This piece was a deeply personal one.

Caroline, the wife of a longtime friend I’ve known for over 40 years, reached out after her father passed away. She asked if I could create an urn using branches from a cherry tree on his property — something meaningful, something from home.

I had never milled lumber from tree branches before, and I wasn’t sure it would even work. But I was honored by the request and committed to doing everything I could.

After some research, trial, and error, I was able to mill the largest sections into usable boards. The wood carried a lot of character — and quite a bit of insect damage. I used epoxy to stabilize and smooth the surfaces, both to preserve the natural beauty and to ensure the urn would hold up for the journey to Montana, where they planned to lay him to rest.

It was a privilege to contribute something so personal to a family’s goodbye.