So sorry to hear of your dads passing. Even after all these years I think I would have recognized him on the street somewhere. Thanks to the family for posting the pictures. I've been trying to locate the girls for quite sometime. Please reach out, I'd love to catch up.
Sally Fabian Frey
Sallyfrey25@gmail.com.
Blessings to you all.

I will always remember Pomps as my second father who taught me lessons like how to enjoy family time, how to laugh and the beauty of a loving marriage.  But most of all his testimonIes of gratitude. Pomps will be missed by many but we hold the memories close. 

I have been pondering for days what memories to share, but I am not a words person and nothing I come up with seems poetic enough to really express how I'm feeling. I think the most appropriate thing to write and the most heart felt is "I am going to miss you Pomps." 

That last trip to California was one of the last time that I saw Pomps unfortunately. But I will always remember as we reclined in his backyard and he said, “People spend so much of their life focused on work and making money. When the kids were growing up, that was the best time of my life.” A good minute went by as the sun sank above us, and then he glanced at his watch and realized it was time for dinner. And before I could turn my head, he had he sprung up out of his chair and pattered off inside.

Ode to Pomps (Part II)
At one point, the house was lively with my matriarchal Grandma around; she was always cooking because she had no job and that was her role, and he just expected it, plopping into the same chair three times a day, a steamy meal awaiting him. But shortly after she died, he adjusted to life alone, eating dirt cheap canned foods and crackers. 

“Uck!” I said flaring open his cupboards. “What is going on here?” It was like the food gatherings of a 19-year-old college party boy. So I made him my famous quinoa and spinach meal, and he simply said, “It’s different,” as if it was no more exciting than his crackers. He did switch it up though every now and then, and once a month, he would throw on a collared shirt and drive to horribly cheapo places like Costco or Burger King, coupon in hand. 

How this guy could find hole-in-the-wall joints for a meal for two for $5 was beyond me, I found myself wondering while dining with him at some dimly-lit Mexican restaurant off some side-street at 3 p.m. where no one spoke any English.

“You’re really just having beans and rice? Wouldn’t your dine-in experience be much more comfortably upgraded with spending like $5 more?” I wanted to ask him. But it was useless to give this information to Pomps. Showing me his land of cheap eats was so thrilling to him that he broke his routine about three times while I was there - all at places for $5 for a meal for two. “It’s on me,” he said, each time, grinning wildly. Unbelievable. 

Pomps lived a great life mostly, as simple as he was; he was a photographer in the Navy, he was a chiropractor, and a meter reader. He liked to sing the same songs over and over again; he had like four songs in rotation, including his famous Irish songs. My grandparents had five kids, and way too many grandchildren and great grandchildren to count. 
Continued in next post —>

Ode to Pomps (Part I)
This is “Pomps,” my last grandparent, who passed today. It is always a sad close to a chapter, especially since all what, like 25 of us cousins had such great memories at the house he’s sitting in front of in Southern CA where he’s lived for 48 years.

I took this photo in 2017 after riding the Surfliner train down to his house while in town for an interview. I was standing alone in the dark for over an hour, and had almost given up, before he peeled up in his rusty blue ‘89 Toyota Camry. He had gotten a little lost and was too deaf to hear his phone or something. From there I was wheeled on a harrowing drive back to his house as he spun through the barren city streets, blowing through red lights and stopping at the green ones. However, a much calmer routine unfolded in the days ahead, and I could see how Pomps had been deemed such a simple man.

“You know, it’s good to lay low, mind your own business and not make any waves in life,” he told me the next day as he reclined in his backyard lawn chair.

Fortunately he was too deaf to hear my response, but his philosophy was one that stuck - with him. Pomps was a man of routine, I noticed, as I observed his on-the-dot timely wake-ups and bedtimes. He ate the same foods at the same time every day, would move his lawn chair in the sun, then scurry indoors to read the paper like clockwork. 

“Maybe we should go to the beach?” I asked Pomps, slightly bored. And it took much prying, but hours later, Pomps was finally lying on the beach, in jeans and a hat and sneakers, looking every bit uncomfortable that he strayed from his at-home routine. It didn’t help that he insisted on parking 30 minutes away because he couldn’t bear the thought of paying the regular parking price at the beach parking lot. He shuddered helplessly as he watched me dip the quarters into the meter. 

Pomps, a miser, grew up in the depression era and was obsessed with not spending any money. 
Continued in next post  ——> 

We had the privilege of knowing Jim and Beulah way before most of you knew them. They came to live in Lyons, New Your, where Jim opened a Chiropractic Office.  We enjoyed many good times together those first years as their children were born. My mom acted as a substitute "Gramma " until they moved west. 
Time moved on and many changes occurred. Some sad, but many were wonderful. That is life. We love the memories and hold them dear.  May all in the family take comfort in these days of sorrow.

Olivia and I met in Jim and Beulah’s home for 7 years.  We always loved his quiet spirit and his gentle love for all of us.  They would have us over on Union Sunday’s for meals and after Gospel meeting, and their meals and home was always so simple, but so full of love.  God was clearly their most precious treasure. Jim & Beulah’s bridle shower gift and note  to Olivia is the only one I can remember and possibly the only one we still have.  It was their love for God and his people that made them so special. 

I’ll always remember Uncle Jim for his warm smile and happy go lucky spirit. As a young boy, I looked forward to his visits with Aunt Beulah and family when they traveled to Upstate New York.

When I moved to California in the 90s, it was nice to visit Uncle Jim and Aunt Beulah in their Garden Grove home. They always made us feel welcome. I particularly enjoyed our last visit in 2018 with cousin Don and my father, Edgar. It was great to hear Uncle Jim and Dad talk together about their life growing up in Lyons. Uncle Jim shared with us many photos of his time in the Navy. We really enjoyed hearing of the wonderful trip Uncle Jim and Aunt Beulah made to Ireland.

As a baseball fan, it was a treat to hear Uncle Jim talking with younger Jim and Ryan about the Dodgers and Angels.

May Uncle Jim rest in peace. May the Lord give peace and comfort to his beloved family.

My only thought that plays over and over when I think of what to share with you all is “what a precious man he is”. There was something about him that was so sweet and sincere that I always appreciated. It was as if he could see people and what was inside them and it wasn’t really what he said but it was his Spirit. I often wear short boots to meeting and after meeting when he would greet me he always said “I like your boots”...sometimes a sweet compliment about a natural thing  makes one feel seen. He was always one that “made me feel seen”. I look forward to worshipping around the throne with him someday! And I’m also thinking of you all these days. Much love! 

My Uncle Jim (Pomps) had a great sense of humor. We lived far apart so I didn’t see him often but I have fond memories of him and his family.  He would tell stories of his time in the Navy. He was always willing to give you an adjustment is your back was sore. He was loved and will be missed by many people. Rest In Peace Uncle Jim.

Jim and Beulah with Gilbert and Yvonne used to come to Oregon for many years to hunt mule deer. We had many camp outs,and good fun! Jim was always one who enjoyed the outdoors, and provided us with great humor. We reminisce often about our hunts, and never leave out a vivid description of “Jim’s Tree” where he usually stood and was successful in bagging a buck!
Our friendship and annual hunts were a special part of our lives. 
He knew what it was to keep true, and we value that especially!

For my grandfather, Pomps. What I remember most: his infectious humor, his sly smile, the gleam in his eyes when he told you the truth "like it is."  His routines, humming show tunes and hymns, reading the newspaper in his designated chair, snacking on peanut butter crackers, eating one scoop of vanilla ice cream after dinner and then a walk around the block, since he had to "watch his figure."  In fact, he didn't just watch his own figure, he watched everyone else's too, and commented bluntly.  He must have mentioned at least 15 times that I had "gained the Freshman 15" after I went to college! Nothing as refreshing as being told the cold hard truth.

I remember Pomps and Grambee's house as my "home away from home."  We would get ready to go down from Nor Cal to So Cal, in the middle of the night, and drive so we kids could sleep, and my parents didn't have to face the LA traffic. I remember as a young child waking up at 4:00 a.m. to drive down.  I was so excited that I couldn't sleep.  I couldn't wait to get down there and camp in their backyard with all 23 of my cousins!  We would sing songs, stay up late, eat delicious home cooking, have picnics in the yard, and watch the fireworks from Disneyland on their front lawn.

In 2008, Pomps and Grambee took me in while I was a jobless graduate looking for work.  Every day, Pomps would check in, "How is that job search coming?  Have you found that job yet?  How long are you staying?  Have you already been here 2 months?" I think he really just wanted to remind me of his generous hospitality.  He also wanted to make sure I wasn't using too much of the water for my baths, I reassured him I was only running the shower first, and filling up the tub with it.  He smiled and looked relieved, "Good, you're being economical."

So many fond memories, but not enough time, I will leave room for the rest to share!  I love you, Pomps, and I know you are now at peace with Grambee in Heaven.




A visit with Pomps always included a search for George the turtle, opening a jar of grape juice with plenty of  “the mother”, and a nap on the couch.  A song and a shave were essential parts of the day. I’m glad for all the time spent with Pomps, and to see some of his joie de vivre live through the generations; waste not, want not. 

I’m lucky to have known Jim.   He would travel up to southern Oregon each year to hunt the wild mule deer with my family.   He was calm and hilarious and kind.    Always with a twinkle in his eye.   I recall his love of pie with cheddar cheese.    He was a good one and will be missed terribly.  Hugs to his family.  

We really didn't know "Pomps" very well but would have a little 
visit when he'd come to Ventura to see Jed, Kim and Kat.
We enjoyed being in fellowship meetings and having him in
our home.  We're so thankful for his faithfulness to the end.

Chuck and Sharon Hager

When I think of Pomps, I can’t help but hear his voice singing “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling…” as he walked into the kitchen to grab his favorite peanut butter and crackers. Every time I visited, he had a new thing he’d been reading or trying, whether it was the milk jug work-out or the yoga poses he’d found in an old book. I remember him crouching on the floor and sticking his tongue out to show us the lion pose, him trying not to burst out laughing the whole time.

I was lucky to get to spend time with him last fall and I remember when I told him I’d just returned from Morocco he exclaimed, “Ah, my old stamping grounds!” and proceeded to tell me a bunch of stories about his time stationed there that I’d never heard before. It made me realize how many experiences he’d had, how much living he’d done in his very full life. He’s truly an inspiration to me for living a simple, happy, and fulfilling life. I’ll miss you, Pomps!

I was remembering one particular time when  my sister, Beulah, and brother in law, Jim, came back to Iowa to visit. We had a huge Family Get-together and Sing at our home here in Walcott. What a great night that was! I video taped alot of that night and have watched it several times.
My wife, Rose, and I loved having Jim & Beulah's whole family here that night. I still remember Jim singing his heart out that evening, along with my Sis and their whole family, all of us gathered around the piano. What a memory!!!  :-)


When I married into the Robinson family I gained a huge family. Through Amy and Ryan I got Jim. He was one of the special ones! Kind, gentle and funny.  I loved how he would unexpectedly burst out in a song. It was my pleasure and honor to have known him. A loving and humble child of God!

OBITUARY

James Henry Everhart

January 5, 1933 – July 2, 2020

Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary

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