Remembering David Egg: A Seabee's Sacrifice

David John Egg, 1967-2011

Monday, May 26th, 2025

This Memorial Day, I want to share the story of our younger brother, David Egg, a proud US Navy Seabee who gave so much in service to our country.

David with Alex 

While serving in the Navy's construction corps, David worked on electrical transformers in Puerto Rico. Some of these units resemble large containers, sometimes described as "big gray buckets." Inside these transformers is a critical component: dielectric fluid. This fluid acts as an insulator, preventing electrical arcing (sparks) between the internal energized components, including the coils, and also helps to cool the equipment. Transformers manage voltage, whether stepping it up or down, and this fluid is essential for their safe operation.

1989 image of David (far right) with Mom, Dad, & 8 Siblings

In a situation driven by the scarcity of replacement units, David was tasked by a supervisor with repairing a transformer rather than replacing it. Crucially, many transformers from that era contained dielectric fluids formulated with Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs. We now know that PCBs are recognized as probable human carcinogens and their manufacture was banned in the U.S. in 1977 due to these health risks.

David's Children, Alex and Megan Egg

To perform the necessary repairs, David had to directly interact with this fluid, immersing his arms significantly into it. This direct contact allowed the PCBs to be absorbed into his system. Tragically, years later, this exposure is understood to have led to a devastating cancer diagnosis. The cancer severely affected his digestive tract, necessitating the removal of parts of it, including his colon, and he lived with a colostomy bag for the remainder of his life, enduring significant pain and suffering.

David, 3rd from left. We were at younger brother, Aaron's funeral in 2002

The military acknowledged his sacrifice, providing him with full benefits and honoring him with a hero's funeral. David honorably served our nation, and his death was a direct result of injuries sustained during that service.

It's so important to remember the depth of his suffering, which he bore with incredible nobility. He left behind a great legacy, and his children, Alex and Megan, honor his memory in their lives.

Jay David, and Brian Egg is 1969

This Memorial Day, as we enjoy the freedoms we hold dear, I hope we all take a moment to remember those, like David, who gave their lives and their health in service to our country.

Kristy Egg Update - November 2023

Kristy's Office at Arizona Department of Health Services

Update on Kristy Egg: After 5 years healing from brain surgery undertaken for aneurysms, and 3 years of working with Matrix Engineering, Kristy has moved back into her chosen field as a medical professional. She is a registered nurse with a bachelor's degree in public health and epidemiology. The latter she earned taking college courses during covid. Kristy has taken a position with the Arizona Department of Health Services as a Supervisor for the Bureau of Medical Facilities Licensing. Basically, she is where the “buck stops” on keeping hospice and home health medical facilities in compliance. Kristy has four field agents for which she is responsible. 

Kristy has a lovely and functional office in downtown Phoenix and is prospering at her efforts as a supervisor in the medical facilities. I got to meet several of the office staff on Tuesday afternoon before Thanksgiving, 2023 as I whisked her away for Thanksgiving Day weekend at her sister's house in Southern California. 

I continue to work is president of Egg Geo, LLC, a St Petersburg-based Corporation that has four sister companies and a holding company that oversees our efforts. Our senior partner, Stan Newton, is a big part of the reason that Kristy has come so far. He supported employing her as the Director of Marketing and by her own description, the “chief cat herder” for our scientists and engineers in the geothermal energy sector. During the 3 years we've worked together, Kristy has done incalculable good and left lasting impressions that will remain for decades to come. Thank you, Kristy, for this wonderful experience of working together. 

Now, 

If I may be so bold, I would like to give a personal observation to those reading this update. 

When Kristy came out of surgery on October 16, 2017, she had a very long road ahead of her. The surgery caused epilepsy, and Kristy was not fully functional for years. She was declared 100% disabled by the US government, which put her on disability. The story is here: https://bit.ly/2HexynH  

I began traveling with her on business in 2018. While she was with me, she did not participate in business activities. Kristy was simply my wonderful companion enjoying the sights and sounds. 

Something in her started to change at the beginning of the covid epidemic. She began by gaining certifications as a Legionella specialist and entered the University to study public health and epidemiology, a degree that she earned from BYU in 2021. The point at which she became fully engaged and started traveling with me and became an industry professional in the geothermal energy sector until September 2023. 

You can say that my sweetheart is all grown up once again, and she is the lady that is both feared and revered by medical facilities. I would call her a medical facilities forensics specialist because she drills down so deep into various problems and finds the causes of facility deficiencies to help these facilities solve the problems and come back into compliance. 

And there you have it. we are up to date and more in love than ever!

Grandma Kristy walking on the Beach with one of her grandchildren

Happy 80th Birthday, Carol Egg!

Carol Egg, 21st Birthday in 1965

This is a tribute to our mom, Carol Egg. She was married to Theron Egg at 20 years of age. I was born the next year, 1964. Over the next 11 years, Mom would give birth to my 8 younger brothers and sisters.

(CW from top left) Mom and Dad, Carol & Theron, Jay, Brian, David, Steven, Carolyn, Darlene, Heidi, Aaron and Ben

As the oldest of nine children, what I remember about my mom is her wisdom, her love, and her desire to have a home filled with peace and harmony amidst all of the craziness that accompanies such a large household.

Because we were such a large family, the most common breakfast food was cracked wheat, boiled and topped with brown sugar and milk. We could hear the wheat grinder running just about every morning. It was a high-fiber start to the day, and we were a family with very clean insides as a result!

As of the day of this writing, my mom has been widowed for 11 years, has served faithfully as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the genealogy library in Salt Lake City, and has continued to lead this family in truth and light. She is now 80 years of age.

Carol Egg with Jay, visiting mom during her mission in Salt Lake City

A recent photo of our beautiful mom in Manti, Utah. Isn't she so radiant?

Mom, you're truly an angel mother. I have trouble keeping track of how many descendants you have so far; it’s 9 children, 25 grandchildren, and about 19 great- grandchildren, right? Hannah just had Darwin in (March 2021), and many of her cousins have had babies also! My count is well over 50 descendants; wow! 

Happy birthday Mom. It's so fitting that it's also the Easter and general Conference season. If ever there was someone that fit the description of the beauty of the Easter celebration, it's you.

We love you!

CW from top left: Steven, Darlene, Brian, Jay, David, Carolyn, Ben, Mom-Carol, Aaron, Dad-Theron, Heidi

 

Theron Jay Egg, Sr - Happy Father's Day

 June 19th, 2022

It's Father's Day.  

An updated tribute for our late dad (and our sweet and vibrant mom) https://bit.ly/TheronEgg2022 

Mom & Dad (Circa June 1963)

HOW IS IT THAT I'M 58 YEARS OLD this year, and I’m still just beginning to realize just how amazing my dad is?

My heart is filled with reverence for the labors and example of my dad. I revere him.  Memories of his example are etched deep into the fabric of my very being.  Any goodness in me can be traced back to his teachings and example.

I realize more all the time the impact of seemingly simple experiences with my dad that have impacted me.  One comes to memory from the fall of 1980.

Jay Egg Heading Out For a Date in the 1964 Dodge

I had a date with Susan Canazoles, and dad told me that I could take the 1964 Dodge Station Wagon. It had a push button transmission and no seat belts. People weren’t really taking the seat belt law serious anyway back in 1980.

I’m sure the date went well, and I returned home a little later than I had promised.  I seem to remember being pleased that it was not quite midnight when I walked into the well-lit (meaning dad was waiting up) living room of our ranch style home outside Barstow, Ca. I could see dad sitting back looking calm and content, even before the music registered in my ears.

Dad Was Playing "Van Halen" When I Came Home

“Van-Halen II” was playing on the brand new home stereo that dad had just purchased and set up.  Registering all of this in my mind, I grabbed the other recliner and enjoyed the lead guitar solo, pleased that my father was enjoying some of “my” music.  I wasn’t fooled for a minute. I knew this was his way of bonding, and I loved it. He listened to the entire album that night with me. We talked about the band’s impressive skills and the stories behind some of the songs; sometimes they were my stories and memories relating to the music. This was all about me, and I loved it. I remember it as an ever present experience, even closer than breathing; like he’s here right now.

Is it any wonder that I never complained once as I drove my kids to seminary and listened to hundreds of hours of the newest releases of their favorite music? What is amazing is that until this moment, I thought that I was pretty amazing for doing that with my kids. Pretty silly huh? …just when I think I’m “all-that”, I remember that my dad did it first. Chalk another one up for dad.  Oh, how I love him.

He’s with Father in Heaven now, which means that I have two “Fathers in Heaven”.  Their influence and imprint on what I have become is sweet and rich. No wonder, that Father in Heaven wants us “boys” to experience fatherhood. We begin to understand why it is that He (God, our Father) is so amazing as we pass our love forward to our families.

It’s times like these that I begin to understand the plan of happiness for us here.  I want to pass it forward with all my heart.  I want my family, and all with whom I come into contact to know what remarkable fathers I have.

Watch This Awesome Video for Dad (Thanks Alexi Gonzalez!)

Egg Family Circa 1982

Egg Family Circa 1989 (Jay's "beard" phase!)

*The meaning of Theron is 'hunter'. It is a gender-neutral name and is of Greek origin. The name derives from the Greek word 'therao', meaning 'to hunt'

I'd like to share a little about my late Father, Theron Jay Egg, Sr.

His grandson and namesake, Theron Egg III is on a mission.  His Cousin (my sister Carolyn's Son), Hunter Gonzales, is serving in Chile.  Did you know that "Theron" is greek for "Hunter"*? Hmmm. Coincidence?  I think not! 

 

Hunter and Theron in 2011, and Hunter as a Missionary

I've seen much of dad's characteristics in the younger Theron and other grandchildren; it's remarkable, and a wonderful way to remember Theron Jay Egg, Sr, who would be 85 today - Read on...

(Updated on January 25, 2022)

Quick Facts About Theron Egg, Sr

Name                   Theron Jay Egg, Sr
Spouse                 Carol Lucille Anderson
Children              9 (6 boys, 3 girls)
Occupation          Teacher
Born                     January 25, 1937
Home                   January 2, 2012 

Theron Egg Sr and wife Carol Egg cut the wedding cake; Theron Egg III and mom Kristy Egg, sending off on a mission.

Egg Family & Ortiz Family; One Year Update

One Year Update: October 17, 2021

After One Year, Aly and Darwin Get Together!

We got to have dinner with Bryttni and Aki on Friday.  Hannah and Devin brought Darwin, and Kristy's parents, Kathy and Kevin Richards were there. We had the most wonderful reunion.  The last time these two babies were in the same room was December of 2020, when they were still in the womb.

Since then, and up until the last two weeks, Aly has been in the hospital. What a miracle it is to have her here now. Here are some images from our get-together;

Devin, Hannah, Darwin, Aki, Bryttni, Aly - at their first meeting on October 15, 2021

First hellos

  

Aly and Darwin hit it off just fine!

Bryttni Ortiz with Baby Aly
...and Jay Egg at a prep-op visit in mid 2021

Sometimes, it's good to just be grateful, and reach out to someone else in need. It helps me to remember all the blessings I have.

The image above is Little Aly Ortiz. She was born just after Darwin Jay De Priest, in April.  Her mother Bryttni was on a mission in Venice when we lived there 10 years ago. Almost as soon as Kristy I moved to Arizona in November, Hannah was contacted by Bryttni to get together, and we heard about her pregnancy difficulties. Devin and I gave her a blessing, and later that month, Bryttni, Aki, Hannah, and Devin all came to church to hear mom and I speak in sacrament meeting. We got together for lunch after that.

The Story Gets Better

Aki & Bryttni, Bryttin's Mom, Kristy and Jay at Aki's Baptism in May, 2021

We were able to attend the baptism of Aki Ortiz in May 2021. It is so wonderful to watch a man in the middle of the greatest difficulties he may face, choose to enter the waters of baptism. He has done so well.

The Back Story

Jordan & Hannah Egg with Sister Brytnni Fox in 2011

Bryttni & Hannah expecting in November 2020

Hannah, Kristy, Devin, Jay, Aki, and Bryntti just before Christmas, 2020

Hannah & Bryttni are both pregnant here

It's now the middle of July, and baby-Aly has spent only a few days outside of the hospital. She has had two heart surgeries, and they almost lost her last week.  During the course of her short life, her dad, Aki was baptized. We're grateful that we were able to attend that baptism and see their hope and faith. I even had the privilege to go to the hospital one time to give little Aly a blessing recently.

Bryttni & Aki's patience, love, and faith have been amazing.  They have asked us if we can do something for little Aly. She wants us to write get well cards. She plans to post them up all over the room. If you have a moment today, would you write a get-well card? You can post a picture of it right here on Facebook, an we'll print them out and get them to Bryttni.

Aly after her 2nd heart surgery

Keeling Aly in our thoughts and prayers

Everyone of us has had our share of difficulties in our lives. I think the best medicine is to reach out to someone else and share our love and concern.  It's always good to reach out together on these things. We have so much for which to be grateful!

Will you write some nice thoughts down on a note, take a picture of it, and post it here in the comments? We will get them all over to Aly so Bryttni can put them taped-up and they see some of our love for Aly on the walls in her hospital room.

 

Many people answered the call to send letter,
which Bryttni put up as a show of faith and support! 

Welcome Darwin Jay De Priest, Grand-Baby #6!

An Exhausted Mommy and Baby

Our youngest daughter, Hannah and her husband, Devin now have an 8 lb, 13 Oz baby boy named Darwin, He is 21 in long, born on the 6th of March 2021. Hannah had a very long labor, which finally ended with an emergency cesarean section early yesterday afternoon. We are so grateful for all your thoughts and prayers for them. Our family chat was filled with love, and we are so  delighted to see siblings and extended family supporting each other with such deep devotion.

Devin, Darwin and Hannah; first family photo!

We join with all of you, including Devin's parents, Carol and Derek De Priest in this wonderful celebration of a new grandchild in our midst. It is ironic that this is the first grandchild which we've had the privilege to be near during birth, but because of COVID, we were remanded to electronic communication. We're so grateful that new-daddy-Devin was able to be there the whole time. Because of the C-section, they will likely be coming home on Kristy's birthday, March 9th. I think that's a fitting birthday present!  Whatever day Grandma Kristy gets to hold Baby Darwin will be perfect.

Baby Darwin-A Big Boy!

Over the years, we've had the privilege of spending quality time with the five older grandchildren:  Rebecca's daughter Cameryn, Katie's daughter Jamisyn, and Erial's children,  Ellie, Malachi, and one-year-old Evelyn. What a great group of cousins! With our 6 children, and now a total of 6 grandbabies, we finally have our dozen family descendants!

Successful families are founded on  forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, wholesome recreational activities, and a nice, healthy dose of faith and prayers that everything will work out for the best.

-Kristy & Jay Egg

Grandma-Kristy gets her first chat with Hannah
after the birth of Darwin last evening, 03/06/21

The story of Brian Egg and the Orlando Temple tour that changed my life.

- A story of conversion - By Jay Egg

2021 Montage of the Theron Jay Egg, Jr Family 

This story goes back to 1994. Michele Egg and I had been married for about 7 years, Brian and Lori Egg were married and living in Gainesville, and Brian was working for Taylor Freezer. I had opened Egg Systems in 1990, and the four of us got together regularly as young married couples.

Jordan and Taylor Egg in 1998

Jordan was born on May 15th, 1994, and we were starting to take life much more seriously. One particular weekend while visiting Brian and Lori, Brian asked me if I would like two tickets to the Orlando Florida temple open house on September 10th, my birthday. For some reason, that hit me like an electric jolt. I looked at Michele and said, “... yes, I would love to do that for my birthday; can we?”

Michele said yes, and I really didn't think much more about it until my birthday came around. On the appointed day, we traveled from Palm Harbor to Orlando, and when we arrived and walked up to the chrome and glass front doors of the temple, I remember an army of people helping to get all of us through in an orderly fashion. At the front doors, there were folks with blue shoe booties, slipping them on our feet as we walked through.

I don't know if it was intended, but those shoe booties instilled in my heart how clean and pure the temple was, and is. I suddenly didn't feel like I was really ready to go in. I did, and an overwhelming and familiar sense of pure light and Eternal life infused me as we were guided through all of the sacred rooms of the Orlando Temple.

The next thing I remember was having a late lunch with Michele at a local restaurant before traveling home. I told her that I felt an earnest desire to attend church regularly in our local Palm Harbor Ward. She said that would be OK, and was wonderful about attending with me and the babies for the next few years.

I continued to be the very best I could, and to keep that wonderful light alive in my life. The feelings of beauty, light, and eternal life we're firmly ensconced in the deepest recesses of my heart that day at the temple.

I know that I had a long way to go then, and I still have a long way to go today to become the man I know I can be. I know Jesus Christ is real and loves me, and I know that my family and I can and will be with our Heavenly Father again in the Eternities.

Thank you for taking the time I understand who I am, and why am I so in love with my family.

Theron Jay Egg, Jr

Husband, Daddy, Grandpa, Brother. Uncle, etc.

Kristy and I were sealed in February 1999, after
having been married in May 1998. She is pregnant
with Hannah in this image

PS: I was able to have the privilege of receiving temple endowments 3 years later in 1997. I met Kristy Richards at a singles event in March 1998, that was about four months after Michele and I were divorced. Kristy & I have now been married for 23 years. I'm so grateful for all the good things that have come of these crazy happenings in our Eternal family. But that's for another story!

Our blended family about 2001
Jordan, Hannah, Jay, Kristy, Theron, Katie, Kevin, & Taylor