Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Ancestor Birthday Celebrations, Arthur Norman Stevens, Jr.

Man's Father, Happy Birthday. Art would have been 90 years old today. He was the son of Arthur Norman Stevens, Sr, AKA, Archibald Norman Lashbrook (a VERY long story that) and wife, Edna May Fenton Stevens. Art was the first born of 3 sons. He was born July 1, 1919 and died April 13, 1979. Art had 4 children, by 2 wives.

Art was known as a man who could fix anything. He was proficient in plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical and car repairs.

Before he started working for the school system, he worked at many different jobs, including: Western Union; W.P.A.; worked on a farm in Canada; bus driver; auto mechanic; worked at Kelsey Hayes; Schwader Brothers (luggage and card table manufacturers); gas station on Fort Street; sold Kirby vacuum cleaners; sold cookware; sold real estate; sold storm windows; sold encyclopedias; sold door mats; painted house numbers on curbs; truck driver; cab driver; fuel oil truck driver; gas station; and drove school bus.

Art loved cameras, flying (we would sit at the kitchen table and fly for hours, he and I), he even built his own television. Have to say tho, the following story, has to be one of our favorites:

About 1955 or so, Art and Wife would baby sit a big ole boxer named Fritz. They even took Fritz camping with them. One day Fritz got lose, as dogs will, and took an excursion, right into a field occupied by a HUGE bull, as in cow. Fritz and the bull had a little disagreement, and it seems the bull lost! Fritz was covered with blood, but Art could not find any serious wounds on that dog. However, Art had to pay the vet bills ($100. 00) for the bull. The owner of the bull held Art's camera hostage until the vet bill was paid. In order to get the money to pay the bill Art had to drive from Harrison Michigan, to Allen Park to get the money. Wife was not real happy with Fritz. Fritz did not come to stay after the bull experience.

Art's memorial at Find A Grave is here.

Art LOVED hand held calculators, Man and I frequently comment how he would have LOVED computers, the internet, the technology he missed. I believe he would have approved of this "techy" form of memorial.

*Photo of Man as a young dude, Fritz and Art, about 1955.

1 comment:

Linda Hughes Hiser said...

We both have important males who would have celebrated a birthday today. My Dad was born on July 1, 1921.