2012 the year of change

I am going to be a grandma. I am vegan,, for a little while at least. I am finishing The Newlyweds quilt,( can you call them newlyweds after 2/3/4 years of marriage?) it's on the frames right now. Hand quilting is not for  the faint of heart>I hope I will have it done before thier first childs enters this world. My husband is still alive and recovering. Stupid, wandering around like a chicken with his head cut off man. Whit is in India, no change there, but she does have a boyfriend. It's almost been a year. All bets are off the table. Taylor has a great job in Sedona at Garlands Lodge. I call him the GM. Fun Christmas. Fun Thanksgiving. Looking forward to what this year will bring.

"Just spent some time reading Lincoln's blog. It was so fun to read the stories and remember Link. He was such an example. Thank you for all the work putting it together for everyone to enjoy. I am so proud to be part of the Heap group and to know that such good people are part of my family."

Virginia Stradling Butler

Linda and all the Sherwood Family,
Lane and I both feel really privileged to have known Lincoln. He left really big footprints on our hearts and in just short time so many wonderful memories of good times! Even though we miss him and are praying for comfort for all of you, we smile everyday when we remember another story. That seemed to be what Lincoln was about--making the best of whatever situation he was in at the time and Linda right there cheering him on. What a wonderful example for all of us!! He has left such a legacy that is visible in the whole family. We are truly blessed to know a man so strong in his faith, so strong in his family, and so strong in his purpose! We will be praying for comfort and strength in the days ahead so that all of us can press on as Lincoln would have us do. Love you all,
Lane and Brenda Hill

It just aches me that I was not there when all gathered for Lincoln, in St. Johns last week!

He may never really know how much, but Bro. Sherwood influenced me in more ways than one.

It was an honor to know him and his whole family...especially Mark and Melissa! Like I said, I was not able to make it to St. Johns, but ...my heart was with you all!

Thank-you for sharing this blog. I will always be thankful for the time he let me haul hay with them...I miss those days :-) So looking forward to seeing you again Link!!!


--Crazy Indian Steve

I had some great visits to the Sherwood home. Lincoln scared the hell out of me once when he pulled out his pocket knife and cut my hair. . . I thought it would be cool to grow a little "tail" but it turns out it wasn't that cool :)

Remember the 40th birthday sign on the barn? Linc was a legend. My wife and son have both asked when we visit SJ - "Who's Lincoln and when did he turn 40?"

Lincoln always was a straight shooter. He could cut through the bs quick and just tell it like it is. My impressions of Linc growing up was that he was an honest, humble, hard working family man. . .the salt of the earth type of guy that defined what being raised in SJ means.

Linda, I sure do love you and your family and am thankful that I was able to know you growing up. I don't think I can remember anything but a big smile and a warm greeting whenever I saw you.

Mark, Melissa, Vern - I lost my dad a while back and I hope you can remember back to all of the good memories and great experiences you had with your dad. That will help get you through.

I didn't know the younger kids but I can tell you that your dad is a great man and is respected by anyone that got to know him.

Take care Sherwoods and know you are in our thoughts.

Jeff Anderson Family

Sharing the Beauty

While watching conference today, Karston, Teaerra, Melody and Kyson Price created a beautiful flower arrangement,using some of the many flowers from the funeral, for each of the 10 residents at the Hinkson Assisted Living care center in St. Johns.

After conference they and their Crosby and Sherwood cousins enjoyed delivering the flower arrangements.

Thank You SO Much

We wish to thank each of you for all the love and concern that has been shown the family this week. Thank you for the food brought and services performed in so many different ways, for the sacrifice of your time and resources on behalf of the family.

Over 300 people attended the dinner, the attendees were not only local, but traveled from as far as Phoenix, Kirtland NM, Provo Utah, Darrousett Texas, L.A. and San Francisco, Ca.

At the funeral the Congregation filled the chapel, and overflowed into the cultural hall to an almost standing room only capacity. There were many more who contacted the family, whose hearts were with us, but could not physically be there.

The flowers were absolutely beautiful, and filled the entire front of the chapel. There were so many, the Pall Bearers had to clear the way to take the casket out.

You have truly honored Lincoln and his family with your love and concern.

This show of respect is an inspiration to each of us. The outpouring of love epitomizes the very basic Christian values that we hold so dear.

Mike Udall’s Talk at Lincoln Sherwood’s funeral

This is the chapel where Lincoln attended church as a kid. This is where his parents and grandparents and great grandparents went to church. I am sure many of us here today can say the same thing.

After I’d heard Link talk at a funeral years ago I made him promise that he would talk at mine. He didn’t extract any promise from me, but here I am.

Lincoln Robin Sherwood was born on January 9th 1947. Kim has already told you about their parents death and being raised by their grandparents.

Link grew up here in St. Johns where he attended Grade School & High School.

While he was in High School, he worked for Clair Platt who he really respected and developed his great love for cattle and ranching. He worked for Everett Hinkson, too

He went to college in Yuma and worked on Melvin Crosby’s farm.

When he turned 19 - like most Mormon boys do - he went on a mission to Ireland for 2 years.

I wasn’t here when Lincoln dated my little sister, Linda, in High School, so I didn’t really know him until he came home after his mission and started seriously courting her. My younger brother Steve and I took it on ourselves to tease and torment him. But as soon as Link was safely married to Linda we learned that when it came to teasing we had been messing with THE master.

Just ask Lynn Hancock about when he started dating our little sister, Kathy. Then it was all Link’s own kids and all the nieces and nephews when they would bring someone home they were mercilessly teased. If the intended could pass the Lincoln test, then they were keepers.

If you knew Lincoln at all, you know that he loved to tease. He was just fun to be around. He was always joking and teasing. It seems one of his favorite things to do was to torment his Mother-in-Law and get her all stirred up. And he really liked to get her going. She’d just get so mad...

One of his favorite things to do with his little grandkids was to lick his finger and poke them in the ear. Give them wet willies. They loved to sneak up behind him and do it to him. They loved teasing him as much as he loved teasing them. He liked to have a box of candy for the kids. He’d offer them a piece of candy. And say which one do you want. When they pointed to one, he would pick it up and say “is this the one you want”? If they said “yes” then he’d lick it and hand it to them - just to hear them squeal.

His quick smile, sparkling blue eyes, and great sense of humor won him friends wherever he went.

After Link and Linda were married they moved to Phoenix and Link worked for Glendon Lamereaux a livestock trader who bought and sold at the auctions. Link was a quick learner and used Glendon’s skills for the rest of his life.

One day Link needed to haul some pigs to the auction. He had a big boar that he was afraid would kill the two other little pigs before he could get them there. He talked Linda into sitting in the manger of the trailer and hitting the boar with a big stick to save the little ones. Since it was only a short distance, Linda agreed to do it. Now this trailer had no top or cover and was all open. I can just see Link driving down the highway stopping at street lights as cars pulled up to the side of them and wondered what that crazy lady was doing sitting in the front of the trailer hitting and yelling at who knows what. It didn’t take her long to figure out that Link was taking a ‘detour’ all around town, and on the freeway - a real joy ride. With the little pigs squealing, the big boar grunting and Linda hollering and pounding on the old boar and then cussing Lincoln who was sitting in the pickup with a big grin on his face and pretending that he couldn’t hear a thing.

When Dad died in 1970, Lincoln moved back to St. Johns to work with me on the family ranch.

This was when their first two children, Mark and Melissa came into our lives. Linda fought for them fiercer than any mother bear had ever fought for her cubs, and finally was able to adopt them. I think we all thought we were their parents.

Vern was born a few years after that, followed by Matt, then Brooke, and last of all Chase. These 6 children were the love of Link and Linda’s life. They now have 24 grandkids, and 2 great-grandchildren. They are a close family. Link loved his kids and grandkids and they loved him.

All the grandkids called him Poad. He called his first grandson Devin-Toad. Devin came right back with Papa Toad. When Riley came along she couldn’t get the Toad in there right so she called him Papa Poad. And it stuck. All the grandchildren called him Poad.

His kids were his ranch hands, the boys and the girls. He made it fun for them. He mounted them on good horses. Taught them how to work and play. They’ve all turned out well. Prospering and raising their own eternal families

When his former employer Clair Platt passed away he went to work for Clair’s family for the next 18 years.

We continued to work together as we helped each other when we needed to.

Link always had other enterprises going on no matter where he was working. He contracted and built a lot of fence for the 2 power plants and others around. He cut and sold semi-loads of fire wood. He was tireless.

During this time he bought a small ranch in New Mexico and another one west of town in the Big Hollow.

One day Lincoln and his kids were gathering cows at Big Hollow in the rain and just as they were about to push the cattle through the gate of the corral; Link suddenly stopped and ordered everyone off their horses and into the vehicles. This surprised the kids since they were within yards of getting the cattle corralled. All the kids obediently hopped off and before they got the doors shut on the pickups - lightening struck and killed two head right there where they would have been.

When Clair Platt’s family sold the cattle and subdivided the ranch Link moved his family to Kirkland NM. Many of you may have lost track of Link then, so I’ll fill in some details.

In Kirtland NM he began buying and trading livestock on the Navajo Reservation. He really enjoyed doing this. No matter what he was doing, he enjoyed it. He liked the Navajo people and they liked him. He learned Navajo well enough to trade in Navajo. He picked up languages very easily. He had also learned to speak Spanish by working with his ‘foreign exchange’ students.

After Kirtland he ran a ranch in Kanosh UT for Jay Platt. He felt the need to be close to family, so he moved to Snowflake where his oldest daughter, Melissa, lived and Linda’s sister, Kathy.

There he went to work at the pig farm. It wasn’t what Link wanted to be doing, but he made the best of it and true to form - enjoyed it. That was just his personality. He immersed himself into whatever he was doing and never lost his sense of humor.

About this time he got a sub-contract to build the Beeline highway fence that Kim talked about.

He won the admiration and respect of the main contractor and soon Link was sub-contracting fence from lots of big highway contractors.

It was one of these jobs - installing barrier cable between the lanes of traffic on the freeways in the Phoenix area that he really got his feet on the ground. He had the ability to figure a better and faster way to do things. Instead of pounding the I beams that the cable ran through with a big slow piling driver he went to John Deere and explained what he wanted and between them they designed and built a hydraulic driver on a skid-steer that was many times faster.

Doing the job fast enough with less expense made it possible for him to buy a ranch in Brush Colorado.

Meanwhile he still worked and developed his fencing contracts all over the South West.

Several years later he found his ‘dream’ ranch in the North Eastern corner of the panhandle of TX where he spent the rest of his life.

Link had a tremendously strong work ethic and very high integrity. Whatever he started he gave it his all and did his very best.

Lincoln was an entrepreneur. Always planning and scheming. He was never afraid to try something new or do it a better way.

He was not afraid to tackle anything - no matter how difficult it was. He could always think a problem through and come up with a better way to do things. He could always get through the ‘brick wall’

He took a contract with the Navajo nation to gather wild cows for them. Which no one else was willing to take.

In a few weeks, we roped over 200 head of cattle, tied each one of them down, and then used our horses to pull each one into the trailer and hauled them to the corral one at a time. He never saw a job that he thought he couldn’t figure out a way to do it. And he did.

Whatever he was doing, he was excited about it and enjoyed it.

Lincoln was a good cowboy, good Stockman, good horseman

He was early to rise, and early to bed. He was the hardest worker I’ve ever known. One time he told his long-winded home teachers it was his bed time and to turn out the lights when they left.

The other night when the kids were together reminiscing about their Dad they wrote up this list of the things he told them all the time. Work hard. Find humor in the things you do. To do our best in everything we did. Never say “I can’t.” Always find a way. Never give up

A few years ago Linda and Lincoln went back to Ireland where he had been on his mission. On a Sunday they went to one of the churches Link had been involved with in Dublin. After the meeting the Ireland mission President introduced himself to Linda and Link. When he heard the name “Lincoln Sherwood” he said “I know that name. You’re famous here. You baptized more people here in Ireland than anybody has since WWII.”

The Kids said that he loved to tease, loved race horses, loved the Gospel, loved his Family, and loved his dog, Porfie. He always had a dog. One of them that I remember would open and drink his cans of diet cherry coke.

Lincoln went down to the All American horse sale and races in RUIdoso over the Labor Day weekend last month. Lynn & Kathy and Steve & Mary Lou and I were there, too, to see Lincoln because it was closer than Texas. The morning after he sold his colt we went down with him to check his horses that he had there in the stalls. After he had talked to his trainer and he was starting to get tired and he wanted to go inside the big barn where all the people were and sit down. He found himself a seat right in the middle where he could sit down. I got to watching him and horseman after horseman came and sat down with him. Talk to him for a few minutes and congratulate him on the amount of money his colt sold for. They all knew the condition he was in and they all came up and spoke to him and shook his hand and left. Just one after another after another came and did that and essentially told him goodbye. He had the respect of the best quarter-horse people in the world.

I’ve cowboyed with him, from the Navajo Reservation on the North to the Apache Reservation on the south, from the Zuni reservation on the east to the petrified forest on the west.

We called each other cuñado. Which means Brother-in-law in Spanish. My kids ended up calling him Uncle Coon.

We worked and laughed, sweated, built fence, trailed cattle to the mountain, fed cattle, broke horses, chopped ice, fixed windmills, and all the rest.

We went out to see Link and Linda about 6 weeks ago and Kim and Debbie and Kathy were there and had been for a while helping Linda and Link. Kathy told me this story. She said that not long after their parents had died - when Lincoln was 5 - he told Kathy, “Let’s run away to Texas.” Kathy said what about Kim? Lincoln said we’ll come back and get him when he gets out of diapers. I just can’t imagine how hard it must have been on Link and Kathy and Kim to have their parents suddenly taken out of their lives at a very young age. What a reunion it must have been to see his Mom and Dad and Grandparents again.

Link had a dream. He lived his dream. And he worked and accomplished his dream. When he moved to Texas - he built up his dream ranch. He had his wife, Linda, his children and grandchildren. He had what he considered to be the best ranch anywhere. A good big herd of some of the best cows as I’ve ever seen. And some of the best horses that ever turned a cow. Or ran down a racetrack. He loved a good horse and had a bunch of them. Cow horses, rope horses, race horses.

I think that Lincoln would feel like I do. And think Heaven can’t be heaven without fat cows and horses. Perpetual green grass and lots of water. I would hope that someday we could ride together to go out and check the cattle. Whenever I’d go out there to Texas he would say at least 10 times a day “I love Texas!” Link found his Heaven in Texas.

About 3 years ago they learned than Lincoln had cancer. It was a long hard-fought battle of chemotherapy and hospital stays. He never once complained or felt sorry for himself about having cancer. Linda was always upbeat. She tended him for 24 hours a day.

Linda went through this before when her Dad died of cancer. She stood by Link’s side as he gradually went down hill. Neither one ever gave up. Never said one discouraging word to anybody. Never said “why me.” Instead their attitude was - Why not me? why everyone else and not me. I’ll admire them both for as long as I live. Admire and love them both.

Towards the end he was still upbeat. The only thing he was upset about was that he couldn’t work hard. He would get up get in his pickup and make a circle to check then go get what he called his cowboy breakfast - a diet cherry coke and a donut. Then back home to lay down.

At the end the kids were gathering around. Lincoln was unconscious when Vern and his family got there to Texas. They started talking to him and his eyes fluttered a little bit and he started trying to lift his head. Linda asked him if he wanted to sit up and he nodded because he couldn’t talk, so they sat him up in bed. He pointed at Baylor, Vern’s littlest boy, and then patted his lap with his hand. Linda said do you want him to sit on your lap and he nodded yes. They put Baylor up on his lap. With a big grin on his face, he very wobbily stuck his finger in Baylor’s ear. Then Baylor turned around licked his finger and stuck it in Lincoln’s ear. A big smile came on Link’s face and his eyes twinkled for the last time. Then he laid back down and that was the last time that he was conscious.

Link would not want us to mourn his passing. He would want us to celebrate his life.

The greatest achievement of Lincoln’s life was that “Linda LOVED Lincoln” without reservation ALL of her life. - - - Even though she probably thought she was playing second fiddle to a bunch of cows and horses.

He was such a good friend. It won’t be the same without him. But I know and his family knows, we will all be together again.

Kim's Funeral Talk

Several people have requested that we post Kim's funeral talk since they could not make it to the funeral. We will try to post Mike's also.



I feel truly humbled to be asked to speak today. I pray that the things I say will be of worth.

Linda told me that Link just hated long funerals and asked that his not be over and hour. I will do my best to do my part HOWEVER, Link was probably smiling at the thought of me up here trembling and figuring HE GOT THE LAST ONE, BUT a thought HAS occurred to me, that this may be MY chance to the get the LAST ONE, you may need to get up and stretch your legs or, or even LEAVE, but this is a younger brother MAY get even!

Steve Udall once told Clarence Bigelow, Dammit Clarence, I asked you what time it is, not how to build the watch!

That is how trying to tell Link’s life history in about 10 minutes is. You really will only be hearing what time it is, there is no way to tell you how to build the watch.

Link was my only brother and we have a sister Kathy Sherwood Phalen.

In looking out at all the people that are here today, I see so many familiar faces, but I also see a great number of people that I don’t believe I have ever met.

This is not surprising to me, knowing Lincoln Sherwood and the number of people he dealt with in his lifetime. One thing I think is important is to explain to those of you who only knew Link, that he was the oldest son of Gleason and Alma Sherwood, who were killed in a car/train accident in 1952, when Link was about 5 years old.

I am the youngest brother and I am about 3 years younger than Link. Link and I were primarily raised by our Paternal Grandparents, LP and Clara Sherwood. Our sister was primarily raised by our Maternal Grandparents, Byron and Anona Heap. These four grandparents shared the responsibility of our upbringing.

Lincoln married his High School sweetheart Linda Udall. Linda is the daughter of Shertie and Melba Udall. Linda’s oldest brother is Mike Udall who has spent a lifetime as a rancher and entrepreneur. Linda’s second brother is Steve Udall, who some folks felt was Apache County Attorney forever. Linda’s younger sister is Kathy Udall Hancock, who has lived in Snowflake most of her married life, and has been one of Linda’s favorite traveling companions thru the years.

One thing I probably should mention is that Lincoln was named after Gleason’s older brother Lincoln R. Sherwood, a bomber pilot in World War II who died after flying 42 missions over Italy..

I mention this only because I truly believe that Gleason named his son Lincoln after his hero older brother, to honor his brother…. and this was also the greatest honor Gleason could give his first born.

Part of the reason I strongly believe this, is from a letter that Gleason sent home from the battlefields in Italy in 1945 when he learned of his brother’s tragic death.

In part the letter said, “I had the opportunity to meet with Lincoln and we made plans for partnering in ranching and farming when we returned from the war. The letter further states, “Lincoln was not only my older brother, he was also my best friend.”

Link in the past few months told me many things that I never knew. One of those stories was from shortly before our parents were killed, while we were living in the Gleason Sherwood home, which was located in the area of the present US Post Office. Our father owned Hilltop Dairy, which was located about where Howard Lee’s dental office now is.

Link, who would have been about 5 years old, said he would walk across the highway to the shipping corrals, leading his cat with a rope around his neck. (These corrals I remember well and they were located about where the Leonard Isaacson home is now). Once at the corrals he would talk to any of the old cowboys that might be present, if they had the time for a little wannabe cowboy. Link developed many lifelong friendships with a number of the few old time cowboys left in the country. In doing so, he began preparing to live a lifelong dream.

A very few years later, his loving, doting Cowboy Grandfather, Byron Heap, placed him on a wonderful mare to race in the Round Valley rodeo. He was about 7 at the time. Knowing our grandfather Byron (who we called Gramps), I know positively that the only way Link would have been allowed to enter a real horse race on a fast horse at that tender age, would be by demonstrating without any question that he had the skills and knowledge to run that race.

Little did anyone know what a lifelong quest this would create, and Link would own some of the best and fastest horses in the whole country. In fact just few weeks ago, one of his colts was the top selling colt in the Ruidoso All American horse sale.

Another event that occurred during these early, formative years, showed Link’s character. I recall and believe it was when Link was probably around 8 or 9, he was having difficulty with a couple of bully types at school. A couple of the boys decided to nickname him a very unflattering name. Link handled this in a very unusual manner for a 9 year old. He told me that he warned the bullies that if they ever called him that name again, he would make them wish they hadn’t. There was no way he would allow them to start such a degrading nickname. He told me he might get whipped, but he would win in the end, and he did. This is a very early demonstration of Link’s determination and resolve when he believed he was right.

One of the memories that I recall vividly to this day, was an error that I made in my young married life, that I have regretted my whole life, but appreciated the valuable lesson that Link taught me.

Link lived what he preached. One thing he believed as strongly as anything was that a man is only as good as his honesty and integrity.

To summarize this story, Link located me some cows and calves shortly after I was married and moved to St. Johns. It was a time that he was trading livestock. He sold them to me at a good price, AND got a good commission, BUT requested that if I resold them, he wanted the first opportunity to buy them back. I agreed, not thinking too much about it. A few months later, the original owner of the cattle came to me and wanted to buy them back. Surprised at the request.. unthinkingly, I agreed to sell them back, not even considering my commitment to Link. Shortly thereafter, I was reminded in no uncertain terms, of that commitment… by Link. Not only was I reminded, but I was reminded in front of my stern and impeccably honest Grandfather. Link’s chastisement and the method used has caused me a lifetime of regret and taught me a lesson on Integrity that I will never forget.

I have noticed during the past week how my children have grieved for Link. I spent over 20 years as a Criminal Investigator pursuing bad guys, often weeks away from home.

As we lived across the street from Link and his family, my children and Links were best friends and together constantly.

Even though Debbie was home, our kids much loved kind, gentle Linda and teasing, ornery Link. As I was gone so much, Link became a father figure to them. He taught them many things, not the least being hard work. We all are eternally grateful for the great influence my brother had on my children.

They share their cousins’ loss, and will always love their Uncle Lincoln.

Not too long after I found out Link had cancer, I wrote a story that I feel is very appropriate for this talk. (ACTUALLY for the funeral, in interest of time, Kim only gave excerpts from this, but we have posted it in its' entirety, including pictures).

From the top of the Mogollon Rim it seems you can see forever, and equally amazing is what you can see. To this ole’ country boy it is one of the prettier sights, in this big wide beautiful world. One of my preferred overviews is on the Heber to Payson Highway ( Hwy. 260). The highway winds across the relatively flat top of the Rim from Heber to the edge of the Rim above Christopher Creek, and then drops suddenly and steeply down the rugged and colorful pine covered rock formations to the beautifully clear, oak lined Christopher Creek.

I often stop for an old man break and admire the view. It seems you are standing at the top of the world, you literally look down on the tops of the tall ponderosa pine trees, and on a clear day can see for miles. On a cloudy day I often feel, as I look through the clouds and mist, as God possibly felt looking over his newly created world, so clean , fresh and beautiful. It is the most impressive after a summer rain and everything is so sparkling clean and seems to touch my very soul.

This is often enhanced by the sun filtering through the clouds, and mist like a promise of a wonderful day to come. A few miles on down the road is another impressive view , this one is southwest of Camp Creek as the highway finally drops into the high desert and a few miles further we see the ribbon of green, the Verde River Valley. There is a huge pile of immense granite boulders that the highway literally cuts through. These boulders are impressive to most, and to me they look like they were placed at the edge of the desert floor to limit passage from the hot, often barren, and always unforgiving desert, into the cool life-giving sanctuary of the mountains.

These boulders, as impressive as they may appear from the highway to travelers, have a much greater awe to some of us that know what important, life changing events were played out in, over and around them. As I ponder the events of which I am personally acquainted with, I feel that very probably over the centuries of time, other events may and probably did occur among the massive, unmovable monuments of time and nature. Very possibly an Indian fleeing General Crook and his bloody campaign to exterminate the renegade bands that took refuge in and around the Tonto Basin and Mogollon Rim, took refuge there. Or possibly a hot, thirsty explorer finally reached the life giving shade an protection from the blistering summer sun that shows no mercy on man nor beast, and always has and will be the supreme ruler of the Arizona desert. My thoughts and imaginations could ramble for pages on what may have happened over the ages of time, but what I personally know did happen at those rocks is something that needs to be recorded for all future generations to understand and contemplate.

All of us from a very early age start to make decisions that affect our entire lives to come. As we reach young adulthood these decisions become tougher and more important in determining our future lives. These decisions don’t fade away as our adolescent pimples do, but they often become more important and life determining. Who we marry, where we live , what our professions are, how many children we are blessed with and what role we let God play in our lives. What we eat, who we choose for friends, the list could go on and on.

A family man with some heavy, life determining decisions fought a tough battle here among these rocks and won, and continues to win . We can use his struggles and eventual triumph over these obstacles in our lives, they can and should be an inspiration to all of us, especially his family and posterity.

Things hadn’t gone as planned in the farming and ranching business, eventually high interest and low prices took it’s toll. The loss of the farm wasn’t from the lack of work, I personally can remember many mornings when he had irrigated the fields all night and followed up doing his other ranch and farm chores all day. This often went on day after day, with very little sleep. His kids, and most of mine, learned what the meaning of hard work was from his example, and sometimes from his other methods of getting his point across. It has to be one of the most traumatic and life effecting events for a man to watch his life long dreams, as well as the all the work and sacrifices of your time and youth, wilt and die like the wonderful desert vegetation after a wet spring gives up to the blistering, life sapping, desert sun.

Lesser men would allow these setbacks and dream smashing obstacles to whip them. but not Lincoln R. Sherwood, he was cut from the same timber as his father and grandfather. Link did what us damn hard headed Sherwood’s do, made up his mind to do something and then did it. His quest was that he would make it all back and more. This wasn’t just an idle dream, it became a life consuming quest. (This is a brothers observation), I watched Link struggle with a ranch foreman job in Utah, then to livestock trading on the Navajo Reservation, but these weren’t getting him to where he promised himself he would be. A small opportunity came up to build a section of highway fence on the Black Ridge west of St. Johns, it wasn’t much, but a foot in the door. Then a big break came along, a contractor who had bit off more than he could chew, couldn’t complete the contract and Link was called in to take the contract over. Several miles of highway right of way fence through the boulders south of Camp Creek was a job that would test the metal of any man and most would come out losers, if they were foolish enough to attempt it.

Fence building under any condition is tough, but over and through granite boulders bigger than a pickup goes well beyond tough. Throw in months spanning triple digits heat and every kind of desert plant. Those of you not privileged to have worked among these plants may not realize that they all have some sort of defensive armor, usually sharp thorns that poke in with the slightest pressure and usually break off at skin level or just under the skin. They all must have some sort of chemical that amplifies the pain the second they enter your flesh. You add the rattle snakes, the hot sun in the day and the cold desert nights, all of this is on the ridge line that transforms the rolling high desert into the foot hills that rim the desert. There isn’t a machine that can traverse this terrain. The only way fence gets built here is by sheer guts, sweat , perseverance, and tenacity.

Next time you are at your home town hardware store, or Home Depot for you city dwellers, throw a big roll of barbed wire on your shoulder, just walk up and down the aisle a few times with it, while you’re doing this, think what it would be like carrying it over cactus, rocks and all manner of obstacles, and all types of weather. Don’t forget the rattle snakes that are ever present, and after seeing (and hearing) the first two or three of the day, you naturally get so jumpy that you start seeing them under every bush.

I often forget that some of our kids haven’t had the blessing of farm and ranch work, so I thought maybe a brief description of fence building was in order, pages could be written about the difficulty of fence building and still not convey the true challenges. I am not saying or implying that Link conquered the massive undertaking alone, he had some good help, one being his brother-in-law Mike Udall, who has a heart as big the rest of is body (and that’s pretty big), but when it all comes down to where the buck stops, Link’s name was on the line, and that means more than most people will ever know. When an old time cowboy gives his word, he will go to the ends of the earth in defense of his good name, which is built upon living up to his word. A man’s name and his word used to be, and in Link’s mind still is, inseparable.

Tenacity is something that I feel I have become somewhat of an expert on, in my colorful and sometimes slightly twisted path. It can either get you where you where you want to go, or sometimes places you should not be. Link used his to get where he always planned to be, it wasn’t a rapid or easy climb, but most things in life of value come with a price. All of my life Link has told me of his love for ranches, fine horses and good cattle and through sheer guts he has earned them all. One of the very significant points that I think needs to be brought out here, is what happened when Link finally conquered these massive boulders. A whole world of opportunity opened up for him, he became known as the man that could get any job done, an was rewarded for his tenacity and integrity with many more difficult, but monetarily rewarding, State and Federal jobs. Equally important, was that he proved to the world (and more important to himself) that he had what it takes to come out the winner.

At some time in our lives we will all have some pretty large boulders to climb over, and most of us have our share of thorns to dislodge, but when we conquer these boulders, and endure the thorns, we also will have gained an inner strength and confidence to succeed in the opportunities and challenges that surely will come.

Link has climbed some immense boulders the past couple of years, but he has what it takes to get over these also, it makes me proud to call him my brother.

So next time you take the Highway between Payson and Phoenix, look at the massive boulders and imagine the difficulty of climbing over and through them with rolls of barbed wire and steel posts, not to mention the difficulties encountered getting the posts set into the ground ,or more often the case, into solid rock. Then take a little side trip to the Panhandle country of North East Texas, and you will see one of the nicer cattle ranches around. He has put together a herd of some of the finest Brangus cattle, and as good a set of corrals as I have ever been in. Massive sprinkler wheels irrigate the long rolling green fields, a dream come true.

But more important than all this, he has proved to the community that he is a man of his word. When the people in that small Texas town learned I was Lincoln Sherwood’s brother, they welcomed me into the community like I had been raised there, which is very seldom the case in small towns.

One of my favorite quotes from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow says it all,
“The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.”

If you think Link got lucky, think again, he has literally climbed boulders his whole life to become the man he is, and attain what he has, and we should let his example be a lesson to us all. Thanks brother, for the example of integrity, strength, and tenacity.

Linda,

My prayers are with you and your family. I am so sorry for those of of who stay behind and grieve and miss those who pass over.

My Dad will be so sad too. He loves you and Link so much. my heart is breaking for you and your family. stay strong and know that God loves you and we do too.

Vicki Mineer

Linda,

My prayers are with you and your family. I am so sorry for those of of who stay behind and grieve and miss those who pass over.

My Dad will be so sad too. He loves you and Link so much. my heart is breaking for you and your family. stay strong and know that God loves you and we do too.

Vicki Mineer

We were sad to hear of Link's passing. We appreciated his wit, humor and his example of hard work. Linda, we send our love and prayers during this time.
Love Gary and Stacey Farr

Dear St. Johns Family,



Thanks so much Debbie and Kim for thinking of us up here in Utah. I am sorry to hear of Lincoln’s passing. But I am sure it is the best for him after all that he has been through. We are comforted, with you, to know that he is in a better place. I wish I could have visited with him during my last visits to family events, but I will just have to remember Lincoln as a teenager at Pammy and Grand-dad’s house. He was such a tease and early on he scared me a little. Once or twice, Mom (Rowena) had to talk to him for me and say…”Now Lincoln.” But as the years went by, we all grew up and had great times together during our visits to St. Johns.



Love to all of you from all of us.



Julie Ward

Let me show you how a Horse Bites the Cabbage...

Every time I went with Uncle Link to the ranch or to haul hay or whatever, the boys volunteered me to get in the pickup first, since I was the youngest, and squished me in by Link because nobody wanted to sit by him.

Everyone hated to sit by Link, because it was a guarantee that you would get tormented the ENTIRE time.

He'd give me a Wet Willy and then say, "You want to see how a horse bites the cabbage?" Then he'd grab on the inside of the my leg close to the knee and pinch as hard as he could. But, he made it all worth it, because we never passed a gas station or an opportunity to get a treat.

One time when a horse fell with Uncle Lincoln and broke his ankle, since the rest of the boys were in school and I was being home schooled at the time, I was priveleged to spend quite a bit of time with him, opening gates, etc. I enjoyed getting to know him a little better.


Link was a heck of a guy, I hear stories about him out at work all the time. Mainly what I hear about him is that he treated people really well and sure had a lot of fun at the ropings.

A bunch of the guys were reliving old stories this week and each of us realized how much we will miss him.


Aaron Sherwood

Linc as a little boy

One day when I was helping my Dad (Harry Wilhelm) brand some calves at the Wilhelm corrals across from the Sherwood’s Hilltop Dairy, we saw Linc (I’m guessing him to have been about 5 or 6 years old) coming up to the branding chute where Harry was standing. Linc had a cowboy hat and a little cotton rope coiled up in his hand.
He asked, “Who’s the boss of this outfit?”
Harry responded with, “Why?”
Linc came out in as husky a voice as he could muster: “I’m tired of that damn Sherwood outfit and I’m looking for a job.”
Submitted by LaVerl Wilhelm

Sorry to hear of your loss. All of us in Minersville were sad to hear your news. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Please let us know when funeral will be


Zachary Eyring

Aunt Linda, I'm sorry to hear about Uncle Link. I know we all haven't kept in touch much since Grammy died, but you are all always in my mind. I love you and my heart is with you always and especially right now.


Mandee Udall Garcia

Our thoughts and prayers are with you! I know my parents think the world of you two! Lots of love!

Amber Hancock Standage

Hey Linda, this is Paula Lopez using court face book want to tell u how sorry I am loved u a Link, he was a good man want to see all of u Melissa said u well be in St Johns Thurs take care and drive safe oi

Courtney Lopez

I am so sorry, Link was such a strong good man with such a good woman beside him. If you need places for your family to stay while in St. Johns I have an almost empty house, at least 2 free bedrooms.

Michelle Udall

Yes mam I let them know as soon as I got your message I am so so so sorry to here you are blessed with knowing that he is with Heavenly Father now ..


Nick Seagle

We were so sorry to hear about Lincoln. You know he was a good man. He was such a compassionate person and we loved him and of course you too Linda. I still remember the good times that we at at our meetings at Myrna Mineers. . Wasn't that the good old days to think about. Our prayers go out to you and your family.

Love Buzz and Hallye

I am so very grateful for being able to grow so close to Lincoln in the past few years. He was truly one of my best friends and I always looked forward to talking to him. When I think about getting married, I always hope I can marry a guy like him. He talked about you with so much respect and love. Thank you so much fo...r all you have done for me. My life has been made better because of you and your family! I feel so lucky to have seen you all last week. I love you!

Shelby Layne Sherwood

Linda, just want you to know... no matter where you and Lincoln would go..you touch hearts everywhere.. now if we could just touch your heart a little as you have done to so many...to give you strength... We love you..and want you to know we will miss Lincoln right beside you...hope you will still come see us :)

Mitzi Jenkins

Linda, I am so very sorry for your loss. Link was a great man and a wonderful friend to dad.. He is up there with loved ones and with mom... hanging out, now he can give her a hard time again... Blessings to you and your family !

Kathi Mineer

Dear Linda,

Jay got an email from Debbie this morning telling him of Lincoln's death. We mourn with you.

Jay said this morning, "I can see the old barn with "Link is 40" written on it." It may even be there still.

Pam Crosby said it right. We truly learn from each other, and Link's positive attitude in the face of a serious illness taught us all.

I respected him so much for the care he gave his sister. He could have been bitter about many things in his life, but he showed us a better way.

Will you give our love to each one of your children. We will miss being there for the funeral to celebrate a wonderful life. I can't help but think of him crossing into the arms of his parents and that creates such a picture in my mind. You will be in our prayers, Linda.

Thank goodness for children and grandchildren, siblings, and good friends.

Love,

Tricia and Jay (Platt)

"Link is 40" Barn

Love the stories about Link. We loved to go to Link & Linda's with my dad, I remember what a big tease he was. Always had a special place in my heart for Link and Linda. I also remember the barn that said 'Lincoln is 40'. Great joke back on Link.........Love and prayers to the whole Sherwood family. Link will surely be missed.

Lana Wilhelm Meyers



ps. Thanks Debbie for a place for us to go to reminisce and remember the good life of St. Johns........those were the good times.
Hope all is well with you.

Last night, Gena and I were sitting on the couch reminiscing about Dad with Kensie and one of her good friends. Kade and Kace were at an Aaronic Priesthood training meeting, so unfortunately they missed out on several really good stories.

Gena and I started dating when she was a Junior and I was a Senior. She has told me many times that she has always been just a little of scared of my Dad. It was mentioned in a previous post that he wasn't "very soft spoken or patient", and I think that is what concerned her. But we all know what a "softy" he became. I am grateful that my kids and my brother's and sister's kids all got to know Poad, the "softy".

The story that the girls got the biggest kick out of was this one;

Gena and Shayla (Anderson) Taylor were taking Justin Grant home one day(if Justin was smart, he would have been sitting in the middle between these two hot girls). Now, Shayla had this really cool, yellow Chevy step-side pickup. I don't remember for sure, but I think it was a 1968 model. While driving this pickup, if the driver shut off the iginition and turned it back on, it would back-fire very loudly. While en route to Helen's house, they noticed my Dad's pickup parked on mainstreet in front of the old high school, and decided it would be very funny to "get' Lincoln. He was outside of his pickup talking to someone. So, as they drove by, Shayla turned the ignition off and then quickly back on and the pick-up backfired. Gena says that out of all the times they did this, that this paricular backfire was the loudest one ever. They were all watching my Dad when the pick-up back fired and Gena says that he must have jumped at least 3 feet off the ground. Of course, they were all laughing hysterically, but noticed that he immediately ran around to get in his pickup to chase them down. At that point, according to Gena, Shayla yelled "OH SHIT", and Justin screamed "DRIVE, JUST DRIVE". They tried to make it to Helen's to hide before Lincoln caught them, but they weren't fast enough. He caught them in front of Helen's house, jumped out of his pickup screaming that he thought they had just shot him. At that point, they all had a really good laugh. Gena says that she was glad that she finally got him.

Just his name could put a smile on my face.

I knew Lincoln in Kirtland, NM. Somehow the Sherwood family moved there just when I needed them most. There is so much to remember when it comes to Lincoln. I will always remember his smile. I worked at Dairy Queen and he would often come up to get a treat (most times a heath bar blizzard). One time he came up and went through the drive through with his horse and wagon. I also remember him trying to get me to marry one of his boys. This included introducing me as his daughter-in-law, & telling other guys that I was taken. I remember going to his house once with Sean and Jared and he let me in and then shooed them away with a shovel. I went to a dance with Crum and I remember him telling Valorie that I could go as long as she understood it was only for that dance, that I belonged to one of his boys. He also made poor Vern take me out right when he got home from his mission.

I remember him pushing me around in a shopping cart out at Hogback, & eating quesadias with "el pato " chili sauce. He almost always had a diet cherry coke around. I remember that at Matt's Farewell, as he was giving his talk, he looked down and saw Kathy talking and said "Kathy" and then continued his talk. And of course the wet willies. He also loved to say that he liked being bald because that was "more face to kiss".

There are so many good happy times that I remember, but the thing that I remember most about Lincoln is that he had a big heart. He loved people with his whole heart. He hurt deeply when the ones he loved hurt and did all he could to help them out. I remember many long chats with him. Not having a father of my own, he stepped in, and was always there for me. I remember wanting a blessing from him when I was at Ricks College. I went to Kirtland and I could not believe that he drove all the way from AZ, gave me a blessing and went back the next day. It meant the world to me! He meant the world to me and he will always hold a special place in my heart!

My prayers are with all of you! Love you guys.
Jo Cummings Romero

--
Take Care .......
Jo


joromero3@gmail.com

Dear Debbie,

Please convey my sympathy and best wishes to Linda and the family. Lincoln has been such a good man and done so much good in his life, I am so sorry to hear of his passing.

I hope the family is comforted and strengthened by the love and support of all those that love them and pray for them.

Love, Elise Patterson Lundeen

We miss Poad

A couple of years ago we went to Joe's BBQ in Gilbert with Poad. The kids sandwich meals come with a cookie and he was teasing me about eating mine while I got up to re-fill my coke. I thought I would fix him by licking my cookie before I left the table. As soon as I licked it and set it down he picked it right up and said "you think that scares me" and HE ATE MY WHOLE COOKIE. ---Whitney Sherwood

Linda,

I am so sorry to hear of Lincoln's passing. I have such fond remembrances of both him and you as I grew up.

What a special man he was.

He made everyone feel like they were the most special person in his world.

I always left my encounters with him feeling like a million bucks. I send you my hugs, my dear cousin. Please know that I am praying for you by name.

Much Love, Shayla

To the Sherwood Family, my sincere condolences.

Though I know it is hard, you are not going to be bowed down with grief, but rather with courage, are celebrating his life and his graduation...to the next phase of his life!

I admire you. I know he will be greatly missed with that big happy smile he always had on his face.

I think he probably wore it all through this long trial, anyway by the pictures sent on the blog. My prayers are with you.

Love you, Diane Patterson

Boo-Boo

Dear Linda and family,

I am so sorry to hear of Lincoln's passing. I would like to share a few memories of him.

Since I was the "baby" of our family, I pretty much grew up without babies to love until my first little nephew arrived. Lincoln was such a cute baby. He had such energy and both Ruth and I loved to hold him and play with him at every opportunity. I was 12 years old when he was born, and I would have liked to spend every spare moment with him.

When our brother Lincoln was killed, Ruth and I found that the mention of his name brought tears of sadness to our mother's eyes. So we never spoke of him. When Lincoln Robin Sherwood was born, we called him Boo-Boo.

I remember being on a trip with Mom and Dad, going to Kamas, Utah to visit
Aunt Thora. We spent the night in a motel in Price, Utah, and I can still see the scene in my mind's eye. We were lying in bed and each of us voiced the same thought, "We wish Boo-Boo were right here between us." That pretty much described how we felt about Link. I don't remember how long we called him Boo-Boo, but eventually, the name Lincoln came to represent a joyful love for a grandson to Pammy and Granddad.

Then along came Kathy and Kim, who were objects of the same adoration that we had for Link.

I was a senior in high school when Gleason and Alma died. The children were staying with Nanny and Gramp when the accident occurred. It took months to sort out the arrangement of who would raise the children, since both sets of grandparents wanted to have them.

I was at college when the arrangements were made, so I don't remember much about
that. I do remember coming home for Christmas in one of those early years. Link must have been about six or seven. He had convinced Granddad that he needed a real rope so that he could practice roping. I thought, and expressed to Dad, that it was so close to Christmas, that it would be a better idea to let Santa Claus give it to him for Christmas. That suggestion fell on deaf ears. I don't know whether it was Lincoln's persuasiveness or Granddad's love for him, or both, but Link got his rope that very day.

I went back to college and life continued for the Sherwood Family. I graduated, got a job teaching in Utah, and got married, in that order, so I didn't really live in St. Johns after that.

Link and Kim grew up, as boys do. I became a mother with children of my own to care for. WE would make a trip nearly ever summer to visit and Pammy and Granddad would come up to visit us occasionally. On one of those trips Link had his head shaved. I guess he was going through a teen-age phase.

I remember hearing about the visit from "Father John", the priest from Ireland, who thought so much of Link, that he made a trip to Arizona to see him.

I remember your inviting our family to your house for breakfast one of those summer mornings as some of my children were about the same age as Mark and Melissa. I guess we never stayed long enough to get very well acquainted because we spent most of our time with Pammy and Granddad.

When you lived in Snowflake, I remember your hospitality when we came with short notice and got there while you were eating dinner. I remember your good home-made bread and fried tacos.

I especially appreciated the trip you and Link made to come and visit me on one of your trips to the University Hospital for Link's treatments. That was a special effort, I know, but I thank you for that memory.

I want you to know that I love you and will remember all of you in my prayers, as I have remembered Link all these months.

May the comfort of the Spirit be with all of you during the coming days and weeks.

Love,

Aunt Nin

Thank you

Thank you all so much. The stories are great. If all the funny things were told, I think we would crash this site!

What do you mean she can't use a KNIFE???

Those were Linc's exact words when he found out our
youngest daughter Whitney couldn't cut her own food. 
He was aghast that I, who was raised on a ranch and can wield a knife with great skill, had not taught my daughter how to do the same.. But believe you me it was not for a lack of trying.   I laughed as I sheepishly told him it was the craziest thing I'd ever seen. She could often out fish, and out shoot everyone in our family, but she couldn't get the hang of holding a knife. Did I mention she was around 8 years old? I will never forget that night. Linc made it his personal mission on this earth to teach her how to cut her own steak.  He had never seen anything so pathetic in his life, an 8 year kid that couldn't cut her own food. .
 Now I had never known Linc to be an exceptionally patient, or soft spoken man, nevertheless, he sat with her for almost an hour gently working with her through every single little step, until she finally got it.  That is a memory I will always treasure.
Here she is all grown up.
How would she ever have survived her life without Uncle Linc ??
I am Debbie's little sister, and because I am Deb's little sister, Linc treated me like his little sister too. How lucky I am to have amazing in-laws and out-laws, like the Sherwood's. ( I call the siblings of  my siblings spouse's  the out-laws.)
All of my Love, and Condolences
 to Linda, and the Kids,
Allison Balmes Dastrup

Candy

Oh the stories about the Wet Willy's reminded me of the boxes of candy! Link just loved to offer you a piece of candy and then, with those blue eyes sparkling, quickly grab and lick the one you wanted when he saw which one you were reaching for it.

Aunt Linda. I wish I could thank you and Uncle Link enough for everything that you have done. He we will be missed. Such a big part of me growing up was with him and yourself. My heart goes out to you and I look forward to seeing you and your family in a few days.

Tyson Brock Hancock

Linda, we love Link so much. The thing that makes me so happy/teary-eyed is thinking of him seeing his Mother again. His Dad, too; but, there is NOTHING in this world as sad as a little child losing a Mother. I just can't help but laugh and cry over that. Again and Again.

Jeanne Hall Udall

Dear Linda.. So sorry to hear about Lincoln. What a guy!!

Mary Beth Ellsworth

I have been checking this blog off and on most of the day. Thank you Aunt Debbie for setting it up. I have really appreciated what everyone has posted. It really brings back a lot of memories. After reading Relly's post, and knowing that Dad truly was the "Wet Willy KING", I remembered some pictures that were taken last Thanksgiving when the entire family was at Dad and Mom's on the ranch in Texas. I just had to let Relly know that some things never change, and that sometimes you get what you give. As you can see, in the first picture Matt is obviously doing something to Brooke. I don't think there is any question of what is going on in the second pic!! Mom kept trying to get everyone to settle down, but these are pretty indicative of what happened when we all got together. I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks to all for the memories.

Mark

WET WILLY KING

As I think back to when Uncle Link lived here I had to have been only 7 or 8 at the
time he moved. But for as much time as I spent at his house only a couple things
are very vivid in my memory.

First the way he called me Relly, I can still hear him say it clear as day.

The second being the wet willys that I got from him with that grin every time I saw him. He was defiantly the wet willy KING

And third, the trick he had taught his dog.I'm not sure what the dogs name was but Uncle Link had taught him to open and drink a Cherry Diet Coke..


Then at my wedding Uncle Link and Aunt Linda flew in just for a little while and
I think the photographer thought they were Brian's parents because
he took tons of pictures of us with Uncle Link and Aunt Linda.

I think that most of all I am going to miss that smile he had that made his eyes light up, not to mention that made everyone around him smile.

Shurell Sherwood Casey

"Why'd you leave the 3rd one standing?"

I have so many memories of Uncle Lincoln; I don’t know where to begin. I guess I’ll start with what was most important. He always treated me like his own daughter. I always felt that he wanted me to do my best, just like he wanted Brooke to do her best. When Rodeos came around, he entered me into everything he entered Brooke into and let me ride the Roan Mare just like she was mine. Rodeos were a great time for me because of Uncle Lincoln. He taught me how to barrel race, pole bend, ribbon rope, and hide race. He almost let me ride a steer once too, but after a steer busted open Brooke’s knee, he decided he wasn’t going to let me ride that steer after all. After seeing all the blood, I was pretty glad I had to forfeit my ride. Each time I saw the caterpillar sized scar on Brooke’s knee, I was glad he didn’t let me ride.

One particular time I remember barrel racing at the 24th of July on the Roan Mare. “Reece, you’re on deck”, said Uncle Lincoln. So I jumped on that mare and waited for my name to be called. “Ride hard, Reece.” He said as I gave that first hard kick to the mare. And I did. I rode so hard that I knocked down two of the three barrels! When I got back he asked, “Why’d you leave the 3rd one standing?!” I think about that each time I watch a kid knock over a barrel and it brings a smile to my lips. He probably wanted to kick my bum for being so sloppy with the horse, but he made a joke about it instead. I need to learn to use that same humor throughout my life when things don’t go as I had planned.
I also have many fond memories of gathering cattle. Those long days on the horses were better than Disney Land to me (although Aunt Linda did take me there too!). I can remember Cool Ranch Doritos and roast beef sandwiches with barbeque sauce-nothing tasted better! Uncle Lincoln always trusted Brooke and me to ride off by ourselves to gather the cattle on a certain side of the ranch. I know why now, Brooke is one heck of a cowboy(girl) and I guess she always was. It’s in her blood. He'd have trusted her to bring them all in by herself I think.

I can’t forget the 4-H experiences that Uncle Lincoln made sure I got. I would never have done 4-H lambs without him. He picked my animals and taught me how to care for them. Those were good experiences for me. They taught me how to show in front of a crowd and deal with defeats and triumphs. There are so many experiences, I can’t name them all. But I have to say thanks to Uncle Lincoln and Aunt Linda for being such an important part of my childhood.

Lots of Love,
Reecie

Oh my goodness! The stories that could be told about Uncle Lincoln!

The one that immediately comes to mind is when I was about 9 and had gone branding with him. He gave me the job of transporting the Rocky Mountain Oysters fresh from the source to the fry pan.

With that legendary twinkle in his eye he said "Shawna, come here I have something for you to do. Hold out your hand" As I did so he immediate slapped in my palm some warm fresh calf testicles of which he proceeded to rub in real good! UGH! Needless to say I have NEVER partaken of the delicacy known as Rocky Mountain Oysters.

A few other memories that come to mind is how he always wanted someone to rub his bald head, and how he ALWAYS had a dog in his truck. I will miss that twinkle and grin that were known by all who met him.

Shawna Kunzler Sherwood

The Only Time I Got Even With Lincoln

Third time has got to be the charm, so I'll give it another try.

A long time ago, back in the 60s and 70s, Steve and I owned Steve's Service down on the main street corner just down from Linda and Lincolns.

It was a given that many men in town would come by daily to yak and pass out bits of wisdom (?) among themselves and to whomever would listen. (Worse than women by a long way!)

Anyway, I did the office work, bills, deposits, etc. in the back room. Invariably, Lincoln would sneak in, turn off the light and hold the door so I couldn't get out. Brat! Or, he would get in the cash register and swish his hands through the coins, making a racket and mutter something to the effect that there surely wasn't much money in there. Sometimes he'd hide behind the door and jump out and holler just to see me swear and make a fool of myself.

Oh, he was full of the devil. I loved it. I never could get even, except one time.

That one day stands out in my mind. He'd done something and I grabbed his hat. He high-tailed it outside and I grabbed the salt shaker and shook out some salt in it. I took it out to him, telling him he'd left his hat. He plopped it on his head and then all of the sudden, he jerked it off and hollered, "What did ya do to my hat?" I said I didn't know what he was talking about. He just paced around and around, rubbing his head, cussing a little (or a lot.) Can't remember. I guess the salt hadn't mixed to well with the sweat on his head and had burned that old bald head a little. (I really didn't intend to cause him any harm), but we all surely had a great laugh at his expense, even Link himself.

We had so many good times with Herman and Myrna, Dan and Syb, Charlie and Ruthe, Al and Shirley, Jeanne and Mike, Phil and Lana, Ken and Pam, Sam and Zora to name a few, going to Mazatlan (not his favorite place, but ours), playing cards, eating out, visiting, didn't take much to have fun. Always lots of hoopla and tall tales, and all with that toothy grin and devilish green eyes.

It has been quite the ride, my friend, one we will always treasure and remember.

Take care of your mom, you kids, and I'm sure you will.

Love you all.
Sharon (and Steve, of course!)

Thank you for the information on Linc. Hap and I will be there on Thursday To celebrate Linc’s life here on earth. Linc was a good man and he will be missed. We love you, and tell Kim hold on to the Gospel and he will see his brother again.

Love Hap and Sandy Balmes

Sorry to hear about Link. We seem to be losing a lot of quality family friends and people to such early deaths. Hopefully we can find suitable replacements. We are going to conference this weekend and won’t be able to attend the services. Our hearts go out to the family. It’s never easy to lose anyone, but we are always strengthened as a result. It’s Funny how that works.

Mark Mineer and family

Just read e-mail please accept condolences. He is a good man who will be missed by family and friends.

May the Lord be with you,
W.D. & Beverly (Waite) Jamison

Sorry to hear about Lincoln.

Grant Davis

As kids growing up Lincoln and I were pretty much together all the time. I can still remember them living on the hill by the dairy and going horseback riding with Linc and Kathy and their mother Alma. Lincoln and I roamed the hills around St. Johns and loved spending time at Greenspot and Section Five. Lincoln probably remembers our time together every time he pointed at something. The pointing finger on his right hand, I think, had a great big bump from the time I almost cut it off chopping wood with the new hatchet I had just got for my birthday. (Really put a damper on the birthday party) Well I did ask him to hold the piece of wood I was chopping, how was he supposed to know I would miss!

In any event I, at least, have many fond memories of our childhood together. My prayers go out to Linda and the family, we love you.

Elliot and Karen Crosby

Aunt Linda, my prayers are with you. I absolutely have always adored Uncle Link and he will definately be missed. If you need anything, let me know. Love you lots

Mandee Udall Garcia

Dear Sweet Linda..you, Link and your family have been in our prayers and our thoughts and this will continue. We will miss Link and admire him for his strength and the lessons of life that he taught all of us without his even knowing it. We look forward to seeing you.

Pam Crosby

Linda, Gary and I are so sad to hear of Link's passing...We have you and your family in our prayers...

Gary Stacey Willis-Farr

Thank you Aunt Linda for letting us know. You have been heavily on my mind the past few days. I love you and will miss knowing that Uncle Link is here on earth with us.

Shawna Sherwood Kunzler

Oh, Linda...I am SO VERY sorry!! I will keep you in my prayers!!

Death whispered softly in my ear
“It’s time, you must come home.”
I saw the light and then looked back
...you stood there all alone.

I reached to touch you one last time
but you just stood and cried;
Oh how I wished to dry your tears,
but couldn’t, though I tried.

You cannot see beyond death’s veil,
but I still feel you near;
so though I am beyond your view,
I promise, I’m still here.

Don’t think of me with saddened face
don’t let this sorrow hold you.
Cling tightly to your memories
for they will bring you through.

Do not fear death, for it’s a birth,
I now have gained new sight.
and someday you will also find,
the joy within the light....

And we will again embrace...

© Forrest Phelps-Coo

I am so very sorry :( He will be greatly missed! You are both some of the strongest people I know. My heart breaks for you Linda and if you ever need anything please please don't hesitate.

Theresa Matuszek Yost

Linda...i am so so sorry...I don't know what else to say but his fight is over and now is at peace.. he is with you in your heart...and if there is ANYTHING I can do even if its just to listen..I'm here for you.. Love ya

Mitzi Jenkins

Sorry for your loss. Tell Kim I am sorry and if there is anyway I can help with, let me know.

Shirley Pulsipher

We love you so much and we are thinking about you always. Wish there was something we could for you. Let us know if there is! We will miss Poad so much, there is definitely not another like him. But we are thankful he is not suffering anymore. He definitely gave it a good fight. I admire his strength. See you in a couple of days.

Danielle Hancock

We are so sad. Uncle Linc had such a great spirit. Many family members and friends have learned alot from him. Just last month Bowen's friend, Jeff was remembering lessons that Linc had taught him when he was young. He will be missed. Our thoughts are with you, aunt Linda, and your family.

Shelly Udall

Link suffered so much! As did his family. Especially Linda. Kim & Kathy I send my special empathy. So happy met some of you at the family reunion in St. Johns in 2007. Sorry that I can’t attend the service. Aunt Dawn’s about did me in. My love and condolences. (Heidi alerted me about the news)

Ruth Schimmelbusch

Oh Linda, my heart is with you. I am pleased that Link doesn't have to suffer and that he is with loved ones already gone. May you have the comfort of our Father as you work through this. Love you.

Marsha Sowder

Lincoln was one of my friends when I went to school in St. Johns. He and Kathy were two of the nicest people in school. I am so sorry to hear about his passing. Please give my condolances to the family.

(Flora Chavez-Finch)

I am so sorry to hear of your families loss. My thoughts are with you.

Karen Malanca

Linda, I am so sorry to hear this! He was such a great guy. We are praying for you guys. Love you!

Sean Eyring

I love u grandma. See ya in a couple days. I will sure miss my podey pie♥

Riley Hancock

Hi Deb, I just got your email, and I'm so sorry for your loss. Linc lived a big, big life and he will be missed. Please express our condolences to the family. Mom told me today that he wasn't expected to make it much longer, at least he's no longer in pain.

Love Elaine Farr

So sorry for your loss. Our prayer are and will be for you and your family.

Don and Karen Bradburn

I WANT TO THANK MANY OF YOU FOR THE PRAYERS YOU HAVE OFFERED FOR LINK HE PASSED AWAY TODAY AFTER AN ALMOST THREE YR. FIGHT.


I AM IN AWE AT THE STRENGTH HE HAD AND THE ATTITUDE HE HAD. HE NEVER WAS SAD OR MAD OR EVER SAID WHY ME. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH

Linda Udall Sherwood

Kathy and Link

I realized the picture didn't upload here it is!!!

Kathy and Link

I couldn't help but add this picture, Link and Kathy have always had such a special bond. They always will!!

Memories

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Growing up just across the street from the infamous Link was always a treat. Although I have never know someone always on the go as much as he always is. (except maybe Uncle Dan Heap) He always had a Coke and Candy on hand if needed. I loved to go in his back yard and visit the race horses he kept there. They were so big and wild, but very beautiful.

I was always a little scared of them but loved to look at them. A couple of times I even shared a piece or two of the sweet gain they ate.I can't remember seeing Uncle Link without his contagious smile which I will miss so much.

Our kids raised a pig this year for 4-H, which was really quite fun. We all learned alot, since the animal raising side of the Sherwood family never rubbed off on me. The extent of my knowledge came from raising chickens to fly off the tree house in a race with Aaron, Matt and Vern's chickens. Which ever chicken hit the ground first won. we then of course had to share our fun game with Aunt Kathy's kids when the came to visit, I'm sure they didn't play this game in California!!Anyway I was so interested in the Judging of the animals, especially the steers. There were some particularly beautiful steers that the Patterson kids had raised that I kept my eye on. The judge had stated that he wasn't sure there would be any Prime or Choice beef in the 4-H steers this year. But this was before he judged the Patterson steers. ( Which I was proud to find out came from Link). They were the only steers shown that the judge considered choice beef, I believe was the word he used. I wished Uncle Link , Brook , Matt and Shelia and whomever else has had a hand in the amazing breeding of these animals could have been there.

This morning I was up making Salsa and called Shurell to find out what time we were going to meet at the Cemetery to do some cleaning, she was already their and it was only 6:45 AM who probably the earliest she ever dragged out of bed!!! Just kidding but this let me know how much she loved Uncle Link and Aunt Linda. Jimmy Booth was also there and had almost one plot cleaned, everyone who knows Uncle Link care for and Loves him.

We decided to work on Alma and Gleason's Plot also, as we were sitting in the beautiful weather pulling weeds I was feeling so sad for the Sherwood family who were losing their father, when I realised he would see his Father and Mother soon, and his Grandfather and Mother who raised him also. This gave me peace, as I hope it will his family. we Love you all and are praying for you at this difficult time.

Travis and Rashelle Price and Family

First picture Gleason and Alma Sherwood Wedding Picture

Second Link asleep on the lawn- Proff he did rest some time!

Third picture Gleason and Alma

Fourth picture Gramper Heap kathy and Link

The LS Breed

Kim, Kathy and I enjoyed a visit with Link and Linda for almost 2 weeks in August. Mike and Jeanne Udall came out while we were there, and it was a pleasant time of reminiscence and friendship.

Link was enjoying the ranch everyday, checking the cattle, hay baling and day to day activities. He and Kim enjoyed mornings together "making the circle" around the ranch and to the corner store.

One morning Linda was in town and I had an opportunity to just visit with Link. We sat on the grand kids swing set (which Kim had put together on a previous trip, but that is another story!), and admired the heifers that were in the pasture next to the house. These were truly beautiful heifers, and he was so pleased to finally have attained the breeding in them that he had been working on for years.

It was a pleasant time of seeing dreams brought into reality and being able to share that reality.