My great-uncle, Leonard Bray, was born Oct. 11, 1911 at Mr Zion in Pulaski County, near Somerset Ky. There were five children born to Tom and Lula(Barber) Bray of which he was the youngest.
As a young boy he helped his father work on the farm, and when that was done he did the fun things boys do when surrounded by cousins and friends.
He met his childhood sweetheart, Clessie (Rogers) Bray in Mt Zion church where they both learned to sing. He passed his love of music on to is family. They were married on September 12, 1929 at the rip old age of 18.
Two daughters were born to this union Betty Lou Sermersheim and Edith Delois VeraCruz. The grandchildren are Dan Sermersheim, Roger Sermersheim and Becki Sermersheim Mashni, Valen Vera Cruz, Kathi Ver Cruz and Shari Vera Cruz Morton. He was blessed with eleven great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.
Leonard was a hard worker, and loved working with his hands. He excelled at farming and woodworking. Ater the great depression he took his family from Poplarville to Indiana, where he felt there was more opportunity. He learned building construction, and he and his wife Clessie designed and built many homes. He was a perfectionist and the homes, yards and gardens were always well kept and beautiful. Bird houses which he built were filled with the songs of the birds he loved to watch so much. The shelves were full of the "fruits of his labor."
At the age of ninty he planted his last garden, but he had recently talked of helping to plant, "When Spring Comes."
In 1985, as health began to fail, he and Clessie moved back "Home" to Somerset. He played a big part in the construction of the Somerset Seventh Day Adventist Church, of which he ramained a member. As health problems increased, they moved to Hendersonville, N.C. to be close to the children, but his heart was laways back 'Home."
After the death of Clessie, Leonard continued to live at home. He mourned the death of his "Sweetheart", and after one year, could no longer live alone.
Reluctantly he gave up his drivers license and sold his house. Giving up his independance was to much to bear, an din September of 2003 his health started deteriorating rapidly . On March 16, 2004 after three weeks in a Hospice facility, he passed to his death. He now awaits the Great Resurrection Day when he will be forever with his wife, and others he has loved, and his best friend, Jesus Christ. He will live in a prepetual springtime, and it will last forever be "Planting Time"
He was preceded in death by parents, Thomas and Lula (Barber) Bray two sisters Julie Bray (Hobert) Dykes, Bertha Bray (Lloyd) Thrasher and two brothers, Elder Ester (Ellen)Bray, William E.(Flora) Bray.
There are many great things that could be said of my great-uncle Leonard, In his earlier years as a hobby, he and my grandfather, his brother William Bray, cleaned several bee hives and was that honey GOOD.
I fondly remember the over-night stays at their home, we played games..not a lot of TV watching then, going to the fireworks with them and going to the Michigan Dunes on a weekend trip to visit my cousin, Lois, who was attending college near there. We had lots of fun thru the years, I always felt loved.
When the brothers got together, they could sing and make music with anything...spoons.. saws, homemade whistle, you name it they played it...their wives sang along or just enjoyed the fellowship and kept the tables spread with good food.
You are loved and missed.
This poem was written by the love of Uncle Leonard's life, Aunt Clessie...now they are no longer "Home Sick for Heaven"
"HOME SICK FOR HEAVEN"
"This world is full of sorrow, trouble, grief and pain. they talk of world destruction are all the vast domain. This earth will soon be shaken, God's world declares it so. I'm homesick for Heaven, I'm ready to go.
In heaven there'll be no orphans,no hungrey cries for bread. No angry nations gather, no war clouds overhead. We'll all be reunited around the Father's throne. I'm homesick for Heaven that beautiful home.
Up there the flowers are blooming in colors of every hue. They are blooming in His beauty awaiting me and you. We will walk by cool clear waters beneath Heaven's dome. I'm homesick for Heaven, I want to go home."
Clessie Bray
2/12/1912 - 1/24/2002
TOGETHER AGAIN.
SHARON THANK YOU FOR POSTING PICTURES.
As a young boy he helped his father work on the farm, and when that was done he did the fun things boys do when surrounded by cousins and friends.
He met his childhood sweetheart, Clessie (Rogers) Bray in Mt Zion church where they both learned to sing. He passed his love of music on to is family. They were married on September 12, 1929 at the rip old age of 18.
Two daughters were born to this union Betty Lou Sermersheim and Edith Delois VeraCruz. The grandchildren are Dan Sermersheim, Roger Sermersheim and Becki Sermersheim Mashni, Valen Vera Cruz, Kathi Ver Cruz and Shari Vera Cruz Morton. He was blessed with eleven great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.
Leonard was a hard worker, and loved working with his hands. He excelled at farming and woodworking. Ater the great depression he took his family from Poplarville to Indiana, where he felt there was more opportunity. He learned building construction, and he and his wife Clessie designed and built many homes. He was a perfectionist and the homes, yards and gardens were always well kept and beautiful. Bird houses which he built were filled with the songs of the birds he loved to watch so much. The shelves were full of the "fruits of his labor."
At the age of ninty he planted his last garden, but he had recently talked of helping to plant, "When Spring Comes."
In 1985, as health began to fail, he and Clessie moved back "Home" to Somerset. He played a big part in the construction of the Somerset Seventh Day Adventist Church, of which he ramained a member. As health problems increased, they moved to Hendersonville, N.C. to be close to the children, but his heart was laways back 'Home."
After the death of Clessie, Leonard continued to live at home. He mourned the death of his "Sweetheart", and after one year, could no longer live alone.
Reluctantly he gave up his drivers license and sold his house. Giving up his independance was to much to bear, an din September of 2003 his health started deteriorating rapidly . On March 16, 2004 after three weeks in a Hospice facility, he passed to his death. He now awaits the Great Resurrection Day when he will be forever with his wife, and others he has loved, and his best friend, Jesus Christ. He will live in a prepetual springtime, and it will last forever be "Planting Time"
He was preceded in death by parents, Thomas and Lula (Barber) Bray two sisters Julie Bray (Hobert) Dykes, Bertha Bray (Lloyd) Thrasher and two brothers, Elder Ester (Ellen)Bray, William E.(Flora) Bray.
There are many great things that could be said of my great-uncle Leonard, In his earlier years as a hobby, he and my grandfather, his brother William Bray, cleaned several bee hives and was that honey GOOD.
I fondly remember the over-night stays at their home, we played games..not a lot of TV watching then, going to the fireworks with them and going to the Michigan Dunes on a weekend trip to visit my cousin, Lois, who was attending college near there. We had lots of fun thru the years, I always felt loved.
When the brothers got together, they could sing and make music with anything...spoons.. saws, homemade whistle, you name it they played it...their wives sang along or just enjoyed the fellowship and kept the tables spread with good food.
You are loved and missed.
This poem was written by the love of Uncle Leonard's life, Aunt Clessie...now they are no longer "Home Sick for Heaven"
"HOME SICK FOR HEAVEN"
"This world is full of sorrow, trouble, grief and pain. they talk of world destruction are all the vast domain. This earth will soon be shaken, God's world declares it so. I'm homesick for Heaven, I'm ready to go.
In heaven there'll be no orphans,no hungrey cries for bread. No angry nations gather, no war clouds overhead. We'll all be reunited around the Father's throne. I'm homesick for Heaven that beautiful home.
Up there the flowers are blooming in colors of every hue. They are blooming in His beauty awaiting me and you. We will walk by cool clear waters beneath Heaven's dome. I'm homesick for Heaven, I want to go home."
Clessie Bray
2/12/1912 - 1/24/2002
TOGETHER AGAIN.
SHARON THANK YOU FOR POSTING PICTURES.
My great-uncle, Leonard Bray, was born Oct. 11, 1911 at Mr Zion in Pulaski County, near Somerset Ky. There were five children born to Tom and Lula(Barber) Bray of which he was the youngest.
As a young boy he helped his father work on the farm, and when that was done he did the fun things boys do when surrounded by cousins and friends.
He met his childhood sweetheart, Clessie (Rogers) Bray in Mt Zion church where they both learned to sing. He passed his love of music on to is family. They were married on September 12, 1929 at the rip old age of 18.
Two daughters were born to this union Betty Lou Sermersheim and Edith Delois VeraCruz. The grandchildren are Dan Sermersheim, Roger Sermersheim and Becki Sermersheim Mashni, Valen Vera Cruz, Kathi Ver Cruz and Shari Vera Cruz Morton. He was blessed with eleven great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.
Leonard was a hard worker, and loved working with his hands. He excelled at farming and woodworking. Ater the great depression he took his family from Poplarville to Indiana, where he felt there was more opportunity. He learned building construction, and he and his wife Clessie designed and built many homes. He was a perfectionist and the homes, yards and gardens were always well kept and beautiful. Bird houses which he built were filled with the songs of the birds he loved to watch so much. The shelves were full of the "fruits of his labor."
At the age of ninty he planted his last garden, but he had recently talked of helping to plant, "When Spring Comes."
In 1985, as health began to fail, he and Clessie moved back "Home" to Somerset. He played a big part in the construction of the Somerset Seventh Day Adventist Church, of which he ramained a member. As health problems increased, they moved to Hendersonville, N.C. to be close to the children, but his heart was laways back 'Home."
After the death of Clessie, Leonard continued to live at home. He mourned the death of his "Sweetheart", and after one year, could no longer live alone.
Reluctantly he gave up his drivers license and sold his house. Giving up his independance was to much to bear, an din September of 2003 his health started deteriorating rapidly . On March 16, 2004 after three weeks in a Hospice facility, he passed to his death. He now awaits the Great Resurrection Day when he will be forever with his wife, and others he has loved, and his best friend, Jesus Christ. He will live in a prepetual springtime, and it will last forever be "Planting Time"
He was preceded in death by parents, Thomas and Lula (Barber) Bray two sisters Julie Bray (Hobert) Dykes, Bertha Bray (Lloyd) Thrasher and two brothers, Elder Ester (Ellen)Bray, William E.(Flora) Bray.
There are many great things that could be said of my great-uncle Leonard, In his earlier years as a hobby, he and my grandfather, his brother William Bray, cleaned several bee hives and was that honey GOOD.
I fondly remember the over-night stays at their home, we played games..not a lot of TV watching then, going to the fireworks with them and going to the Michigan Dunes on a weekend trip to visit my cousin, Lois, who was attending college near there. We had lots of fun thru the years, I always felt loved.
When the brothers got together, they could sing and make music with anything...spoons.. saws, homemade whistle, you name it they played it...their wives sang along or just enjoyed the fellowship and kept the tables spread with good food.
You are loved and missed.
This poem was written by the love of Uncle Leonard's life, Aunt Clessie...now they are no longer "Home Sick for Heaven"
"HOME SICK FOR HEAVEN"
"This world is full of sorrow, trouble, grief and pain. they talk of world destruction are all the vast domain. This earth will soon be shaken, God's world declares it so. I'm homesick for Heaven, I'm ready to go.
In heaven there'll be no orphans,no hungrey cries for bread. No angry nations gather, no war clouds overhead. We'll all be reunited around the Father's throne. I'm homesick for Heaven that beautiful home.
Up there the flowers are blooming in colors of every hue. They are blooming in His beauty awaiting me and you. We will walk by cool clear waters beneath Heaven's dome. I'm homesick for Heaven, I want to go home."
Clessie Bray
2/12/1912 - 1/24/2002
TOGETHER AGAIN.
SHARON THANK YOU FOR POSTING PICTURES.
As a young boy he helped his father work on the farm, and when that was done he did the fun things boys do when surrounded by cousins and friends.
He met his childhood sweetheart, Clessie (Rogers) Bray in Mt Zion church where they both learned to sing. He passed his love of music on to is family. They were married on September 12, 1929 at the rip old age of 18.
Two daughters were born to this union Betty Lou Sermersheim and Edith Delois VeraCruz. The grandchildren are Dan Sermersheim, Roger Sermersheim and Becki Sermersheim Mashni, Valen Vera Cruz, Kathi Ver Cruz and Shari Vera Cruz Morton. He was blessed with eleven great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.
Leonard was a hard worker, and loved working with his hands. He excelled at farming and woodworking. Ater the great depression he took his family from Poplarville to Indiana, where he felt there was more opportunity. He learned building construction, and he and his wife Clessie designed and built many homes. He was a perfectionist and the homes, yards and gardens were always well kept and beautiful. Bird houses which he built were filled with the songs of the birds he loved to watch so much. The shelves were full of the "fruits of his labor."
At the age of ninty he planted his last garden, but he had recently talked of helping to plant, "When Spring Comes."
In 1985, as health began to fail, he and Clessie moved back "Home" to Somerset. He played a big part in the construction of the Somerset Seventh Day Adventist Church, of which he ramained a member. As health problems increased, they moved to Hendersonville, N.C. to be close to the children, but his heart was laways back 'Home."
After the death of Clessie, Leonard continued to live at home. He mourned the death of his "Sweetheart", and after one year, could no longer live alone.
Reluctantly he gave up his drivers license and sold his house. Giving up his independance was to much to bear, an din September of 2003 his health started deteriorating rapidly . On March 16, 2004 after three weeks in a Hospice facility, he passed to his death. He now awaits the Great Resurrection Day when he will be forever with his wife, and others he has loved, and his best friend, Jesus Christ. He will live in a prepetual springtime, and it will last forever be "Planting Time"
He was preceded in death by parents, Thomas and Lula (Barber) Bray two sisters Julie Bray (Hobert) Dykes, Bertha Bray (Lloyd) Thrasher and two brothers, Elder Ester (Ellen)Bray, William E.(Flora) Bray.
There are many great things that could be said of my great-uncle Leonard, In his earlier years as a hobby, he and my grandfather, his brother William Bray, cleaned several bee hives and was that honey GOOD.
I fondly remember the over-night stays at their home, we played games..not a lot of TV watching then, going to the fireworks with them and going to the Michigan Dunes on a weekend trip to visit my cousin, Lois, who was attending college near there. We had lots of fun thru the years, I always felt loved.
When the brothers got together, they could sing and make music with anything...spoons.. saws, homemade whistle, you name it they played it...their wives sang along or just enjoyed the fellowship and kept the tables spread with good food.
You are loved and missed.
This poem was written by the love of Uncle Leonard's life, Aunt Clessie...now they are no longer "Home Sick for Heaven"
"HOME SICK FOR HEAVEN"
"This world is full of sorrow, trouble, grief and pain. they talk of world destruction are all the vast domain. This earth will soon be shaken, God's world declares it so. I'm homesick for Heaven, I'm ready to go.
In heaven there'll be no orphans,no hungrey cries for bread. No angry nations gather, no war clouds overhead. We'll all be reunited around the Father's throne. I'm homesick for Heaven that beautiful home.
Up there the flowers are blooming in colors of every hue. They are blooming in His beauty awaiting me and you. We will walk by cool clear waters beneath Heaven's dome. I'm homesick for Heaven, I want to go home."
Clessie Bray
2/12/1912 - 1/24/2002
TOGETHER AGAIN.
SHARON THANK YOU FOR POSTING PICTURES.
