Birdie Ashcroft
My mom, Birdie Ashcroft, underwent her third hip replacement surgery yesterday. She has been in poor health the last few years. We are quite concerned regarding her overall health and would appreciate prayers on her behalf. She has such fond memories of her years in Fort Defiance. After all these years, my family still thinks of Ft. Defiance as "home". We had such a great life there and look back on those years with great joy - weren't we all lucky to have had that experience? Mom and Dad still have friends in the Ft. Defiance/Window Rock area that keep in touch. They love to reminisce and relive all the good times they had with wonderful friends.
Thank you for keeping them in your thoughts and prayers.
With love and affection,Sharon Ashcroft Walter
WRHS Class of 1968
Dear Birdie,
I hope all goes well with your hip replacement surgery, and that you are up chasing after Earl very soon.
I remember your trading post in Ft Defiance very well. I came out and spent a day or so there before we moved to Window Rock from Gallup. I remember you and Earl gave me a black belt for Christmas one year, because I can still remember the smell and feel of it through the wrapper when I would hold it under the tree and try to guess what was inside. I suppose I was around ten yrs old then.
I also remember mom getting the turquoise felt shirt and white pants from your store after we moved to Window Rock which was the first band uniform I wore at school.
I know that those days were special to my growing up and the friends I made then are still among my best today.
My mother is currently living in West Virginia, she moved out there in November for a year on behalf of her church. She will be leaving and heading back west in December of this year. Her health is very good and her spirits are up most of the time although she is in transition after loosing her husband of thirty yrs., Fred Chilson of Payson Arizona in February 2005.
My wife Tomi and I live in Phoenix. For the past five years I have been commuting every other month for 38 days to Seoul South Korea where I work for Boeing training the Korea Air airline pilots. I will leave here permanently in August of this year.
It would be nice to see you and Earl, I think Mancos is a beautiful part of Colorado. I remember going to visit Wallace and Illa Anderson when they left their Tuba City trading post and settled there.
Please let me know how your surgery goes. Sharon can e-mail me at jmedlock737@hotmail.com
God Bless you both,
Jim Medlock
WRHS Class of 1966
I graduated in 1971 from a Utah school. Left WR in 1969 and remember some of the Ashcroft family. Birdie and Earl Ashcroft were the traders at the Fort Defiance Trading Post a long time ago. Earl always gave my Mother, my brother Mervyn and me a free pop whenever we went there. I remember the low ceiling, the wide wooden counters, clothing hanging from the ceiling, the glass display cases for candy, the meat refrigeration area where rolls of bologna and luncheon meat where stored. Earl always greeted my Mother in Navajo and they would tease each other, giggle, and then we get the pop. Mom had credit there and the grocery order was written on the old waiter's palm-size writing pad, the ones with the carbon sheets. Wow.
My prayers to the Birdie for a successful operation and deep respect to the Ashcroft family for their love and generosity and..... the memories.
Loren Tapahe
WRHS Class of 1971
Best Wishes go out to Birdie for a speedy recovery. May she be up and around soon. We will keep the Ashcroft family in our prayers.
From, the Masters Family-Yvonne, Deniece, Christie and Bobbi
I remember your mom very well, she cared a great deal for my younger brother Ronny. Your mother was such a good parent for all, wish her the best and pray that she be well.
Vernon Cohoe
WRHS Class of 1965
Sharon and Mike -- please give your Mom my best -- the found memories I have of your Mom and Dad both in Fort Defiance and in Mangus, Colorado are priceless-- I was just up in the Mangus are the other weekend -- a lot of good times there. Our prayers are with you all.
Joe Tomlinson
WRHS Class of 1967
Wishing Birdie a speedy recovery from hip replacement surgery. I have fond memories of the trading post and wish someone had kept it from being bull-dozed in the name of progress. Birdie, I'll keep you in my prayers.
Eileen Kyselka-Scales
WRHS Class of 1965
Sharon,
The most vivid memory I have of your mom and dad, was the time they let me see the two bucks they had brought back after a successful hunt. The unusual thing about the kill, and I'll never forget it, was that the two buck's antlers were tangled, and locked. They said they had no choice but to shoot both of them. They would have eventually starved to death, due to their antlers being locked.
Whenever I drive past the vacant lot, where the trading post use to be, I have a flash back. I can still see the gas pumps out in the front of the store on the street. Right across use to be the "Canteen", and next to that was Dunn Mercantile.
My mother-in-law was Flora Watchman, and her husband was John Watchman, I married their daughter, Loretta. We are still married, and will celebrate our 46th anniversary this August.
I will certainly pray for a fast recovery for your mom, Birdie. Tell your mom, and dad, that they will always, always continue to be remembered for the trading post they ran. I can still see the bologna being sliced, as well as, the cheese and then wrapped in the white butcher paper. Yum, Yum. The Ashcroft's will always be remembered as the Navajo's relative, and will not be forgotten.
My name is Ernest Tsosie, Jr. my mom was Edith and my dad was Ernest Tsosie, Sr. They also patronized the Trading Post. I graduated from WRHS in the year 1961 Take care and God bless.
Your friend,
Ernie,Ernest Tsosie, Jr.
WRHS Class of 1961
My prayers go out to Mrs. Ashcroft. I grew up knowing the Ashcroft's since I can remember. I went to school with Mike since first grade. My parents are Spencer and Katherine Davidson, who were friends with the Ashcroft's. It was a sad day when I learned that the "trading post" had closed and was due for demolition. I remember playing "hide and seek" with Mike in the trading post.
May God Bless Mrs. Ashcroft today and always.
Angie Davidson
WRHS Class of 1973
My prayers your way, Marilyn. May god bless you and your family with the strength to make it through this time.
Lots of love.
PamPamela Begaye-Antonio
WRHS Class of 1984