When you look up towards Mount Riley, the scar left by the landslide in December of 2020 can be seen clearly. The brown streak that runs down the mountain reveals the deaths in two people, Jenae Larson, and David Simmons as well as the devastation of the house where they resided.
As time has gone by, the vegetation has begun to appear from the region, but the land has remained undeveloped. Recently, one man has been working quietly to build an unassuming wooden platform on the edge of Beach Road.
He who is Randy Simmons, David Simmons his father. He travels to Haines in Chico, California a couple times per year to pay tribute to his son.
“It’s like my second home.” He added.
Simmons has recently visited Haines on August. 23. Since the time he’s been working on creating the memorial for his son. In Beach Road, where David’s house was once situated, there is an observation deck with a view of Portage Cove and the Halutu Ridge.
Simmons claimed he had a conversation with his son over the phone about an hour before the slide.
“He worked on his laptop, and was gazing out the window towards Full Moon Cove,” Simmons said. Simmons.
Today, Simmons is able to stand in the same place and admire the beauty of the view, while paying tribute to his deceased beloved friend.
“If you had the pleasure of knowing David you are invited to visit the memorial site to speak to him and take in the views afforded by this location,” said Simmons. But, as this land belongs to his personal property, he stated that the deck would eventually be closed off and have restricted access to stop visitors from camping on this memorial.
Roger Schnabel and other neighbors and others who knew David contributed to the help of Simmons. Schnabel assisted in excavating the pad and constructed access ramps into the deck. He claimed to have known David by his partner Nancy and was there who was present when David requested to borrow two of their rifles for hunting.
“I cannot even imagine the pain Randy and his loved ones members are going through. One can’t not be more compassionate,” said Schnabel.
David Simmons and Jeanae Larson also have Jeanae Larson and David Simmons also have memorial table and benches at Picture Point, and Haines Little League is planning to dedicate and change the name of the field as David Simmons Memorial Little League Field.
