Eleanor Monson, beloved wife of long-time camp supporter Larry Monson, passed away the
week of October 28th after a long illness.  Eleanor spent many summers at Camp Whitsett, helping out in the Trading Post, and along with her husband, entertained staff during the evenings from their trailer. Her favorite evening pasttime: Rummy Cubes. It was always a pleasure to see Larry and Eleanor's trailer coming into camp. Larry backed into place while Eleanor stood outside and guided him --- it ususally only took one try to get set-up.  Larry had been coming to camp for many years, sharing some of his time with Emerald Bay, too.  Larry and Eleanor were special friends of the camp and the staff.  She will be missed.

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Dave Mickelsen, father of Pat Smith, Camp Whitsett's business manager, passed away peacefully in his sleep. Dave had been Assistant Council Scout Executive under Shiller Colberg (1973 - 1979), was instrumental in helping to raise funds for Camp Whitsett operation, and a Whitsett supporter for many years. Dave would have been 91 years old on his birthday in late December.  He was a disabled veteran of World War II, he had lost a leg in battle.

He encouraged his daughter, Pat, to apply for Aquatics Director in 1977.  She did, was certified by National Camp School (one of the first Female Aquatics directors in the BSA), and served on staff as Aquatics for four years ---- the rest is history.

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Myrtle Harris - Grand Daughter of our founder, W. P. Whitsett and also the granddaughter of Guy F. Atkinson, the designer and builder of the Lake Ida Dam, passed away on September 14, 2006 after a long illness.  Services were held on Saturday, October 7th at 11:00 a.m. at the Woodside Village Church in Woodside, California.
  
Myrtle attended Whitsett for the Grand Reunion in 1996, her first ever visit. "Because it was a Boy Scout camp I didn't think I would ever be able to visit.", she had stated.  She attended Whitsett several more times, the most recent on June 3rd of this year.
 
She was instrumental in the revitalization projects on Lake Ida and Dam.

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Don Pittenger, over 33 years a Professional Scouter and Director of Camping for the Great Western Council (now WLACC),  passed away on Friday,  June 2nd, 2006,  about seven weeks short of his 80th birthday.  Don spent many summers at Camp Whitsett as the Program Director, Camp Director and professionally as the Director of Camping, in the late 60s and early 1970s.  [In a quote from "The Old Lamplighter, at his memorial service]:  We could tell where Don's life led by the trail of lights he left behind him.

Gifts in the name of Don Pittenger  may be made out to the First Methodist Church with the request that they be placed in the Laura Longman Scholarship Fund.  The church is located at 22700 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91307.
 

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Jake Murphy, 14-year-old son of Bob Murphy (Mr. Bob of  Whitsett Staff) and Janet Murphy (a teacher and former Aquatics Director at Camp Whitsett) passed away after a tragic accident in February of 2005.  Jake grew up at Whitsett and worked as a Staff family member in the Scoutcraft area teaching Fire Building and Knife and Ax, and on our Waterfront teaching basic swimming skills and Merit Badges.

Janet Murphy, wife of Bob (Mr. Bob) Murphy, and mother of Jake Murphy, died in her sleep on the night of Thursday, June 2nd 2005.  Janet met Bob Murphy at camp during her time as Aquatics Director.  

Jake and  Janet  were laid to rest side by side in the Kern Valley Cemetary, Wofford Heights. They were both  loved by many people.  Gifts in the name of Janet and Jake Murphy should be made out to the Kern Valley High School with the request that they be placed in the Janet and Jake Murphy Memorial Scholarship Fund.   The school is located at 3340 Erskine Creek Road, Lake Isabella, CA  93240.

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Andy Beard. former Scoutcraft Director in the early 1990s, and Camp Director in the mid 1990s, passed away during the Summer of 2005.  His contribution to camp are great and he will be sorely missed.

Andy died peacefully in his sleep while camping with his unit at another Summer Camp.
Andy was 38 years old. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

His favorite skit began, "Fresha Fruit - Two for Five . . . ".  It ended with "If you don't someone else will . . . "   He did, and made a difference.  We can only hope that we all make the type of difference that Andy made.