemmorage from striking the pilot's side door post, and also a fractured skull. he lost consiousness the second the plane hit the ground. there was very little anything could be done to save his life, and if that were done he would have been brain dead. obviously it's a blessing he suffered no pain and died instantly. this morning, wed, with a permit, we loaded berk into my 182 and flew him home, along with suz sitting next to me. one stop in lakeview, or. and then home to laytonville where he will be attended to by many friends.
as much as we all loved berk and his cantankous ways, suz is the real hero in this drama, for having to spend three nites in 25 degree weather, tending to her sweetie both thursday and friday, then hiking 3 to 4 miles to a spot she felt she could be seen by passing aircraft, suffering from a compression fracture and several other injurys, is something many of us could not do.
berk will be missed by more people than any of us can imagine, but we should also feel grateful that his biggest love in live is still living. love well, john

John:
Thank you for the update.
You have no doubt read about the BCP group wanting to place a memorial plaque at Johnson Creek. If you have any thoughts or feed back from Suz or the family about this, please let us know.

tomorrow, sat. at 1pm, we bury berk, many neighbors to be there. friend made the coffin of native wood, the hole dug by 10 different young friends, many words will be said, pot-luck to follow at their house. should be a full day. will be thinking of all the different folks that helped us to find him and supported me as i bumbled through this mess. thank you for your understanding. suz says hi. john