Red Suspenders

To my brother, DeLoy,

On his 80^th Birthday

July 5

Distinct people have a trademark.

Do you think yours is red suspenders?

(Even when you change the color;

evidently RED was a Skyping experience.)

They do more than hold your pants up.

They represent your smile and your good nature;

your optimistic attitude and gentleness.

They spell service, leadership, and willingness to help;

integrity, love, hope, faith, and testimony.

They reek of tenacity, excellence, comprehensiveness

as in genealogy and amassing a complete list of Mama’s descendants.

And steadfastness in compiling and distributing the Esplin Round Robin

for more than 24 years without compensation.

They classify your fun games at reunions

where you always had the farthest to travel.

They mark your extensive writing talents;

editing, clarifying, intensifying.

I haven’t seen it with my own eyes,

but I’m sure they identify you walking around Lake Los Carneros

with Forest Service buddies,

counting the egrets, ducks, gulls, and crows.

They are the symbol

of a life well lived

as a son,

Daddy, DeLoy, Lynn abt 1935

Army, Hawaii 1955

a brother,

Lynn James, DeLoy 1935

Lynn James, DeLoy, Lucy LaRee, Shirley 1935

Shirley, Lynn James, Daddy, Jeanette, Lucy & Happy DeLoy at the herd. 1937

Lynn James, Jerry, DeLoy 1940

Lynn James hold dogie lamb, DeLoy; Orderville 1937

Lynn James, DeLoy all dressed up barefoot! 1939

Lynn James, Jerry, DeLoy 1940

Mama always said you were the one to pull faces in pictures.  Some of the rest of us didn't do too bad in this one. 1939


First day of school:  Jeanette, DeLoy, Lynn James, Lucy, Shirley 1945

DeLoy and Jeanette 1948

Lynn and DeLoy Utah State 1954

Back:  DeLoy, Lucy LaRee, Shirley, Lynn James. Front: Jerry, Jeanette, Carol Lee, Verla 1948

Mama, Shirley, Lucy, Lynn James, DeLoy Heaton, Jeanette, Jerry, Carol Lee, Verla 1956

DeLoy, Jeanette, Jerry, Lucy, Lynn; Shirley, Verla, Mama, Carol 1960

Eddy Hugh, DeRay, Grace, Lana, Shirley, Jerry, Lucy, Lynn, Juanita; Jeanette, Carol, Verla, DeLoy 2003 Island Park

Siblings 2003 Island Park

Verla, DeLoy, Shirley, Jeanette, Jerry, Lynn, Carol Nephi 2006

a husband,

Newly Weds 1960 Orderville.  DeLoy and Grace Esplin

DeLoy and Grace Nephi 2006

 father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

DeRay, Jeanette, DeLoy, Mama (Amy), Henry and Gene Goebel (Grace's dad and step-mother), Grace; Brent, Keri, Carl. California. 1965

Carl, Keri, DeLoy, Brent, DeRay 1965 California

Connie, Carl, Keri, Grace, DeLoy; Goleta, California; 2012

EIGHTY YEARS NOW.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Eddy isn’t the only one who loves you.