Great Grandpa Heber L. Crane, 72, passed away this month in 1966, the year Julie was born. I remember it well because it was the Foriegn Language Festival at BYU that weekend. I'd studied hard to compete in it. But it was not to be, as the family gathered for the funeral remembering Granddad.
Who was Heber and what qualities did he have? The oldest, born with club feet into a proud family focused on prominence in the community, he loved farming. The responsibilities that come when your the first child happened early for Heber.
Sheep ranching had become successful for the Crane's in Idaho, where both his father and uncle owned farms. Many a summer was spent herding, tending and caring for the sheep. As his siblings were born, getting an education was encouraged. The call of nature was deep in Heber's veins though and learning was difficult for him. Struggling with his odd feet and schooling, Heber sought solitude in the pastures with his beloved animals.
He met Ann Eugenia Skinner, from Nounan, Idaho, at church one summer while keeping the sheep. She was mature beyond her years, from helping to raise her motherless family. They both loved the land and formed a strong bond. This didn't sit well with Heber's parents though, who had loftier goals for their oldest son.
Their love endured more than his parents expectations and they were married. They bought a 40 acre farm on 2700 West 13800 South starting with a heard of sheep, of course. Later they added chickens, pigs, cows and such. Nine children were born to them, four boys and five girls all learning the joy of hard work.
The sheep loved their master and he loved them calling each by name. The sheep pasture was directly acrossed the street from our(Gale's)home. Early spring the bleating of the ewe's meant birthing time was here. Some mornings granddad found a motherless lamb to be tended. We'd fight over who could hold the bottle with the long black nipple for the baby.
Late spring we all gathered round for the shearing of the sheep. What a fun time with the loud cry of the animals fearing the inevitable or asking us, 'What took you so long?'
Alergies were a major problem for Heber with dust and pollen causing him misery to his dying day. This didn't stop him from spending days chopping out the prickly cactus thistle which gave him the most trouble.
He was a quiet, hardworking, gentle man that chose his own life and loved it. Remember the legacy he left you: Love the land, loyal to yourself, hard working &
a little bit stubborn.
