News from Bryan Woodruff
As some of you may know, Bryan Woodruff is very ill. For those who don't know Bryan, he is the current owner of the Ariel Store, having inherited it when his mother, Dona Elliott, passed away a couple of years ago. Dona was a fixture at the store and in DB Cooper lore. Her Cooper Daze parties on the Saturday after Thanksgiving were colossal fun. Epic, even. Best parties I've ever been to.
Bryan sent me this missive about his Mom today, and I thought I'd share it here. I think our Forum is a fitting place to feature this tribute to a vital member of the Cooper World.
MY OWN ARIEL STORE STORY
My own Ariel Store begins when my Mother, Dona D. Elliott, bought the store from Germaine Tricola in 1990. Never in a million years did the thought ever occur to me that someday my Mother would pass her pride and joy onto me alone after her passing away in October 2015. Was I ever surprised when one taco night I over-heard her telling some customers she was leaving me the store as I came back inside from taking a break from making her beloved tacos. Yes, the Taco Queen's tacos will once again be served in due time, as Mom made certain to train me to make them her way or hit the road and I'll make them myself. Hard, soft, in a salad, or on a hamburger bun. My idea, not Mom's as I had to change things up a bit by occasionally putting the taco works on a hamburger bun. Think a few customers took note of this as it sure made a big plate full to polish off, and it was plenty. Mom didn't want anyone leaving hungry that's for sure as her steak night dinners usually meant you had food to go would be testimony to that. Nothing better than old-fashioned home cooking to please a hungry stomach. Weekend breakfast and nightly dinners growing up was always Mom's old-fashioned cooking, much of which she learned from her Grandmother spending time on her grandparent’s farm on Delameter Road in Castle Rock where she graduated from High School.
In July of 1991, I was laid-off a job and moved to Ariel Store as I lost my apartment as well. So, Mom and I did a midnight move after she finished working and closing the Old La Center Tavern. At that time, she owned both Ariel Store and Old La Center Tavern. I started working at both places for her as a bartender/food server, and have had the pleasure of making long-term friendships with many of Mom's customers, from the younger generations to many of the elderly customers as well. My personal favorites would truly be Miss Dolly and Father Frank, you just never knew what them two mischievous kids at heart might be up to, sometimes I think Mom was in cahoots too. Mom had her favorites to play her own mischievous tricks on, especially Indian Larry. From red hots to gummy worms to liquorish or no meat at all he just didn't really know what to expect at times. I'm sure their teasing ways have continued on in the heavens above, and if you ever feel like someone is putting a wet finger in your ear, it could be either or both of them saying hi or blessing you with their spiritual presence.
June of 1992, I started working at a warehouse, but remained staying at the store working to help Mom on her taco nights which had been extended to two nights after she sold the Old La Center Tavern her customers followed as evidence her taco nights were popular, and Mom was referred to being The Taco Queen of the Mountains. A title she thoroughly relished and enjoyed as many of her customers were thought of family, and she treasured them all. A Mother type to some, a Grandmother to young children, but most importantly a true friend to all. Well unless you tried to tell her how to run her business or ended up getting yourself on the bad and ornery side of her. Thus, her motto: Enter as a stranger, leave as a friend. It’s now burned into the wall above the entryway doorway in tribute to her for all to see. When working with Mom getting orders and serving tacos, I'd refuse her offers to pay, and often had to remind her why as she was already providing me enough by allowing me to stay in an extra room in the living area of the store. Didn't always work especially if I let her split up the tips at times, but I caught on soon enough.
For Mom's 60th birthday I surprised her real good. Told her for her birthday I was going to pay the cost of having a band play for the weekend, the weekend profits would be my birthday present to her to spend anyway she wanted. Didn't tell her my Aunt was also inviting people up to celebrate her birthday with a potluck dinner in her honor. Mom thought nothing about a surprise party when the band showed up and set up, soon people began showing up with potluck dishes, and Mom started wondering. Finally, my Aunt sat her down, and explained what was taking place. Mission accomplished as Mom was always a hard one to pull a surprise on, figured it be the last time I'd pull of a surprise on Mom, and much to my surprise it wasn't the last time. The last time was her 78th birthday, completely surprised to shedding tears as all the customers sang Happy Birthday to her as I entered the store carry a Birthday Cake towards her as she was relaxing in her chair at her desk after all taco orders had been done. She thought it was for someone else until I lowered the cake and showed her her name on the cake, then the tears flowed. Only months later did we realize the importance of that night to us all as it was her last birthday celebration while alive.
October of 2010, upon being released to return to work by my doctor, I came home to Ariel Store as I'd been living their part-time since returning from Alaska in August of 2009. I was off work due to a on the job injury. Upon entering Mom was sitting at a table with three others, and I was informed that Mom had health problems and things needed to change. So instead of returning to work I took over the taco making for Mom as my cousin continued taking food/beer orders from the customers. Told my Mother: I'm single, no girlfriend and no ex-wives, no children, and that I'd be there for her as long as she needed me to be there for her as there was no sense for two of three other children to change their lives as they have their families. Also told her she didn't need the third as he'd already proven beyond a reasonable doubt he wouldn't look out for her best interest, and had already used her enough thru previous years. Mom agreed, and I kept my word to her right up until she passed away on Oct. 13, 2015.
Thru the five years of helping Mom deal with her health conditions it was hard to see as her health began to take its toll on her we talked many times as we traveled back and forth for her appointments and surgeries. Tried getting her to change her eating habits, but she wouldn't listen, and pretty much told me to mind my own business. So, at times it became hard and heart breaking to watch, but I stayed strong and supportive of her never the less. The last six months was the most difficult after the health department caught us red-handed serving the customers tacos. They threatened to have her charged as she wasn't licensed for serving tacos or doing her steak nights as out of her love of her dedicated customers who were her extended family in many ways. Mom pretty much gave up, started spending more time alone, struggled to wait on her customers as I was still making tacos, serving them and beer or wine to her customers, they would help me out with cleaning up their tables afterwards which speaks volumes of how much they truly appreciated and cared about The Taco Queen. When no longer serving tacos, 15 to 20 customers started bringing potluck dishes to share, show their support for her and the business. The last month or so we once again served tacos again to them, and most in the public was clueless and it had to be kept that way to protect both Mom and I from criminal prosecution by the County.
Sept. 30th was the last night Mom's tacos were served at Ariel Store, her official last day of business, and there's no words that can describe the empty atmosphere of the night as Mom remained downstairs too weak to be there. Unfortunately, that following Saturday, Oct 3, 2015, a bunco night which we had to cancel, we had to call that morning to have her transported by ambulance to the hospital. When I checked on her, she was fussing with her bed and I helped her get it situated the way she wanted. Asked if she was okay? Her response to me was it was either here or the hospital. Called my sister to let her know what was happening, she contacted the others, and the youngest was able to convince her to go to the hospital as it could cause legal problems if she didn't. She understood, and agreed. She passed at hospice 10 days later in the presence of family and friends. My last words to her were: Mom you may go now as I've fully completed all you have asked me to finish for you, so please let go now, and gave her a kiss upon the cheek. About 45 minutes later she was declared deceased by the hospice staff.
My poem written for and read at Mom's celebration of life on Oct. 24, 2015, dedicated to the memory and legacy of my Mother, DONA. D. ELLIOTT
FOREVER WITHIN OUR HEARTS
Forever within our hearts
Gathering together family and friends
Amidst tears of sadness and heart-ache
As a dearly loved one has passed on
Stories and memories shared, now cherished
Forever within our hearts
Now a celebration of one's life
As a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother
Thru life a true friend to many others
Deeply loving and caring
Yet strong, proud, and stubborn
With a mischievous sense of humor
Proudly we honor and cherish you
Thru your life many lives you’ve touched
Certain to be missed by all who cherish you
Time will heal the pain within our hearts
As we move forward without you
Sharing together our treasured memories of you
Now you're resting in peace
Alongside others having passed before
As the passing of the human body
Unites the heart and soul together
In creating your spirit for eternal life
You'll be dearly missed, but never forgotten
Forever within our hearts
Gathering family and friends
Amidst tears of sadness and heart-ache
As a dearly loved one has passed on
Stories and memories shared, now cherished
Forever within our hearts
