Derrick Jensen

Derrick Jensen, 17, son of Amanda and Brett Covish of Merced, California, and Mark Jensen of Le Grand, California, a senior at Golden Valley High School, died in Le Grand, California, on Saturday, November 3, 2001. Funeral services were held November 11 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Merced. Pastors Lori Best Sawden and Jody Hanna Kranz of the United Methodist Church of Merced officiated. Evelyn Eagleton, a close friend of the family, was one of many who spoke during the service. This is what she said to the nearly eight hundred in attendance:

Nineteen years ago, Mark Jensen was a charming, affable, friendly young man with an infectious smile. Amanda Lewellen was a somewhat shy, beautiful, bright, creative, young woman. Fate brought Mark and Mandy together for a short marriage. Out of that marriage came a beautiful, smiling, delightful baby boy. Their son, Derrick, combined all their best qualities. For seventeen years, he was their precious baby. He brought joy into their lives and into the lives of everyone with whom he came in contact.

Derrick inherited that infectious smile. You always felt that he was genuinely glad to see you. Derrick knew no social barriers. If you were his friend, you were his friend. He always seemed to put your feelings before his own.

So many pictures of Derrick come to mind. First, I remember the squirming, laughing little baby. I can't ever remember Derrick crying as a baby. I can only see this chubby little guy waving his arms and laughing and responding.

When Derrick was about six months old, our daughter, Elysa, was going to school in Washington D.C.. Mandy and Derrick traveled there for a visit. At the time, Mandy and Elysa were struggling graduate students and had no money. They took an old backpack and devised a carrier for Derrick by cutting out holes for his legs. He traveled all around Washington D.C. on Mandy's back in this improvised backpack, laughing and giggling. That was Derrick's style all of his life. He never complained.

As a very little boy, he demonstrated a love of logical reasoning. He loved to play games of strategy. His first love was Lego toys. He had quite a collection of Legos. His grandfather, Jim Lewellen, built him a great Lego carrying case and Derrick came up with unbelievable creations. Later, he became a chess master. As a very young child, he joined a chess club. What was amazing about it is that he was the only child. Once a week, Mandy watched Derrick march off with his chess set under his arms to play chess with a group of adults.

Derrick had a vivid imagination. When he was about seven, Mandy made him the perfect Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle outfit for Halloween. When they came by the house, Derrick was beaming. He could hardly take his eyes off himself in the mirror. He was so proud of that costume.

Mandy taught at Sheehy School, so Derrick went to school there. He was a vital part of the school. In fifth grade, he was elected student body president. He took that in his stride, no big deal!!!

Derrick enjoyed the outdoors with Mark. They started skiing when Derrick was six. Derrick took lessons for less than two days and wanted to be off to the slopes with his Dad. At first he was very conservative but as the years passed, he became more and more daring. The last four years he was out-skiing Mark all day long. Derrick and his Dad went camping, raised animals and did just about everything there is to do in the great outdoors.

Derrick was very young the first time Mark took him deep-sea fishing. The weather was terrible and the fish were scarce, but Derrick hooked a gigantic link cod. Mark was worried the fish would win, so he helped Derrick reel it in. It turned out to be the biggest link cod caught all month. Derrick won a deep-sea rod and reel. Forever after, though, he would tell his dad, "I could have reeled it in by myself!" The first time Derrick went salmon fishing he again caught the biggest fish. Derrick was a winner!

You can't remember Derrick without remembering his love for animals. His bedmates and faithful companions were his dogs. They were almost like extensions of him.

When Derrick was quite young, he went to meetings with his dad, but soon announced that he really didn't want to go. He said to his dad, "You don't ever have to worry about me taking drugs or drinking cause I don't want to have to go to those meetings!"

Not long after that, his grandparents, Carol and Jim Lewellen, took him for a walk. They had gone quite a way, when Derrick announced he was tired and wanted to go back. They told him that it was only a little further and he had to keep going. As he trod along, they could hear him muttering under his breath, "Just say no to walks!"

When Derrick was about ten, he went with our family on a snow trip. He forgot his boots. All the children, including Derrick, were sledding and having a great time. His feet got soaking wet. I remember taking off his shoes and socks. His feet were bright red and freezing. We went to the car and began the process of thawing him out. That was the end of his sledding. Did he complain that his feet were frostbitten? Did he complain that he had to cut his fun short? Never. Not Derrick. He just continued to enjoy himself and watch the others. That was Derrick. He never complained. He went with the flow. No one I talked to can ever remember Derrick showing anger.

When Mandy married Brett, Derrick gained both a stepfather and a stepbrother, Parker. The three of them loved to play computer games and spent many happy hours together. That was one of the many things that bonded Derrick and Brett. Derrick loved having a younger brother. Grandmother Carol Lewellen said that sometimes when the three of them were playing together, they would all be having so much fun, the only way you could tell the difference between the boys and the adult was by the size!!!

Derrick started Junior High not knowing anyone. It was a tough transition from being in an elementary school where he knew everyone, both students and faculty. Mandy noticed that every day he was coming home with his lunch still in his backpack and her curiosity was aroused. She found out that Derrick would skip lunch so that he could be first to check out a ball, thereby ensuring that he would have someone to play with during lunchtime. Obviously, his strategy worked, Derrick made many friends.

A couple of years ago, Derrick, his cousins and his grandparents Claire and Jack Jensen took Amtrak to San Luis Obispo for Thanksgiving. Claire gave Derrick and his cousin, Will Areias, money to eat in the dining car. They came back a few minutes later and said, "Grandma you have to come with us to the dining car." "Why?" she asked "Well, Derrick replied, "They told us we can't sit in the dining car without an adult!" Claire said they obviously didn't want snack food; they wanted to go first class.

Derrick enjoyed great summers. It was a Lewellen family tradition to go to Capitola every summer. Derrick loved boogie-boarding and last summer he surfed for the first time. Many summers, he visited his grandfather Jack and grandmother Claire on their farm and learned about beekeeping and enjoyed the quiet serenity of the country. He spent some time with his Areias cousins on their dairy.

Elysa moved to Seattle in 1986. Derrick and Mandy drove to Seattle to visit many times. Derrick was always Mandy's co-pilot. He loved being in charge of the map. He was her co-pilot in many other ways. He was always there for her, as she was for him. Derrick was Mandy's son, her companion, her friend, and her patient angel.

Derrick developed a love of technology. He was a whiz at computers and built his own super computer. He was working toward A+ certification. Grandfather Jim was his computer buddy.

Derrick's life was short, only 17 years and five months. He didn't have a chance to design the world's greatest bridge or to displace Bill Gates as the world's greatest technology guru, but in the greater scheme of things, Derrick accomplished much. He accepted the gift of life with pleasure. He brought joy into our lives. He was a son, a stepson, a stepbrother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin, a friend, and a chess partner. He enriched the lives of all who knew him and who knows what impact that has had and will continue to have. The memory of his smile, his quirky sense of humor, and his caring will endure. Let's be thankful that Derrick lived and know that Derrick's life made a positive difference.

Derrick with your impish smile
You touched our lives a little while.
We never dreamed you'd leave so soon
Without you, life is out of tune.

We're thankful for the time we had,
But missing you is oh, so sad!
You were an earth angel in many ways,
And we'll remember you with love all our days.

Evelyn Eagleton


Memorial donations in Derrick's name may be made out to: Derrick Jensen Memorial Scholarship Fund, Account No. 22061-017, and mailed to Merced School Employees Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 1349, Merced, CA 95341. Memorial donations in Derrick's name may also be sent to United Way, 1744 G Street, Merced, CA 95340.