Help Us Keep Jim's Legacy Alive!
Donation protected
In 1974 my grandfather, Jim Johnston, purchased a small piece of property on Lake Mayfield in the tiny town of Mossyrock, Washington. At that time the Mayfield Kamper Klub was just forming, and many of his coworkers at Pacific NW Bell were investing in the Klub for the purpose of an inexpensive retreat for their families to share. In the summer of 1982 at sunset on our dock, my dad proposed to my mom and they spent their honeymoon at the lake the following April. For the past forty years it has served its purpose as our family retreat, fishing spot, and the second home to three generations of my family. I have spent almost every summer of my life at the lake (you will find a photo on this page of 3–month-old me with my grandpa there). We cherish the lake for the countless memories we have made there with family, friends and neighbors.
The property was inherited by my grandparents’ four children in 2001, two years before my grandfather passed away. We believed it would stay in the family for many generations, so we spread his ashes on the grounds. Unfortunately, circumstances have caused 3 of the 4 sibling partners to put the property up for sale. My mother has the only dissenting voice in the matter.
Despite these circumstances, my parents and I are committed to keeping the property. My parents made an offer to purchase the retreat from the other partners, but the offer - which included continual use of the property by any family member - was not accepted. My father is a switch maintainer for BNSF and my mother manages a home decor store in addition to volunteering extensively in the community, and they do not have the means to make a better offer. I recently graduated with my bachelors and am working towards a career in neuroscience, but unfortunately do not yet have the income to help my parents in this endeavor.
This property is invaluable to us. As I mentioned before, it is where we spread my grandfather’s ashes. It is where I caught my first fish, where I explored nature with my Girl Scout Troop, where I learned to canoe, and where I spent countless summer nights around the campfire with my family. This is my home. Hands-down some of the best memories of my childhood were created at the lake with my grandparents and the rest of my family members, and I want more than anything to continue my grandparents’ legacy and their gift to future generations by caring for the property.
I chose to create this GoFundMe page because try as we might, we cannot purchase the property without assistance, and we are looking for any help we can find to keep this family hierloom. I also created a facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/JJsdream) where everyone can see photos of our family and friends at the lake and learn more about me and my grandparents. I also created two Etsy shops, the profits of which will be put towards the purchase of this property. My fishing fly shop can be found at www.etsy.com/shop/mayfieldflyshop and my culinary shop at www.etsy.com/shop/thenletuseatcake.
We are sincerely grateful for your help and support. Thank you!
The property was inherited by my grandparents’ four children in 2001, two years before my grandfather passed away. We believed it would stay in the family for many generations, so we spread his ashes on the grounds. Unfortunately, circumstances have caused 3 of the 4 sibling partners to put the property up for sale. My mother has the only dissenting voice in the matter.
Despite these circumstances, my parents and I are committed to keeping the property. My parents made an offer to purchase the retreat from the other partners, but the offer - which included continual use of the property by any family member - was not accepted. My father is a switch maintainer for BNSF and my mother manages a home decor store in addition to volunteering extensively in the community, and they do not have the means to make a better offer. I recently graduated with my bachelors and am working towards a career in neuroscience, but unfortunately do not yet have the income to help my parents in this endeavor.
This property is invaluable to us. As I mentioned before, it is where we spread my grandfather’s ashes. It is where I caught my first fish, where I explored nature with my Girl Scout Troop, where I learned to canoe, and where I spent countless summer nights around the campfire with my family. This is my home. Hands-down some of the best memories of my childhood were created at the lake with my grandparents and the rest of my family members, and I want more than anything to continue my grandparents’ legacy and their gift to future generations by caring for the property.
I chose to create this GoFundMe page because try as we might, we cannot purchase the property without assistance, and we are looking for any help we can find to keep this family hierloom. I also created a facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/JJsdream) where everyone can see photos of our family and friends at the lake and learn more about me and my grandparents. I also created two Etsy shops, the profits of which will be put towards the purchase of this property. My fishing fly shop can be found at www.etsy.com/shop/mayfieldflyshop and my culinary shop at www.etsy.com/shop/thenletuseatcake.
We are sincerely grateful for your help and support. Thank you!
Organizer
Symmone Anderson
Organizer
Seattle, WA
