One of our 4D MMRs has passed away. Chuck Ricketts left us on Aug 6th at Harborview Hospital. His balance had been deteriorating for the last year, and a fall resulting in a severe head trauma took him from us. I will miss his friendship and sharing of all things related to model construction and in particular the railroad hobby. His imagination, hobby expertise and enthusiasm to get everyone involved in operations created fine comradery. His Sherwood, Shelton & Sarazen (S. S. & S.) included a unique feature at the time, a movable barge “floating” traffic between Oyster Bay and South Seattle, a separate location and operating system.
Thanks to the efforts of Roger Nulton and Dale Kreutzer, the S. S. & S. is in the Oct 2020 issue of the Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette. Bruce Petrarca MMR #574, one of Chuck’s Arizona friends, has created a Vemio, vimeo.com/536949514 about Chuck’s S. S. & S. that I thought clever. Chuck sold the house in Lacey with railroad intact. Or perhaps from a modeler’s perspective sold the railroad with the house intact.
Never giving up model railroading, the Baja Sienna was his next railroad in Tumwater. You’ve seen various articles and YouTube presentation about this one. My perspective, with a laugh, is the materials used were largely gathered at the local foam recycler’s dumpster. Once again after reaching the operation stage, this layout was carved up and sold to a Seattle railroad modeler. Chuck moved again, staying in Tumwater and had, in the planning stage, a shelf layout in the works for the new garage. With a sigh, I say goodbye to Chuck who was an exceptional friend to me, the Olympia model railroaders and the whole Puget Sound model railroading community.
A Celebration of Life will be announced to take place in Olympia at a presently unknown date. Chuck’s partner, Janet Spencer, will appreciate emailed condolences at janetinbastrop@gmail.com. She looks forward to meeting all of you at his Celebration of Life.
Submitted by Jim Elder
