Ron the Mine Inspector?

Today was my Dad's birthday, and I always like to remember him today than the day he died..... 

One of my favorite stories he told was about going to a mine in New England. We used to go to New Hampshire every summer for a week, and my dad was a rockhound.... He would often wear a work shirt, and dickies to dig through dirt, rocks, etc. He rolled up to a mine with his working gear on, and pulled a hard-hat out of the trunk. (of course he had a hard hat!)

He walked up to the mine and asked a guy for a tour. The guy grabbed the foreman and gave my dad the five-star tour of the operation. It became evident that the foreman thought my dad was some sort of inspector and not just a curious rockhound. My dad never told him a story, but just went along with it and got a tour that no other rockhound got that summer! My dad said thanks for the tour at the end, and the foreman probably breathed a sigh of relief thinking he passed some kind of safety inspection. In the end, everyone was happy.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Fruit Pie Surprise

I was able to enjoy some great cooking on my way from Michigan to Texas this past weekend, and it reminded me of another story......   I was able to enjoy some peach cobbler courtesy of Gail's Aunt Mary.  It, along with the dry-rub ribs that had purchased especially for our visit, were AWESOME!

My father had a blueberry story of his own.  His mother, my grandmother, Reba loved baking.  One time she made a blueberry pie, and my father decided to have a piece as soon as it came out of the oven.  He cut himself a piece, and realized that the area he removed filled in with more blueberries!  He decided that must be part of his piece, so he scooped those up too!  And voila, MORE blueberries filled in afterward, and he filled up his plate and enjoyed them all.

A little while later, his brother Lynn came along and thought he would have a piece of pie.  However, when he cut his, there was little filling left and my Dad was off in another room having a good laugh.  

Bug-Zapper - Ron style.............

I was watching Jimmy Fallon last night, and it reminded me of a story my father told me.........  His stories always had two themes........ One is that people generally underestimated him, and he was always able to get the upper hand.  (I'm guessing the stories that don't fit these categories were edited out.)

My father was quite an outdoorsman.  In his teens, he traveled all over his parents property and would trap various animals and sell the pelts for money.  He also liked to go hunting, and he reloaded his own ammunition to save money.  He would reload shotgun shells and bullets for various types of weapons.

One day a friend came over and they were in the small shed covering the spring that fed water to the house and farm.  He used this as his "reloading shack" and he and his friend were having a friendly conversation when a big horsefly kept flying around bothering them.  Without missing a beat, my father picked up his six-shooter and plastered the fly against the roof of the shed.  His friend yelled out a yelp and didn't know what to think!  Evidently my father used his bullet molds to make wax bullets!  He loaded the shells with gunpowder and had himself quite a bug-zapper!  

Sandra M. Herron - Obituary

Richfield Springs - Columbia

Sandra M. Herron, age 66, of Hayner Rd., Town of Columbia, Richfield Springs, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, May 13, 2013. 

She was born on August 31, 1946, the daughter of Charles and Reba Backus, and graduated from Mohawk High School in 1965. On June 19, 1971, she was married to Richard T. Herron at St. James Church, Ft. Plain. Sandra was employed at Duofold Co. for many years. Survivors include her husband, Richard T. Herron; her mother-in-law, Genevieve Herron; her son and daughter-in-law, Richard T. Herron, II, and Charissa; three grandchildren, Laina and Richard T. Herron, III, and Kylah Hisert; her brother, Lynn Backus; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother, Ronald Backus. 

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 16, 2013, at the Blessed Sacrament Church, E. Main St., Mohawk, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Mark Cunningham, Sacramental Minister, assisted by Sister Mary Jo Tallman, Parish Life Director. Calling hours will be Wednesday, May 15, 2013, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Rd., Ilion. 

Anyone wishing to share a memory of Sandra, or add to her online memorial, may go to www.applegateandday.com on the Internet. In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to Cedarville Ambulance Corps. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. The Herron family has entrusted all funeral arrangements to their family Funeral Director, Don Applegate.

Published in The Observer-Dispatch on May 14, 2013

Lynn E. Backus, Jr. - Obituary

Mohawk

Lynn E. Backus, Jr., 53, of Mohawk, passed away peacefully, Saturday, February 9, 2013, in the Little Falls Hospital, with his loving family by his side. He was born on May 11, 1959, in Ilion, the son of Lynn E. and Elizabeth Robothom Backus, Sr. Lynn was a graduate of Mohawk High School, Class of '78, and SUNY Morrisville with a degree in Agriculture. He continued training and received his CDL. On March 20, 1996, Lynn married the former Majorie Martin in Schuyler. Lynn was currently employed as a truck driver and mechanic with Ron Allen Trucking, Canajoharie. He loved his career and had a great knowledge as a mechanic. Lynn was a true family man, who took pleasure in spending time and having fun with all of his family and friends. During his spare time, he would be in his garage always working on some project. Lynn is surviving by his loving and devoted wife, Marjorie; his father, Lynn E. Backus, Sr., and his wife, Susan (Step-Monster); his mother, Elizabeth Backus; his sons and daughter-in-law, Joe Martin and his wife, Rebecca, of W. Winfield, Derek Martin, of Mohawk, and Lynn E. Backus, III, of Mohawk; his granddaughter, Emily Morgan Martin, of W. Winfield; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Ed Backus and his wife, Lori, of Mohawk, Tom Backus and his wife, Norreen, of Ilion, and Tim Backus and his wife, Chris, of Watertown; his sister, Deb Ellison, of OK; his special friends, Jason and Michele Brewer, of Mohawk; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his maternal and paternal grandparents. Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects on Thursday, February 14, 2013, at the Enea Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Road, Ilion, Town of Frankfort, from 4-7 p.m. Lynn's funeral service will commence at 7 p.m., Thursday, February 14, 2013, with Rev. Robert Wollaber officiating, immediately following the visitation at the funeral home. Online condolences may be given by visiting www.eneafamily.com. The family is being cared for by Scott J. Pizer, funeral director for the Enea Family Funeral Homes.

Published in The Observer-Dispatch on February 12, 2013