Life History given by his grandson Shannon Ellis
I will try to make this quick Grandpa, because I know you need to get going.
************
Edward Orvin Asay was born October 25, 1919. He was the third of seven children born to Earl and Mary Asay. Orvin's dad was a range foreman for the Snyder Brother's Sheep Operation. His dad was gone much of the time so his mom was in charge of raising the children and taking care of the home. When Grandpa was a freshman in high school his dad passed away from tick fever. His mom never remarried and raised all seven kids alone. This was during the great depression, and Grandpa said times were tough, but everyone helped out. Grandpa's family always had a huge garden. His mom planted gardens in several places around Lovell to help feed the family. Grandpa and his siblings would help harvest green beans for the canning factory. The family also raised chickens. Grandpa said the worst job he ever had was cleaning chicken ……….. We'll just say waste…….off the roosting area.
Grandpa and his brother Maurice used to gather cows around Lovell every summer morning and take them to pasture a couple miles out of town. They usually had 20 cows to herd and received a nickel per cow a day. The day's earnings were a $1.00, which they gave to their mother to help out.
Grandpa attended school in Lovell. He told a story about one time when he and a couple of his friends played hooky from school and hopped on the train going to Kane. They got off the train at Kane and were tormenting the Kane kids who were in school, as they should be. When he was asked how they got back home, Grandpa chuckled and said, "The Sheriff." This little prank got him 2 weeks of janitorial service at school.
Grandpa loved sports although he was very small in stature as a youth. He quit school as a sophomore when they took his uniform away because he was too small. The next year he returned to finish high school. He played quarterback and was the kicker at times. Henry Kockerhans said that one time they were stuck in the end-zone and Grandpa punted the ball out and it made it all the way down field to the other 5 yard line. The only game his team ever lost was to Sheridan. In those days there were no class divisions. After high school, the Cowley Canners recruited him and he finally got to play basketball.
Grandpa joined the National Guard at age 17. He was inducted into the Army through the National Guard at age 20. He was in the Calvary at Fort Lewis in Washington for two years. He came home from Fort Lewis on a three day pass and married Irene Doerr. He had to go back to Fort Lewis without his bride. Grandma Irene joined him two weeks later. Grandpa was a platoon leader on light tanks. He saw action in France when Germany invaded. Twice Grandpa was the only survivor when his tank was attacked. Grandpa received two Purple Hearts during this time.
After the war, Grandpa began working in the oil fields, where he worked in Michigan on some of the biggest rigs in the world. During his career he also worked in Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. Old timers still tell us what an outstanding driller he was. He was rated as one of the best in the state. Many men have also told us that Grandpa was responsible for helping them get through college by giving them a summer job. He also gave many young men their first job. Grandpa retired from the oil fields in the early 1980's due to health problems.
Grandpa had many close calls throughout his life: bouts with cancer, the war, a wreck or two that left you wondering how he made it, and the time that my mother tried to see how many marshmallows would fit into his mouth while he was snoring………..Sorry Mom I had to.
Grandpa loved fly fishing in the mountains. No one could beat him down the stream to the next good hole. He loved teaching people to fish, especially his grandchildren. He loved going with his fishing buddies, Hank Adolf, Bert Davis and family. When his health deteriorated, he had to give up going to his beautiful Big Horns. Since he couldn't fish anymore, he decided to give golf a try. It wasn't long before he was hooked. He loved to golf with his buddies. When they couldn't make it, his son Scott, daughter Jan, or his grandkids would go with him. He had the opportunity to golf with his son Scott in a couple of tournaments in which they came home with trophies. Grandpa excelled at his short game, chipping and putting, and took great pride in it. Grandpa helped me personally with my golf game, though I found out later that a foot wedge was not a legal club. He would always be kind to me and let me move the ball to a better location because I was usually in the rough. Thanks to all his golf buddies (You all know who you are) especially Pres Workman who helped prolong Grandpa's golf career.
Grandpa always had a joke or poem to recite. He would also put a little poem in birthday cards. A little poem for the grandchildren to remember goes like this:
I eat my peas with honey
I've done it all my life
It makes the peas taste funny
But it helps keep them on the knife.
Aunt Vida's family would like to thank Uncle Orv for being a second dad to them. They loved him dearly. Each one thought they were his favorite.
Grandpa and Grandma Irene had three children – Jan, Gerald, and Scott. Gerald would succumb to leukemia in 1956. Irene passed away in 1966. A few years later he married Eva Green. He became step-dad to Leonard Green, Jerrie Townsend, Diane Ley, and Dennis Green. How grateful we are to his faithful wife, Eva. They had 42½ years together in which they were able to travel and enjoy each other's company. It was never yours or my kids and grandchildren but always "our family". Our family will be eternally grateful for her loving tender care of Grandpa in the last few years when his health deteriorated. Grandma went above and beyond the call of duty.
Orvin loved all of his family. Family was the center of his universe. Some of his final words were – "I have the best family on earth."
I want to thank all of you for coming today, I know Grandpa is smiling down on all of us.
The chorus will now sing "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel". It was Grandpa's favorite song.
I will try to make this quick Grandpa, because I know you need to get going.
************
Edward Orvin Asay was born October 25, 1919. He was the third of seven children born to Earl and Mary Asay. Orvin's dad was a range foreman for the Snyder Brother's Sheep Operation. His dad was gone much of the time so his mom was in charge of raising the children and taking care of the home. When Grandpa was a freshman in high school his dad passed away from tick fever. His mom never remarried and raised all seven kids alone. This was during the great depression, and Grandpa said times were tough, but everyone helped out. Grandpa's family always had a huge garden. His mom planted gardens in several places around Lovell to help feed the family. Grandpa and his siblings would help harvest green beans for the canning factory. The family also raised chickens. Grandpa said the worst job he ever had was cleaning chicken ……….. We'll just say waste…….off the roosting area.
Grandpa and his brother Maurice used to gather cows around Lovell every summer morning and take them to pasture a couple miles out of town. They usually had 20 cows to herd and received a nickel per cow a day. The day's earnings were a $1.00, which they gave to their mother to help out.
Grandpa attended school in Lovell. He told a story about one time when he and a couple of his friends played hooky from school and hopped on the train going to Kane. They got off the train at Kane and were tormenting the Kane kids who were in school, as they should be. When he was asked how they got back home, Grandpa chuckled and said, "The Sheriff." This little prank got him 2 weeks of janitorial service at school.
Grandpa loved sports although he was very small in stature as a youth. He quit school as a sophomore when they took his uniform away because he was too small. The next year he returned to finish high school. He played quarterback and was the kicker at times. Henry Kockerhans said that one time they were stuck in the end-zone and Grandpa punted the ball out and it made it all the way down field to the other 5 yard line. The only game his team ever lost was to Sheridan. In those days there were no class divisions. After high school, the Cowley Canners recruited him and he finally got to play basketball.
Grandpa joined the National Guard at age 17. He was inducted into the Army through the National Guard at age 20. He was in the Calvary at Fort Lewis in Washington for two years. He came home from Fort Lewis on a three day pass and married Irene Doerr. He had to go back to Fort Lewis without his bride. Grandma Irene joined him two weeks later. Grandpa was a platoon leader on light tanks. He saw action in France when Germany invaded. Twice Grandpa was the only survivor when his tank was attacked. Grandpa received two Purple Hearts during this time.
After the war, Grandpa began working in the oil fields, where he worked in Michigan on some of the biggest rigs in the world. During his career he also worked in Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. Old timers still tell us what an outstanding driller he was. He was rated as one of the best in the state. Many men have also told us that Grandpa was responsible for helping them get through college by giving them a summer job. He also gave many young men their first job. Grandpa retired from the oil fields in the early 1980's due to health problems.
Grandpa had many close calls throughout his life: bouts with cancer, the war, a wreck or two that left you wondering how he made it, and the time that my mother tried to see how many marshmallows would fit into his mouth while he was snoring………..Sorry Mom I had to.
Grandpa loved fly fishing in the mountains. No one could beat him down the stream to the next good hole. He loved teaching people to fish, especially his grandchildren. He loved going with his fishing buddies, Hank Adolf, Bert Davis and family. When his health deteriorated, he had to give up going to his beautiful Big Horns. Since he couldn't fish anymore, he decided to give golf a try. It wasn't long before he was hooked. He loved to golf with his buddies. When they couldn't make it, his son Scott, daughter Jan, or his grandkids would go with him. He had the opportunity to golf with his son Scott in a couple of tournaments in which they came home with trophies. Grandpa excelled at his short game, chipping and putting, and took great pride in it. Grandpa helped me personally with my golf game, though I found out later that a foot wedge was not a legal club. He would always be kind to me and let me move the ball to a better location because I was usually in the rough. Thanks to all his golf buddies (You all know who you are) especially Pres Workman who helped prolong Grandpa's golf career.
Grandpa always had a joke or poem to recite. He would also put a little poem in birthday cards. A little poem for the grandchildren to remember goes like this:
I eat my peas with honey
I've done it all my life
It makes the peas taste funny
But it helps keep them on the knife.
Aunt Vida's family would like to thank Uncle Orv for being a second dad to them. They loved him dearly. Each one thought they were his favorite.
Grandpa and Grandma Irene had three children – Jan, Gerald, and Scott. Gerald would succumb to leukemia in 1956. Irene passed away in 1966. A few years later he married Eva Green. He became step-dad to Leonard Green, Jerrie Townsend, Diane Ley, and Dennis Green. How grateful we are to his faithful wife, Eva. They had 42½ years together in which they were able to travel and enjoy each other's company. It was never yours or my kids and grandchildren but always "our family". Our family will be eternally grateful for her loving tender care of Grandpa in the last few years when his health deteriorated. Grandma went above and beyond the call of duty.
Orvin loved all of his family. Family was the center of his universe. Some of his final words were – "I have the best family on earth."
I want to thank all of you for coming today, I know Grandpa is smiling down on all of us.
The chorus will now sing "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel". It was Grandpa's favorite song.
Life History given by his grandson Shannon Ellis
I will try to make this quick Grandpa, because I know you need to get going.
************
Edward Orvin Asay was born October 25, 1919. He was the third of seven children born to Earl and Mary Asay. Orvin's dad was a range foreman for the Snyder Brother's Sheep Operation. His dad was gone much of the time so his mom was in charge of raising the children and taking care of the home. When Grandpa was a freshman in high school his dad passed away from tick fever. His mom never remarried and raised all seven kids alone. This was during the great depression, and Grandpa said times were tough, but everyone helped out. Grandpa's family always had a huge garden. His mom planted gardens in several places around Lovell to help feed the family. Grandpa and his siblings would help harvest green beans for the canning factory. The family also raised chickens. Grandpa said the worst job he ever had was cleaning chicken ……….. We'll just say waste…….off the roosting area.
Grandpa and his brother Maurice used to gather cows around Lovell every summer morning and take them to pasture a couple miles out of town. They usually had 20 cows to herd and received a nickel per cow a day. The day's earnings were a $1.00, which they gave to their mother to help out.
Grandpa attended school in Lovell. He told a story about one time when he and a couple of his friends played hooky from school and hopped on the train going to Kane. They got off the train at Kane and were tormenting the Kane kids who were in school, as they should be. When he was asked how they got back home, Grandpa chuckled and said, "The Sheriff." This little prank got him 2 weeks of janitorial service at school.
Grandpa loved sports although he was very small in stature as a youth. He quit school as a sophomore when they took his uniform away because he was too small. The next year he returned to finish high school. He played quarterback and was the kicker at times. Henry Kockerhans said that one time they were stuck in the end-zone and Grandpa punted the ball out and it made it all the way down field to the other 5 yard line. The only game his team ever lost was to Sheridan. In those days there were no class divisions. After high school, the Cowley Canners recruited him and he finally got to play basketball.
Grandpa joined the National Guard at age 17. He was inducted into the Army through the National Guard at age 20. He was in the Calvary at Fort Lewis in Washington for two years. He came home from Fort Lewis on a three day pass and married Irene Doerr. He had to go back to Fort Lewis without his bride. Grandma Irene joined him two weeks later. Grandpa was a platoon leader on light tanks. He saw action in France when Germany invaded. Twice Grandpa was the only survivor when his tank was attacked. Grandpa received two Purple Hearts during this time.
After the war, Grandpa began working in the oil fields, where he worked in Michigan on some of the biggest rigs in the world. During his career he also worked in Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. Old timers still tell us what an outstanding driller he was. He was rated as one of the best in the state. Many men have also told us that Grandpa was responsible for helping them get through college by giving them a summer job. He also gave many young men their first job. Grandpa retired from the oil fields in the early 1980's due to health problems.
Grandpa had many close calls throughout his life: bouts with cancer, the war, a wreck or two that left you wondering how he made it, and the time that my mother tried to see how many marshmallows would fit into his mouth while he was snoring………..Sorry Mom I had to.
Grandpa loved fly fishing in the mountains. No one could beat him down the stream to the next good hole. He loved teaching people to fish, especially his grandchildren. He loved going with his fishing buddies, Hank Adolf, Bert Davis and family. When his health deteriorated, he had to give up going to his beautiful Big Horns. Since he couldn't fish anymore, he decided to give golf a try. It wasn't long before he was hooked. He loved to golf with his buddies. When they couldn't make it, his son Scott, daughter Jan, or his grandkids would go with him. He had the opportunity to golf with his son Scott in a couple of tournaments in which they came home with trophies. Grandpa excelled at his short game, chipping and putting, and took great pride in it. Grandpa helped me personally with my golf game, though I found out later that a foot wedge was not a legal club. He would always be kind to me and let me move the ball to a better location because I was usually in the rough. Thanks to all his golf buddies (You all know who you are) especially Pres Workman who helped prolong Grandpa's golf career.
Grandpa always had a joke or poem to recite. He would also put a little poem in birthday cards. A little poem for the grandchildren to remember goes like this:
I eat my peas with honey
I've done it all my life
It makes the peas taste funny
But it helps keep them on the knife.
Aunt Vida's family would like to thank Uncle Orv for being a second dad to them. They loved him dearly. Each one thought they were his favorite.
Grandpa and Grandma Irene had three children – Jan, Gerald, and Scott. Gerald would succumb to leukemia in 1956. Irene passed away in 1966. A few years later he married Eva Green. He became step-dad to Leonard Green, Jerrie Townsend, Diane Ley, and Dennis Green. How grateful we are to his faithful wife, Eva. They had 42½ years together in which they were able to travel and enjoy each other's company. It was never yours or my kids and grandchildren but always "our family". Our family will be eternally grateful for her loving tender care of Grandpa in the last few years when his health deteriorated. Grandma went above and beyond the call of duty.
Orvin loved all of his family. Family was the center of his universe. Some of his final words were – "I have the best family on earth."
I want to thank all of you for coming today, I know Grandpa is smiling down on all of us.
The chorus will now sing "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel". It was Grandpa's favorite song.
I will try to make this quick Grandpa, because I know you need to get going.
************
Edward Orvin Asay was born October 25, 1919. He was the third of seven children born to Earl and Mary Asay. Orvin's dad was a range foreman for the Snyder Brother's Sheep Operation. His dad was gone much of the time so his mom was in charge of raising the children and taking care of the home. When Grandpa was a freshman in high school his dad passed away from tick fever. His mom never remarried and raised all seven kids alone. This was during the great depression, and Grandpa said times were tough, but everyone helped out. Grandpa's family always had a huge garden. His mom planted gardens in several places around Lovell to help feed the family. Grandpa and his siblings would help harvest green beans for the canning factory. The family also raised chickens. Grandpa said the worst job he ever had was cleaning chicken ……….. We'll just say waste…….off the roosting area.
Grandpa and his brother Maurice used to gather cows around Lovell every summer morning and take them to pasture a couple miles out of town. They usually had 20 cows to herd and received a nickel per cow a day. The day's earnings were a $1.00, which they gave to their mother to help out.
Grandpa attended school in Lovell. He told a story about one time when he and a couple of his friends played hooky from school and hopped on the train going to Kane. They got off the train at Kane and were tormenting the Kane kids who were in school, as they should be. When he was asked how they got back home, Grandpa chuckled and said, "The Sheriff." This little prank got him 2 weeks of janitorial service at school.
Grandpa loved sports although he was very small in stature as a youth. He quit school as a sophomore when they took his uniform away because he was too small. The next year he returned to finish high school. He played quarterback and was the kicker at times. Henry Kockerhans said that one time they were stuck in the end-zone and Grandpa punted the ball out and it made it all the way down field to the other 5 yard line. The only game his team ever lost was to Sheridan. In those days there were no class divisions. After high school, the Cowley Canners recruited him and he finally got to play basketball.
Grandpa joined the National Guard at age 17. He was inducted into the Army through the National Guard at age 20. He was in the Calvary at Fort Lewis in Washington for two years. He came home from Fort Lewis on a three day pass and married Irene Doerr. He had to go back to Fort Lewis without his bride. Grandma Irene joined him two weeks later. Grandpa was a platoon leader on light tanks. He saw action in France when Germany invaded. Twice Grandpa was the only survivor when his tank was attacked. Grandpa received two Purple Hearts during this time.
After the war, Grandpa began working in the oil fields, where he worked in Michigan on some of the biggest rigs in the world. During his career he also worked in Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. Old timers still tell us what an outstanding driller he was. He was rated as one of the best in the state. Many men have also told us that Grandpa was responsible for helping them get through college by giving them a summer job. He also gave many young men their first job. Grandpa retired from the oil fields in the early 1980's due to health problems.
Grandpa had many close calls throughout his life: bouts with cancer, the war, a wreck or two that left you wondering how he made it, and the time that my mother tried to see how many marshmallows would fit into his mouth while he was snoring………..Sorry Mom I had to.
Grandpa loved fly fishing in the mountains. No one could beat him down the stream to the next good hole. He loved teaching people to fish, especially his grandchildren. He loved going with his fishing buddies, Hank Adolf, Bert Davis and family. When his health deteriorated, he had to give up going to his beautiful Big Horns. Since he couldn't fish anymore, he decided to give golf a try. It wasn't long before he was hooked. He loved to golf with his buddies. When they couldn't make it, his son Scott, daughter Jan, or his grandkids would go with him. He had the opportunity to golf with his son Scott in a couple of tournaments in which they came home with trophies. Grandpa excelled at his short game, chipping and putting, and took great pride in it. Grandpa helped me personally with my golf game, though I found out later that a foot wedge was not a legal club. He would always be kind to me and let me move the ball to a better location because I was usually in the rough. Thanks to all his golf buddies (You all know who you are) especially Pres Workman who helped prolong Grandpa's golf career.
Grandpa always had a joke or poem to recite. He would also put a little poem in birthday cards. A little poem for the grandchildren to remember goes like this:
I eat my peas with honey
I've done it all my life
It makes the peas taste funny
But it helps keep them on the knife.
Aunt Vida's family would like to thank Uncle Orv for being a second dad to them. They loved him dearly. Each one thought they were his favorite.
Grandpa and Grandma Irene had three children – Jan, Gerald, and Scott. Gerald would succumb to leukemia in 1956. Irene passed away in 1966. A few years later he married Eva Green. He became step-dad to Leonard Green, Jerrie Townsend, Diane Ley, and Dennis Green. How grateful we are to his faithful wife, Eva. They had 42½ years together in which they were able to travel and enjoy each other's company. It was never yours or my kids and grandchildren but always "our family". Our family will be eternally grateful for her loving tender care of Grandpa in the last few years when his health deteriorated. Grandma went above and beyond the call of duty.
Orvin loved all of his family. Family was the center of his universe. Some of his final words were – "I have the best family on earth."
I want to thank all of you for coming today, I know Grandpa is smiling down on all of us.
The chorus will now sing "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel". It was Grandpa's favorite song.
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