Boyhood memories of two good men

To the editor:

As a longtime resident of the Mat-Su Valley, I wanted to express my heartfelt condolences to the families of two of our fellow citizens who have passed on recently, and whom have had a significant impact on not only my life, but of others around them.

A few years ago, when my partner and I were first starting our business venture, we ran into a small but friendly man at the Wasilla High School gun show who was selling his lifetime of reloading equipment for only $200. On a budget and willing to give it a chance, we piled into the man's truck, whereupon he proceeded to take us into the central forest of south Wasilla to his house, which he had built himself.

We were excited to fill the back of my Suburban for such a small price, and to this day much of the equipment I use in my business came from Jim Vari, who had recently lost his wife and was still dealing with the loss. His kindness and quiet spirit, along with the fact that he was a fellow veteran, created a kindred spirit, and although we only spoke a few times afterward, he was always welcome to come in and visit at my shop.

The other is, of course, Roy Wallis, in whose shop I would visit every chance I had as a young boy. Roy was quite patient and impressed that a youngster could identify every gun in the store by sight and enjoyed sharing stories of different hunts over the years. Much of what Wasilla is today is owed to Roy and Nancy, not only for being one of the first - and for many years only - sporting goods dealers in town, but for providing a strong role model for all of us who grew up to love Alaska and the outdoors, and for those of us who noticed, all the receipts I have collected over the years with the verses of the Bible clearly printed at the top. It's clear and undeniable evidence of a strong faith in the Lord and a successful family life, worth more than the purest gold.

We will be all the less without these men who, in their own ways, shaped the fabric of our community for the better. Both of them told me at different times how much shooting sports meant to them and that teaching others the value of quality sportsmanship and a respect for the land and one another would be thanks enough.

Jesse G. Smith, owner

Schiltron Munitions

and Gunworks

Wasilla