By Tim Clarke
Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities
It was 31 years ago that Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities had its first Rebuilding Day. One of the recipients was Carolyn King.
Carolyn would be a recipient two more times before she passed away in June. She had lived a simple life in a very modest home in Valley of Enchantment. The home had started life as a sales office in 1935 for an early campsite for vacationers. Just one main room, a bath, a very small kitchen and, later, a prefab enclosed summer room in back and down a few steps which became a room for her disabled son.
When the son had trouble getting into the home, Carolyn called Rebuilding Together to see if we could help. Enter Wayne Palmer. Wayne determined his company could build a ramp and it was done.
This served Carolyn well until her son passed away from complications of his illness. Carolyn was alone and lonely, and Wayne was worried about her. This happens when you work for someone who truly appreciates your efforts. Wayne made it his mission to check in on Carolyn, sometimes bringing his friend Mary. He could see Carolyn needed more help to stay warm, safe and dry in her home and with trips to the bank and grocery store. He made sure her bills were being paid and her prescriptions were filled and picked up.
Wayne convinced Carolyn to heed the advice of her doctor to take oxygen and her health improved. With this renewal of clarity, she began to worry about what would happen when she passed as she had no will or trust in place. Her biggest worry was that the state would take her home if she died intestate. What would happen to her two rescued dogs? What would happen to her possessions?
Wayne had an idea. “Write down a list of things you want addressed and we will tackle them one at a time,” he told Carolyn. He suggested she could invite her friends and neighbors to come by and choose what they might like to take as a keepsake in memory of their friend. “Done.”
Carolyn kept coming back to the issue of her house “What can I do?” Wayne suggested that maybe she could give it to her church or a charitable organization. Carolyn, having no direct living relatives, piped up: “The only ones that have ever done anything for me was Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities so why not you guys?” Wayne, being the president of Rebuilding’s board of directors, wanted it spelled out that he in no way influenced her to do this and contacted a local attorney to formalize a trust.
Carolyn King was finally at peace, with all her worries at rest. As she was already in hospice care at home, it became necessary to have her in a care facility and she passed peacefully with others around her. Even the dogs got a new loving home, as she wished.
For Wayne, the helping hand he gave to Carolyn will remain for the rest of his days and will preserve Carolyn’s memory. To others, it will help neighbors for years to come in this slowly dissolving trust.
Our thanks go to Carolyn King who went from a receiver of help to a provider of help for many others.
To make a donation to Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities, contact them at RTMC. P.O. Box 3540, Blue Jay, CA 92317, at (909) 336-3910 or by email at info@rtmc.build. For more information, visit www.rtmc.build.
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