Wizard Falls hosts fond memorials

Clay Holloway (left) and Ty Holloway rest on the Richard Lisk memorial bench at Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery after flyfishing on the Metolius River.

Families come to the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery to view and feed the fish, have a picnic lunch or view the splendor of the nearby Metolius River.

This lovely facility of green lawns, tall trees, fishponds and blue skies has become a place where families remember their loved ones in a unique fashion -- memorial picnic tables and benches.

"In Memory of Grandpa Jacklin, Come Fishy, Come Fishy, Come Fishy..." is the plaque on the picnic table nearest the parking lot and kiosk.

Lanny Schreiner, Camp Sherman builder, crafted the beautiful "Grandpa Jacklin" cedar table.

"The family commissioned me to build the table about 11 years ago in memory of Jacklin, who loved the Metolius River fishing," said Schreiner. "I had previously built a home for them at Black Butte Ranch."

Clay Warburton, a fourth grade teacher at Sisters Elementary School, and his family and friends enjoyed themselves recently at Wizard Falls and shared the "Grandpa Jacklin" table.

"We come here every year," said Clay. "The children love the fish and it's tough to beat these trees. The river is just gorgeous."

Scattered around the hatchery's 35 acres are three benches built by Richard Lisk, a former volunteer at the facility. Plaques on the benches read, "In Loving Memory of Richard Earl Lisk (1933-2001) Husband, Father, Grandpa. Friend and Creative Mr. Fix It. Gone But Not Forgotten."

Two young boys shared one of Richard Lisk's benches. Sitting near the entry bridge into Wizard Falls, they assembled their fly-fishing gear after a morning of river fishing.

"This is a tough river to fish," said Ty Holloway of Eugene. "It's clear and cold and the fish are smart." (see related story)

Wizard Falls is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day in Camp Sherman.