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The time in life came when my mom had to leave this place we all inhabit. With relief she passed away from complications of pneumonia but in doing so cheated dementia and Alzheimers from years of progressively slow erosion of the quality of life. As is typical of these times I was going through old photo albums of the early parts of Mom’s life and came across these two photos. Mom grew up as a young girl in Ontario, Canada as an outdoor girl who ran a trap line with her father and loved to hunt and fish. To give you an idea of her love of the outdoors she and my father went deer hunting on their honeymoon! My father often spoke of the Winchester Model 71 he once owned but then ended up having to sell to “pay the bills” when I was quite young. Here are two wonderful old images of my Mom with that Model 71 taken during November 1955. Too bad it was scoped and that dad had to sell it. It would be priceless right now to have this rifle and this photo together.
Thanks for my life mom. 
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Very heart warming post,twobit.Even with it being scoped, that rifle would be priceless.Very sorry to hear of your loss.
Sorry for your loss Michael. Those are definitely nice photos to have found.
No recoil pad on the 71 either!
Brad
hedley lamarr said
Sorry for your loss Michael. Those are definitely nice photos to have found.
No recoil pad on the 71 either!
Brad
Thanks Brad. Recoil pads are for weenies! My mom was tough!
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
I too had a shooter Mom. My Dad was on the USMC Pistol Team and when he shot in civilian matches, my Mom did too. Usually, with his 1937 NM Colt Government Model. Very sorry for your loss. I know how it feels. I just lost my Wife as well. Big Larry
Condolences Michael
Nice rifle . She had good taste
The pics remind me of my Mom too, and times spent with her family.
I most enjoyed the Hunting stories as a kid and young man , often brought up was reference to what a great gun the 86 ’33’ Winchester was for deer and moose . Im not sure whether it was my Grandfathers or his brother , but have often wondered on the whereabouts of it. Of course I had to seek one out ,made brass from 45-70 and enjoy shooting it. but it would have been really something to have the family gun
Phil
Michael:
I’m so sorry for your loss. Hold all of the great memories close to your heart….
Tom
January 26, 2011
Offline
Great story Michael, where would we be with out the love and guidance of our mothers? I’m fortunate enough to still have my mom. I think I will give her a call today and let her know what she means to me.
Hang in there and enjoy the fond memories of her.
~Gary~
This is the most heartwarming thread I’ve seen in a long time. Thank you for sharing!
Michael, the pictures are priceless…..A wonderful addition to your memories of her…brian
Thanks for all the warm thoughts guys. It’s a bumpy road but we are getting along fine.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Michael,
My sincere condolences to you and your family. Please take care.
-Chris
Michael,
Great pictures of your mom with the model 71. Thanks for sharing.
My deepest sympathy,
Al
Michael,
Awesome pictures, and a great remembrance for your mother.
My deepest condolences,
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I am sorry to hear of your loss. Since I live up here in Ontario, I’ll keep my eye open for a Model 71 with scope like that. If I come across one, I’ll be contacting you immediately.
My oldest daughter and I drove from Houston to Lansing, Michigan on the 27th and 28th of April with the intention of eventually moving her into an apartment near Michigan State so that she could do her final year of clinical work for her DVM (veterinary) degree. We were going to stay at grandpa’s, my dad’s, house for about 10 days until her apartment opened up. I had brought a few fly rods to help pass the time. She was excited about being near grandpa after doing her class work out on St Kitts island for 28 months. She missed my mom’s death and funeral during that time. I found out my father had fallen pretty hard in the garage on the 27th trying to get his walker into the car so he could go to an appointment. Lets not even discuss why an 87 year old guy in poor health was still trying to live on his own and drive. Stubbornness pretty much sums it up. When Claire and I arrived late in the afternoon on Friday the 28th the house was locked up tight, dad didn’t answer the phone. I yelled in through the mail slot in the door and he said he was on the floor and couldn’t get up. Oh boy. I finally got in and he could not stand on his own and was in excruciating pain. He wanted a couple Vicodin and went to bed. I had to help him up three times in the night. We ended up in the ER on Saturday, ICU that afternoon, hospice care on Sunday night and dad passed Monday night while my brother and I sat with him and watched his beloved Detroit Tigers win a ball game. Dad quit breathing in the seventh inning, opened his eyes briefly, and was gone. I was so thankful to be at his side.
My father was career military all his life. Took no BS and ran his life and house like a military unit. You always knew where you stood. At attention. He loved to hunt and fish and for the past 14 months missed my mom greatly. His years of chronic pain and little joy in his life are now over. He finally gets to see Lois again. The tension in the family created by trying to help and improve his lot is also gone. My daughter is terribly sad that she won’t have more time to see him.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Michael,
What a wonderful photographic tribute to to your Father. You and your Family have my deepest sympathy.
Best,
Tom
Michael, Thanks for sharing his story with us, your winchester family..The best to you, and all who will miss him. Brian
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