Dirk Jay DeVries

Dirk was born in Downey, California. His loving parents Dirk John & Jessie Johanna DeVries raised him in Chino, California. He graduated from Ontario Christian High School and was a member of The Christian Reformed Church of Chino where his parents were founding members. He worked nine years on the DeJaeger’s Dairy, but his love of adventure and his hobby of building choppers took him and his best friend Bill Vandiest to multiple western states. He eventually settled in Los Osos, California joined the Teamsters Union in San Luis Obispo, California where he met the love of his life Laurie Sammartano. They were married in 1981 and settled in Atascadero, California where they built their home and raised two daughters, Chelsea Diana DeVries 1984 and Dana Debra DeVries 1987. He worked for multiple union companies for 34 years as a Construction Truck Driver and retired in 2011. Dirk’s last adventure was with his wife Laurie in Zion National Park surrounded by God’s beautiful creation. After several strenuous hikes he came home to discover that he was in kidney failure which eventually led to his diagnosis of stage 4 bladder cancer. He battled courageously for 10.5 months accepting this was God’s will for his life and that he was at peace. During this season of life his daughters gave birth to his first grandsons. James Auguste Broucaret August 3, 2015 and Paxton Walker Francis September 25, 2015. The babies were a blessing from the LORD JESUS for Dirk and our family during his last days. Dirk was preceded in death by his mother, Jessie DeVries 2010, father, Dirk John DeVries 1980 and sister, Cynthia Aytes 1996. Dirk is survived by his daughters Chelsea Broucaret and Dana Francis, his soninlaws Kris Broucaret and Parker Francis, his grandsons James Broucaret and Paxton Francis. His sister Gloria Lines, her children Charles and Jackie Lines, Jackie’s children Dylan and Remi Morgan . Nephew Jon Aytes, wife Lisa Aytes, their children Jacob Aytes, Caleb Aytes, Josh Aytes of Anapolis, Marland. Justine and Brooke Aytes their children Aiden Aytes and Mason Aytes, Washoe, Nevada. Aaron and Angie Aytes their children Lindsey and Tristan Aytes of Portland, Oregon. Laurie's Letter to Dirk: February 9, 2016 Dear Dirk, You will always be the Love of My Love! For the first time in our thirty-six year marriage I am speechless! There is so much I want to tell the world about you. I can hear you say, “Is this the long version or the short version?” And my response, “It’s not long enough!” I received the greatest gift from our Lord to be your wife and mother of our children. I will never forget your quiet strength, gentle humble heart, faithfulness, courage, patience and your lifetime of sacrifice and devotion. You made sure we would always be taken care of, even now. You opened the eyes of this “naive city girl” to the outdoor world of hunting, fishing, camping, road tripping, Western History, and reading books. Thank you for teaching me how to use a gun, tie a fishing line, BBQ and explore the beauty of God’s creation. There are so many wonderful memories from our outdoor adventures through the South Western states to the Pacific North West to the Island of Kauai. We made lasting memories together, and with our family. But, more importantly, Dirk I am so grateful for your unconditional love and silent witness of the things of God. You always made allowances for my growing pains during each season of my life. I can hear you say during those times, “Man, it’s tough raising young girls,” and I’m not referring to our daughters. I misunderstood your quiet strength, but as the years quickly passed I understand now, why you were a man of few words because your life was a daily reflection of: Ephesians 4:2: “Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other’s faults because of your love.” Your life as a father, as “Dado” was unconditional and an example of the Father’s Love to our precious daughters Chelsea and Dana. It healed my soul to the core as I observed your tender loving care, discipline with dignity and role model what men and a husband should be.. I will treasure the moments you guided them through the rights of passage. You taught them how to work hard for the things they needed and helped them become self-sufficient, secure and valued. But, most importantly together we raised our daughters to know the LORD JESUS CHRIST comes first. You opened your arms to our son-n-laws Kris and Parker demonstrating the responsibilities of a husband, a father and as a man. Your humble spirit was evident in conversations pertaining to guns, ammo, outdoor activities and family affairs. Instead of interrupting with your knowledge and experiences you always nurtured Kris and Parker’s self-confidence through their own discovery. I loved watching and listening as it has taught me to try to do the same. I know they will continue to exemplify what you planted in their hearts. How my heart breaks for our new grandsons James and Paxton. They were not given enough time with you or you with them as their Grandpa. It crushes my soul that your hopes and dreams of hunting, fishing, camping, tying knots, “guy stuff “ and conversations about the LORD will never be. But, we promise as a family to honor your legacy and to share your life and our testimony as their grandparents with your grandsons and your future grandchildren. Dirk, not only did you love and care for all of us, but you were a solid friend to others. You were a man of your word; someone to be trusted and counted on. Regardless of your own plans and dreams you would always set them aside to give others a helping hand. Love of my life, I will keep in my heart the Scripture promises that our Lord Jesus gave us during this season of life. My soul is comforted knowing that you continue to pray together with all the saints before the Lord on our behalf. And when I am overcome, I will treasure the blessing of your tender smile that said “goodbye” as I completed 1Thessalonians chapter 1. The LORD JESUS gave me a gift as I witnessed you turn to look heavenward, with hands raised, His radiance fell upon you. I saw an unexplainable joy in your smile when you saw your LORD and SAVIOR face to face. I love you and I miss you so much! I won’t say good bye, but until then………... Love for Eternity, Laurie,your dove, your cookie, your loving wife, your best friend Psalm 33:22- Let Your unfailing love surround us LORD, for our hope is in You alone. 1Thessalonians 1- This letter is from Paul, Silas and Timothy. It is written to the church in Thessalonica, you who belong to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. May His grace and peace be yours. We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of you faithful work, your loving deed and you continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know that God love you dear brothers and sisters and that He chose you to be His own people. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know that the way we lived was further proof of the truth of our message. So you receive the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the sever suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you yourselves became an example to all Christians in Greece. And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to the people everywhere, even beyond Greece,for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they themselves keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God. And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven---Jesus whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.