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BROTHER JOE

Joe and I will always feel close too.  It was Joe, the rock of Gibraltar, the responsible guy.  He took it upon himself to be a good second father.  Knowing how busy Dad was and not having the time to spend with us, he looked after us to see that no harm came to his little brothers and sisters.  One time, Gene, as a small boy, climbed to the silo.  He stuck his head just as Joe was coming in with a load of hay.  By the time Gene hit the ground, Joe had made it clear across the field and was waiting for him.  Ol' gene stood up at the supper table that night.  If it had not been for Joe, I'm not sure we younger boys would have survived.  In the dark days of the depression, Joe would come on Sunday with new overalls for us boys and dresses for Charlotte and June.  I can merely say "Thank you Big Brother." You always stood tall in the saddle to all your kid brothers.  What a great father you would have been and how happy we all are to see you enjoying sons and grandchildren, even if you did wait to get them.  How sweet it is!

BROTHER DELBERT

Brother Delbert, you were really the most!  When I was a small boy, you always had time for me.  You always made me feel important.  After all, with nine older brothers around, I was hardly noticed, but you had time for me.  I could show you my report card, my sore thumbs and my scuffed knees.  All guys have to have an older pal and you were it.  I could tell you my tales of woe and you would listen.  You must have really liked kids.  I guess that is why the good Lord saw that you had the most.  I also remember Delbert's "tinkeritis", his homemade radios and his interest in electricity.  If Delbert could have gone to engineering school he might have been another Thomas Edison. 

BROTHER DON

Then there was Don.  How sad we were when we lost him.  I had so much in common with Don, but at the time we were so different.  I felt that he was a loner too, but oh, how he loved his brothers. Don was a great sentimental guy whose heart was as big as he was.  When I left to go in the Air Force in World War II, there was Don to tell me good-bye.  Bernice and our two little girls came down to Mississippi to stay a couple months with me.  On the way back she had car trouble, ran out of money and no place to get any.  She telephoned Don and the money was there within a few hours.  That was Don...He might ask but he always gave.

I remember his love of hounds, his love of hunting and his shooting ability, and I remember his great determination to learn to play the fiddle, his chording on the piano (one of the best), his favorite song, "Doodle De Doo." And his love of dancing.  I remember the many hours he spent playing the fiddle while Bernice played the piano for him.  He was quite a guy.

SISTER ETHEL

Then we get to Ethel who always looked after me.  She claims she used to change my three cornered britches.  I don't remember so I think she fibs a little on that.  I do remember when she brought that city slicker out to us and said they were married.  God, what nerve that guy had.  He came out to the country and got a wife with ten brothers. Not me, I got one with no brothers.  We got him country broke though, and he really has been a true blue solid guy.... A great addition to the family.  I guess Ethel knew what she was doing when she brought her Don down to see us that day.  Anyhow, I am sure that all of us feel Don Walton has been a true friend.  What a thrill it was when their Bob was born.  I got to be with hm a lot when he was little.  I would pull his little wagon and get him to walk behind it and pretty soon he was walking alone.  And to Ethel, Thanks for looking after me Ethel.

Well, I'm over half way through the family and.... If  Sheldon permits... I will finish my story.  He'll probably think it 's too long, but Gee Whiz, when he asked me to write about all of you, he should have made the family smaller...then I would have a shorter story. After all, it ain't my fault I had nine older brothers and three sisters.  That was Mom and Pop's song, "A waltzing through life doin' what comes naturally" or I wudn't a be here.

BROTHERS WALT & SHELDON

Here comes Walt and Sheldon,  I might as well put them together cause when you see one you see them both..... The original Slim n' Scratch.   We always called them "Itchy and Scratchy"  Of course Alice came along and split them up, but not for long.

Walter found Alice in our tomato patch.  It took them twice as long to pick a bucket of tomatoes as it did us little guys.  Alice, nor Walt, neither one could carry a bucket alone.... It always took both of them.  I don't reckon if we hadn't had tomatoes, we'd ever gotten Alice in the family as well as her "famous banana pie" and "fried bread".

I have a lot of good memories with Walt and Alice.  A trip to the World's Fair, 1933 in Chicago; trips to the circus; trips to Alice's sister's family and making dear friends with the Allen boys.  I've been associated with Walt and Sheldon for years in their business with... no fussing...no feuding... just a good relationship.

Now Sheldon always mad it his sacred duty to be the opposite of Walt.  If Walt was bad, Sheldon was good.  Sheldon always did the swearing for both of them.  It's a good thing they teamed up together or Walt would have had to swear for himself.  Would you believe that when Walt used to drive a team of mules he had to take Sheldon along just to swear at the "ever-lastin' mules".  "B'leave me, this is the truth"... that was an example of Walt's plain ol' cussin'.

We had to watch Sheldon, because if we  were discussing changes or something we had to talk low or Sheldon would have it done before we even knew it was a good idea.  I will say,  Sheldon and Gene were the doors of the young five.  All in all, in all the years I worked with Sheldon and Walt, I've really enjoyed my relationship with them more than anyone else.  I consider these years the most eventful in my adult life.  I also realize it was made possible through our growing up together on a farm in a small town.  What a privilege it has been to work with and be with these two guys.  It has been fun.

BROTHERS VERLE & GENE

Verle, Gene and I eventually became great friends.  We double dated all through high school. Later we worked together for several years.  We probably would have been much closer, but World War II came along.

Verle was the first to join the service and spent over four years in the army.  Part of this time was in Japan.  Gene, the next, went into the Navy for three years, most of it in the Pacific Theatre.  Then I went into the Air Force for two years, leaving a wife an two little girls, two and four years old behind.  Verle came back with a wife. Gene married soon after and we each went our separate ways.  We have always been close, but our lives were not related as much as we would have preferred.

SISTERS CHARLOTTE & JUNE

Charlotte and June were the two little sisters.  Very devoted to their brothers, even me.  As a little kid, I probably was closer to them than anybody.  We had a wonderful childhood together.  This rudely ended with the passing of our little sister June.  This was a terrible shock to all of us, but especially confusing to Charlotte and me at our young ages.

  It was very hard to understand and no one realized we needed help through this period of our grief.   Mom and Dad were too grief stricken, so we had to find our own way with friends to help us.  The good Lord, time and friends helped us through those trying days.

It wasn't too many years later when Charlotte found a new love.  She went off one day and came back with this skinny guy as a husband.  Now Harrison always blamed me for this.  He was looking for a job one day and I told him dad might be able to use him. I didn't know he was going to join our family, raise three girls and even throw in a boy as well.  That was strictly their doings.

He was devoted to our Mom and took her into his house.  He gave her love, kindness and a home, not just for a while, but for almost thirty years.  His only reward was her love for him and the respect we all owe him and Charlotte for this unselfish act.  Only Harrison Osborn could have shown our mother this type of consideration.  Thanks.

So now I have finished my chapter, which is my life as I have seen it and lived it.  How sweet it is!

Back to book three

Subject:"OH FATHER" BY GAIL HELLE

When Sheldon's oldest son, Lyle, was so abruptly taken from our family, it devastated all.  Uncle Gail wrote a letter to his brother, which included a prayer he wrote down as follows:

OH FATHER

Could not you hear my prayer

If you could have heard

You would have answered it there.

The touch of his hand,

The smile on his face

The shine in his eyes

The gold in his hair

Lord

Couldn't you have left them there

If you had to call

That bright sunny day

Lord

Couldn't you hear me say

Go home son

I am on call today

Then out of the night

The answer came to be

In words so firm

So just, and so right

The voice said to me

Trust in me

Believe in me

I am the maker

I am the Savior

I know what is right

Yes, I found great comfort

I found solace

In the still of the night

I gave thanks to God

For showing me the Light

These words came to me the other night while driving down the highway.  I was feeling sad and blue, discouraged and alone.. Of troubled mind, thinking of Lyle and you, of myself and life, searching for answers.  These words came to me with such force that I pulled my truck over on the shoulder, turned on the dome light and wrote them down.  I went down the road feeling so uplifted in spirit, so peaceful of mind.  My answers had come.  I knew it.  God had spoken to me.  I hope they can help you out as they helped me out.  I read them out loud.  I got inspired by them.  I seemed god had given me a message to give to you.  I was able to write this letter to you, which I had not been able to do before.         Gail

The letter from Uncle Gail to Uncle Sheldon was attached to this message.

Both of these men are now in Heaven with God.  I know they are reunited with the beloved son and nephew they were so deeply grieving for at the time of this message from God.

  Sharon