My grandpa, Onas L. Mays, was born Jan 23rd, 1919, at 3:30 in the morning. Instead of being delivered in a hospital, Onas was born inside his log home in Howe, Idaho. He was welcomed to his family by loving parents, James and Anna Mays, along with his older siblings, Wilma, Emlen, and Carl. He was raised on a sheep and cattle ranch. This influenced him to grow up as a farmer later in his life.
Onas learned to work hard at a young age. He didn’t grow up with tractors to help him with his chores on the ranch; instead, he had horse teams. Some of his chores included threshing grain, rolling hay, and hauling logs down from the mountains and then cutting them by hand to help build their barn.
Grandpa always had a love for being outdoors. When he …show more content…
In 1970 the state downgraded his farm, and he was un- able to pay for the expensive equipment so after many successful years, he sold the farm property to the LDS church.
A few years later, Grandpa’s health began to go downhill when he contracted Parkinson’s disease which was about the same time that I was born. When I was young I had no idea Grandpa’s health was in bad shape. I can’t remember seeing him sitting still reclining on a couch. The only time I remember seeing him relaxing was when he would take naps outside on the lawn. He always preferred to be outdoors.
In 1997 he had a heart attack and a stroke. All of his children (including grandchildren) were able to be with him when he passed away. My Grandpa has always been one of my hero’s because as a kid, I didn’t know he fought in a world war, or that he didn’t get along with his in laws. I didn’t know he struggled with health problems, and the reason being, he was always smiling, he never talked about himself being a combat pilot, he only cared about others.
It wasn’t until a few years ago (10+ years after his death) that I found all this stuff out about him. Which is why he is one of my hero’s because it has taught me to forget the hard things in life, and only focus on the
Onas learned to work hard at a young age. He didn’t grow up with tractors to help him with his chores on the ranch; instead, he had horse teams. Some of his chores included threshing grain, rolling hay, and hauling logs down from the mountains and then cutting them by hand to help build their barn.
Grandpa always had a love for being outdoors. When he …show more content…
In 1970 the state downgraded his farm, and he was un- able to pay for the expensive equipment so after many successful years, he sold the farm property to the LDS church.
A few years later, Grandpa’s health began to go downhill when he contracted Parkinson’s disease which was about the same time that I was born. When I was young I had no idea Grandpa’s health was in bad shape. I can’t remember seeing him sitting still reclining on a couch. The only time I remember seeing him relaxing was when he would take naps outside on the lawn. He always preferred to be outdoors.
In 1997 he had a heart attack and a stroke. All of his children (including grandchildren) were able to be with him when he passed away. My Grandpa has always been one of my hero’s because as a kid, I didn’t know he fought in a world war, or that he didn’t get along with his in laws. I didn’t know he struggled with health problems, and the reason being, he was always smiling, he never talked about himself being a combat pilot, he only cared about others.
It wasn’t until a few years ago (10+ years after his death) that I found all this stuff out about him. Which is why he is one of my hero’s because it has taught me to forget the hard things in life, and only focus on the