Meet Your New Neighbors

Tom and Debbie Burgess moved from Bakersfield, Calif. into their new Bear Valley home in May, not too long before Tom’s June 30th retirement as Federal Probation Officer. He had worked at the Federal Courthouse for 22 years and 9 months and now that they were “empty-nesters”, they felt it was time to move. Their oldest son lives in the area and Debbie says he tried to “lure them with the promise of grandchildren”. However, since they already liked the area, it didn’t take much “luring”.

Both of them grew up in the Central Valley. They met in elementary school. In fact, Tom says he used to kick her chair in the fifth grade. Eventually, they became high school sweethearts. After graduation, Tom went on to Fresno State while Debbie studied nursing in Bakersfield. She became an RN and worked at Mercy Hospital for 24 years before retiring in 2004. Before taking his federal position, Tom spent 3 years in Delano with Kern Probation. The couple has been in Bakersfield since 1981. Debbie has a sister in Clovis, Calif., and her parents still live in Bakersfield. She says she is now trying to “lure” them to Tehachapi.

Tom and Debbie have 3 grown children. All of them attended CSUB. The oldest, Josh, lives in Bear Valley and is in his fourth year teaching second grade at Edwards Air Force Base. His wife is an RN in Bakersfield. Middle daughter, Kayli, is also a teacher. She is going into her second year of teaching high school math and algebra in Wasco, Calif. Their youngest, Sam, is stationed at Ft. Lewis, Wash. Now the only ones left to share the house are the family cats, Dusty and Khaleesi.

Debbie spends her time working in the yard, reading and working crossword puzzles. She is also a sports enthusiast. Tom says he needs to find a hobby now that he is retired. He used to dedicate his free time to coaching summer baseball or basketball. I think he will find plenty to do with their new house. Welcome to retirement, Tom, and “Welcome to Tehachapi”, Tom and Debbie Burgess.

Jeff and Debbie Humphreys expected to be in their new Bear Valley home before Christmas but the December snow and freeze contributed to a broken water pipe and major damage to the vacant house. When I first talked to Debbie, she thought they would probably move in January. We talked in April, then May and finally in July when they were finally able to move into their newly remodeled home. They loved the horse friendly community with its trails and activities and they already had friends here and lots to look forward to.

The Humphreys had lived in San Dimas, Calif. for 32 years, an area also known as a horse community. Jeff retired after 12 years as Bureau Chief for Los Angeles County Department of Weights and Measures. Prior to that, he worked for the agriculture department as a weights and measures inspector. He was born in Oakland, Calif., and still has a brother there. He also has a sister living in Salem, Ore. He and Debbie both ride horseback and at one time did the grueling Death Valley Ride which is 132 miles in six days. Jeff was also a member of the De Anza Caballeros for 26 years.

Debbie was born and raised in Pasadena, Calif. and has a sister who lives in Fernly, Nev. Before retiring, she was in charge of the weed abatement program for Los Angeles County. She says her new job is to take care of her husband and their mules. Debbie said they met at work where she was his job trainer at the Los Angeles Produce Market. She likes to garden and cook but most of her time revolves around the care of their animals. They have one horse named Levi who came from Canada and three mules. Lily is eight and a respectable 17 hands high. Awesome Possum is around 25 and retired. Slider is 14 and was, for 6 years, a show champion winning many awards in hunting and jumping classes among others but is no longer competing. Debbie said that she and Jeff are also sitting two other mules that are in training. When you add in Dorie and Callie, the couple’s two dogs, that is a whole lot of animal care.

We are so glad that the Humphreys are finally settled into their lovely new home.

“Welcome to Tehachapi” to the whole Humphrey clan.

If you have moved to the Greater Tehachapi Area within the last six months and would like to know more about your new community, call 661-822-8188. We will be happy to make an appointment for a hostess to come by and give you lots of helpful information, some valuable coupons, gifts and much more. Many families and individuals who come to the area are pleasantly surprised with the amount of knowledge they gather about their new home. Publishing your welcome article is completely voluntary and is not a requirement of being welcomed.