I`m sorry about your loss with Doc. Just returned from a weekend in Lake Tahoe (an hour from my front door), and read your post.
I think you might find an editorial I penned a while back for the local paper (I was a regular columnist) of interest. I realized just now the unedited version got put on the net, but you will get the idea.
http://www.savaspublishing.com/12-03-03.html
Best
tps