FRENCH, Ted

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona - 04/02/2010 Ted French died Friday, March 5, 2010, as a result of a truck accident in Texas. He was born to Ross and Corrine French in Twin Falls, Idaho Nov. 9, 1949. He was a long time resident of Lakeside. Ted learned to drill water wells from an exacting taskmaster and master driller, his father. After graduating from high school in 1967 in Monticello, Utah, Ted worked for his father drilling water wells all over San Juan and Grand counties. He met his lifelong friend and co-worker Glenn around this time. Ted was injured in a fall at a drilling site which crushed his foot and put him out of commission finishing his years as a driller. Ted worked at Key Stone Wallace Copper Mine in San Juan County for some time. While living in Moab, Utah he met and married his first wife Pat Odle. They had two beautiful children, Kamace and Sonny. The marriage unfortunately ended due to irreconcilable differences. Ted moved to Arizona and went to work in the copper mines around Tucson. He was quite successful there. He married Patricia Woodall and they had a beautiful daughter, Barbie French. That marriage ended due irreconcilable differences also. Ted later moved up to Flagstaff where he met Hebert. Hebert trained Ted as a stone mason and also became a father figure to him. They would discuss new efficient inventions. Ted once registered his very own invention "The Poop Pellet" which evolved the natural gas from the human body to fuel space ships to return back to Earth. His drawing of this explained it all. He was very imaginative. Ted's stone-art work resides all over Flagstaff and in the White Mountains. He kept a scrapbook of his work and loved to show it off. When the trade tapered off, Ted started driving trucks for his friend John at Overseas Aircraft Support. His new-found career allowed him to see the entire country. He drove through numerous states hauling helicopters. "It doesn't get much cooler than that." Ted always kept a camera on him to capture the beautiful United States of America. His traveling career allowed him to stay in touch with distant relatives who live across the country and to make surprise visits to his daughter and his 4-year-old grandson in Tucson. One of his favorite places to visit was Monticello, Utah. He had many close friends and family there who were always glad to see him. On one of his road trips, he found a half frozen newborn kitten laying in the bed of a Huey helicopter. He saved the kitten by warming him up overnight on his generous belly. He was instructed by his lady friends at Overseas, who were also his mothering figures, on how to care for his newborn kitten. This furry friend became his traveling cat, Huey. On Ted's down time, he was an avid fisherman and loved the outdoors. He rode his four-wheeler, panned for gold with his gold panning club and enjoyed his outings visiting family and friends. Ted enjoyed reading and was self taught in many areas. Ted is survived by his mother Corrine Lewis; sister Sandy Mueller; step-sister Deaun Connaughton; step-brother Bill Christensen; daughters Kamace and Barbie, son, Sonny, five beautiful grandchildren, and another due to be born near Ted's birthday in November. He was preceded in death by his father, Ross French; stepmother Hazel Christensen French; brother Kenneth French and sister Kathi Menser.