Eric
I had the great pleasure of serving with Dave on the board of the Bead Museum when it was still in the little town of Prescott. He invited me to visit him at home several times and I was mesmerized by his bead collection, the musical instruments he constructed, the wonderful journals he created, and the way African art just flowed through his house. He took me to one of his special places just off Highway 78 a few miles south of the little town of Palo Verde, which is down the road a bit from Blythe. He showed me a fascinating slot canyon which I still call Mort's Wash. I could show it to you some time. He also showed me fossil-bearing rocks and agates to be found in the hills around the slot canyon. I still go there to this day to look for new treasures. The two of us pondered for many weeks the possible origin of the funny little dog-bone shaped agate beads which John Picard showed in his photo in this message string. I learned so much from him about beads and Africa and Blue Grass music in Blythe and fishing on the nearby Colorado. He was truly a renaissance man and I count myself extremely lucky to have known him. If I know him he is already plucking his banjo or fishing in whatever river runs through his new home. He was a great guy and I know how sad it must be for you to have lost him. I miss him too. Paul Johnson