Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
Everyone who knew him would say that he was quick witted, had a gentle spirit, loved gospel music, and was very kind. That gentleman was 93-year-old Deyerle Rexrode, son of the late Jared Newton and Mary Jane Eye Rexrode. He had a twin brother who passed at birth (born on Nov. 15 just after midnight, with Deyerle being born just before midnight on the 14th), two other infant brothers who passed in 1921 and 1925 (buried in the #19 Eye Cemetery), and a sister, Norma Rexrode Sponaugle. The family grew up on the Sugar Grove farm.
Not too far from his home lived a young lady named Evelyn Elaine Hoover. In time, they married on June 15, 1957. They were good neighbors to Harold and Ellen Mitchell and Willard and Judy Rader.
Deyerle had a strong work ethic of which he imparted this attribute to his girls, Tammy, Teresa, Trina, and Tiffany, and his grandchildren. His places of work were at the highway department, Kawneer, and Riddleberger. Nothing deterred Deyerle from showing up for work; and even though it would snow a lot, he showed those workers in Virginia that it could be done.
He was not too much on traveling, but he made up for it in many ways. He was very good at using a chain saw, and even enjoyed running it. His Ford tractors came in handy to do some brush hogging or whatever needed to be done. Deyerle enjoyed watching sports on TV, with the Red Skins (Commanders) being his favorite team. Rook and Rummy were his best card games to play.
When he ran out of things to do, he very much enjoyed putting jigsaw puzzles together. He loved square dancing, especially when Bruce Hoover, his brother-in-law, was the square dance caller.
Deyerle made regular visits to his friends, Reid Homan and Gordon Todd. Those two friends allowed Deyerle to play some very funny and interesting things on them. And now, all three are together again.
And so, the community bids their friend, Deyerle a fond farewell. One can probably hear Deyerle sing “When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near; When my life is almost gone, Hear my cry, hear my call, Hold my hand lest I fall; Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.”
Prayers of comfort are being said to the family at this difficult time.
Instructions for daily living include the following:
- Give someone the benefit of the doubt.
- Write a thank you note.
- Learn to sew on a button.
- Let someone else have the parking space.
- Turn off the lights when leaving a room.
The changing of the clocks has not changed the weather patterns. Mornings are crisp and cool, with the rest of the day being fine and dandy. The community could use some rain, though.
Raised on country sunshine to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Halloween has come and gone, with little incident to mention. Children dressed up in ghoulish ways, having lots of fun trick-or-treating. The rescue squad building was abuzz Saturday evening with the community gathering for the annual Halloween party. Brenda Fisher reported 65 trick or treaters at her house. Last year, she had 53.
Last week’s photo of Myra Mitchell Simmons needed some more attention, in the correction department. Amongst the information given about Myra, the following should have been stated: “The marriage of Myra and Luther (rather than Emanuel) produced Leota, Frances, Stelman, Norman, Doris, Herman, and Sheldon.” The writer apologizes for the erroneous writing in her last week’s column.
Chloe Simmons spent Saturday evening with her aunt.
Saturday, the Douglas and Martin Smith reunion took place at Traditions Restaurant in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Traveling to attend this get-together were Wanda Pitsenbarger, Evelyn Varner, Joanne Moyers, Phil Downs, Jerry and Julie Smith, Terry Harper and Janet Judy.
Last weekend found Joanne Moyers, Wanda Pitsenbarger, and Evelyn Varner motoring around the countryside to enjoy the art of leaf peeping.
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“If we do not hold precious our dead, we may grow careless of our living.” — Rafael Jesus Gonzalez
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“When your children are teenagers, it’s important to have a dog around the house so that someone is happy to see you.” — Nora Ephron
“You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.” — Babe Ruth
“You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” — Jerry West
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- Artist Salvador Dali had a pet anteater.
- Mashed potatoes are the most popular Thanksgiving side dish.
- Beard hair is the fastest growing hair on the human body.
- George H.W. Bush gave the first official pardon to a turkey.
- Slugs have four noses.
Concerns are for the following: Bob Adamson, Dyer Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Richard Bennett, “Bo” Boggs, Roy Spencer Bowers, Marie Cole, Stanley Dahmer, Christian Dasher, Phil Downs, Benny Evick, Isaac Eye, Linda Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillespie, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Missy Harrison, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Jack and Starr Hedrick, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, George Hevener, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., the Adalbert Hoover family, Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Tim L. Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, Lisa and Mike Jamison, Jessica Janney, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, the Terry Kuykendall family, Melissa Lambert, O’Dell Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, the Donald Miller family, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, the Dorothy Mohler family, John Morford, Bill Mullenax, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, the Julia Pennington family, the Delores Palaski family, Andy Pond, Janice Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, the Deyerle Rexrode family, Jason Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, Mary Sawyers, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, the Jeanette Sponaugle family, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Judy Waggy and Sheldon Waggy, Estelle Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer, individuals and families affected by the natural disasters and the people of Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine.
Cutline:
Deyerle and Elaine Rexrode
