[Canyon] FW: sad news

[Tom Fiddaman]

From: katherine vargas [mailto:kvargas59 at gmail.com] 

Dear Tom and Neighbors,

Oh, the loss! No one loved Bridger Canyon more nor devoted as much time and energy to preserving it’s natural beauty and utter fabulousness than Deb Stratford. We all owe her a great debt of gratitude for the countless hours and thankless devotion she put into speaking on our behalf before the Bridger Canyon Zoning Commission, serving on Commission committees, representing the upper canyon as a board member for BCPOA, researching documents at the County Planning Office in preparation for testimony, and testifying before the commission to preserve our rural way of life. She was my friend and comrade as part of the “radical fringe element” that initially spearheaded the effort to stop the misguided 2005-2008 development of the Bridger Bowl Base Area. She was everything we needed at the time: outspoken, dogged, committed, inventive, and stubbornly convinced about the need to preserve the area. Beyond her work on our behalf, she was a good friend, loving mother, home repair do-it-yourselfer, tree hugger, Christmas fanatic, over-the-top party giver (especially weddings), avid skier, and dog lover. She had a tender spot for threatened streams and hungry bears. She loved everything about the great outdoors, and living in Bridger Canyon had been her dream and passion. We all benefitted from her love of the canyon, and I’m sure will mourn her loss in the canyon, so near her home, “Deb’s Place.” Please join me in comforting her daughter Tracy, son-in-law Chester, beloved dog, and all her closest neighbors in the Ghetto. Deb Stratford: You were greatly loved, will be sorely missed, and will never be forgotten.

All my love,

Kate Vargas