Welcome to Remembering Russ Talley A place for friends and family to post comments and celebrate the life of a good man and family guy. More information and an obituary is published at www.russtalley.info Thank you for helping us to remember him and his posterity. -The Talley Family January 2007
Friends and Family comments welcomed
This entry was posted on 1/18/2007 7:17 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
Please feel free to leave comments. condolences, or request information. Thank you, Craig and Renee Talley
1/21/2007 10:00 PM
Sarah Heath wrote:
The website and pictures brought tears to my eyes reminding me of earlier and better days for Russ. Thanks for doing such a great job putting together the forum. I met Russ at a high school basketball game when I was a junior and he was in his first year college. He was my first boyfriend and we had a lot of fun waterskiing with his many friends, planning our life together, shopping for our first living room set etc. We paid cash for everything before we were even married. We were married after I graduated - August 27, 1962 (by the way, Russ graduated from high school in 1960-not 1962-small detail. We managed and lived in his parents' fourplex while both of us worked part time and also attended college at U. of U. We had three sons together (Lance Russell born in S.L.C., UT, Craig Osborne born Denver CO, and John Edward born Seattle, WA). Sadly Russ battled serious emotional problems for many years which affected our relationship. After a divorce in 1971 Russ and I remained friends to the end of his days - a credit to both of us! I respected that he always tried his best to be a good father. When the Judge appointed me as Personal Representative for the Estate, he was incredulous that an ex-wife of 35 years past would be willing to do this. We all deal with death in different ways. Perhaps mine is to clean his house, be there for our children, and settle his affairs the best I can. My sister Susie who was maid of honor at our wedding in 1962, spent a week traveling to Seattle to help in the initial days after Russ's death. Ken Moser, my husband, spent another week driving back up to Seattle from Medford to help clean, move belonging, and help with all the tasks needing to be done after a death. Norma, Russ's sister in S.L.C., is another amazing supporter for all of us during this time. Russ's death provided an opportunity for family to get together, share memories, and some good food. For me, the highlight so far has been finding wonderful homes for his two beloved cats and - yes, the black chicken. Russ would have been so happy to know that Tiger went to Gene Whiteside just up the street and Blacky went to a friend who owns a flower shop in Everett. Blacky will be living at the Everett Flower Shop so if you get a chance pay him a visit! Russ would approve, don't you think?
1/24/2007 11:56 PM
Craig Talley wrote:
Thank you Mom for sharing this, It has been a time of tears for us all and I am not sure how to best honor my father in death as he did for me in Life. I have gifts of words and pictures and a burning desire that though he is gone in body, people should know of the best spirit of Russ Talley and our family. You and Ken are all the parents we have left and your loving support, care and work in settling things can only be rewarded by honoring you with our respect and love.
You know that I as your son and Renee and your Grandchildren will always honor you and endeavor to serve you should the need ever arise. Norma, Jim and Nancy from Utah have been wonderful and heartfelt appreciation for support and our condolences for the loss of a dear brother go to them. I hope the pictures I have been reproducing honor all of you and show the love of the Talley family that overcome even the problems and adversity so many of us have suffered through the years.
I will correct his obituary and welcome any new information, thoughts or history to post in the future....
Love From Craig and Renee and your Grandchildren, Chicago Illinois
**** 8-2009**** Sadly it came to pass that legal actions had to be pursued against Sarah Heath and Ken Moser in the affairs of the closing of the estate to reveal final accounting and payments for services to herself and her husband. In the end, greed and a sense of entitlement directed the estranged wife and her husband to claim the contents of his home and the sale of goods from the estate as earnings for thiner efforts. Other items directed as inheritance where seized and despaired. One of his cherished cats was abandoned in the home and left to survive on its own. No memorial, no funeral, and as executor she had his remains cremated and sent to his family home in SLC Utah in a cardboard box and Russ Talley was interned at the cost of his sister Norma near the family plot. The price of her services to the estate cost more than money and the intent of my fathers Will was circumvented by her own litigated actions depriving the grandchildren of any inheritance. Despite years of horrible neglect and abuse of her children through the first two decades of their lives and with her own issues of drugs, alcohol and illicit affairs she could not bring her self to behave as a matriarch of a family and her despicable legacy will not be passed onto most of her grandchildren. As most know her for what she has done in the end, what motivates her and we keep our distance to avoid the pain she inflicts on others with her lies and disingenuous statements of love or care for children. God have mercy on her. ********** Reply to this
4/15/2007 1:00 PM
Sarah Heath wrote:
Hi Everyone: I just checked the website and found new pictures on it - some that I have never seen. WOW - the one of Nick and Austin is amazing how much they look alike. I am so glad you two brothers finally got to meet! Craig you are doing a great job of putting an album together that everyone can see. I wonder if it is possible to include comments by the pictures indicting who people are? I'm sure we could all help identify those you aren't sure of.
8/30/2008 1:51 PM
Craig wrote:
Well its been well over a year later. As a side note the Ex wife was appointed personal representative of the estate at her own direction to gain control over all aspects of the closing of his estate. Starting from the offensive and matter of fact cremation of his body without visitation and memorial and then the disrespectful shipment of his cremanes to his sisters in a cardboard box, to her final acts she has acted abhorrently as an executor without regard for anyone but herself and personal gain. In that year and three monthes she not only managed to claim all the financial assetts of the estate with absurd fees like $45.00 an hour to clean a few rooms or file documents with accountants and pay attorney fees, over 300 hours billed. She also gave away to strangers, her youngest son, abandoned his cherished cat only for him to be found trapped in a wall months later, or sold to herself material goods at her discretion without regard for ethics. In the end the author of this blog had to hire a lawyer for many thousands of dollars to bring to light the details of the expenditures and force her to detail how she managed to waste a mans life work. This encounter through attorneys in the end , the callous disregard of a death of a family member and the disrespect of the desires of my father's will all demonstrate why this woman is an ex wife and estranged from many of her children and grandchildren.
What a sad outcome to a tragic event that should have brought a family closer together. Shame on you Sarah Heath for putting avarice and greed before your own statement of good will and the request of the will left in Russ Talley's wake that clearly showed what to do and how to do it. You have truly demonstrated who had the emotional problems and broke this family apart. One more of many betrayals from your own illness and the last one you will ever visit on this son of Russ Talley. I hope you are proud of yourself as a mother and your betrayal of the last wishes of my father. Now I suffer the grief of two parents gone, on who has left this earth to be with his Heavenly father in rest, and the other, you, dead in your sin against your family. You shattered any illusion of parental love and responsibility and left your last acts consistent with your moumental lifetime achievment in your lack of affection, addictions and sick behavior. I forgive you because you are who you are and that is what is the Christian thing to do is, but in the end you will have to answer to God for your abandonment of children and pursuit of your selfish desires in this life. You may have money in the bank and the security that you think will make you happy but in the end what is truly considered riches, you are considered worse off than the time when you lost our home and sent your kids packing as a result of the gambler you married and then bailed out with a grandchildren's inheritance and choose a course in life that abused us all.
The list is long what you have done to your family all without ammends. But you have a hard heart so its wasted keystrokes that will be on the internet for a long time to bear witness to what you have done to your own children. You tell good lies but the truth is in the outcome of actions and too many people see it now.
Thank God for my dear Father, without his example of loving parenting despite his adversity and illness, one I used in raising my own children to adults they may have ended up like you. They are dear girls with rich character and the zest of life, love and laughter that was Russ Talley and they where cherished by their Grampa Russ who they will always remember as generous and caring..
I made sure they got lots of life insurance proceeds, paid tuition for their college, bought them cars, and the things he would have done for family that you would never do.
Enjoy the money you took, it came at a price higher than you can believe and will keep costing you a premium for eternity. How ironic you are the director of childre nan d family service for Jackson County Oregon. I can only imagine thats its just a paycheck for you and others suffer at your heart condition in a service capacity to families. Reply to this
1/24/2007 9:52 PM
Angel Parrish Austin Talley wrote:
I met Russ in July of 1992 when I started to date Lance. I remember when we told Russ that I was going to have a baby he was excited for us. He went out and bought a new recliner so he would have a chair to sit in with his new grandchild. Russ was a huge support for me when Austin's birth had come 13 weeks too early, he always was at the hospital with me after working long hours with the gas company, but I will never forget when we brought Austin home and grandpa had to sit in his chair with his grandson. I now know where Austin gets his fight for life and his love for all of you in his life. It is the most important thing to me that Austin stays in touch with all of you and that he has family that will help him grieve his grandfather's death. He has been so angry about what has happened that he has shut everyone out. Craig and Renee have been a great deal of help to both Austin and I in talking and including us in matters of what grandpa was like in the earlier years of life. I would like to know if anyone would object to me finding out what is would cost to have a brick in Russ' name at the Meeker Manison? This would be a gift from Austin and I to you and him. Reply to this
Austin Talley is a true example of the fight for life my father presented in the end and as Austin presented as an infant. Austin's indomitable spirit and charm reflects much of both Lance and my Father's character. Grief can not only bring profound sadness but also anger. He will always have in his heart the best of my Father and carry that on to his own children someday in Love. You are a caring mother and should be proud of this young man and remind him he is not alone in his grief.
I think it would be an honorable thing to dedicate a brick in the paving of the Meeker mansion as my father's bloodline adds much to the Grandchildren of Ezra Meeker. Austin is a direct descendant of this notable ancestor through my mother's bloodline from the Brown family through Osborne to Meeker. We are a family..... the death of our beloved patriarch is the beginning of new traditions and strengthening of family ties. Thank you for sharing the example of Russ Talley and we hope to see pictures from you soon. Love from the Talley's in Chicago, Craig and Renee
1/29/2007 11:13 AMaustin talley wrote:
wow i remember those times that me and grandpa went camping and we did a lot together and it sure does hurt but i know hes in a better place now and hes watching me and hes without pain my most favorite memory is when we went outside and enjoyed the stars outside and when we went camping he said i was brave that i slept under the stars from on and out i will be brave forever thank you grandpa for nothing but fantastic memories
2/15/2007 9:58 AM
Raymond Hintze wrote:
I am Russell's first cousin, his mother, Rita and my mother, Grace were sisters. Russell was the only cousin who was my same age and during our youth we were very close. Aunt Ruth and Uncle Ken invited us (Russell, Richard,my twin brother and me) for a summer vacation in Denver and Grandby. They sent us tickets to travel from Salt Lake to Denver on the train. We had such a great trip together. I remember Uncle Talley tipping the porter in Salt Lake and asking him to watch over us. (We were 14 years old) We were so proud that we had the run of the train because we were first class passengers with a sleeping car. We spend 2 weeks together in Grandby fishing, sanding and staining the fence and otherwise helping Uncle Ken maintain the cabin. We were all great friends and got along very well. Unfortunately after we became adults we lost touch with other. Russ moved out of the state and I never had the opportunity to meet his wife or children. What a shame!!! I hope a lesson for all to stay in touch with your family. The last I saw Russ was at his father's funeral but we didn't get much of a chance to visit. I always assumed we would share time together after retirement but . . . Keep in touch. Raymond Hintze Reply to this
5/29/2007 10:36 AM
Austin wrote:
I was wondering if i could get the whole familys e mail e mail me at austin.talley@hotmail.com Reply to this
4/23/2009 9:25 PM
Lucy Burns-Flynn wrote:
Hello to cousins Renee Leslie Talley and husband, Craig. I have been researching my father's family and came across this memorial site to find that this Renee Talley is my cousin. Renee's mother, Mary, was my father,James Burns', sister from Arlington, Ma. I don't want to take a way from such a loving memorial. Would either if you be so kind and email me at lucita13@aol.com. By the way, Craig, you moved me to tears of joy for your father's tribute and with anger at your mother's callous behavior. You are a strong and good man to stand up to this tragedy and come out on top for your family! Hope to hear from you soon, Lucy Burns-Flynn Clifton, NJ Reply to this
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