A tribute to Elton Bayer

My recent spate of old family photograph scanning led me to the following tribute, penned by my father, Don L. Bragg, to his father-in-law, Elton Bayer, after his passing in 1982:

GRANDFATHER ELTON BAYER

He was...
...unpretentious,
...a hard worker,
...grateful for the smallest favor,
...faithful to his wife, Betty, who preceded him in death--by one year and one week.
...supportive of his family,
...defender of his children,
...loved his grandchildren dearly.
...counseled his children and their spouses when the need seemed apparent,
...yet was indulgent out of regard for their maturing years.
...loved to win games of horseshoes and cribbage with his family--and win he usually did.
...was generous with the little he had of this world's goods.
...he appreciated that the Lord's blessings be asked at his table.

No labor was too mean for him to do his utmost to bring food to his table, to provide clothing for his family, and to keep warmth under his roof.

No debt was too old or too large to go unpaid somewhere down the line.

In truth, this sometime woodcutter left the woodpile of family and neighborly values a little higher...
...than when he found it.

I was only 11 when he passed away, so I never really got to know my Grandpa Bayer--I do remember that these were all very true!  Especially about the horseshoes...I've never see another player his equal!!