Elmer Eugene Harvey Tribute

As one of the sons of Elmer's wife's sister I (Jay Barrett) accompanied Daniel Barrett on our youthful annual (usually) visits to Minnesota from our place in Western Illinois. I remember that four adults and eight children made for a friendly, chaotic couple of days of each visit. I also recognized the impressive building skills with which Elmer converted a suburban acreage into a home. That home included a barn with rabbits and goats. While I suspect that Elmer wanted to regard the animals as food only, there was always a creeping tendency to make them pets. The inevitable butchering then became a bittersweet harvest.

In suburban Minneapolis and later on the north shore of Lake Superior, I never saw Elmer in a hurry. But I also never saw him entirely at rest. Elmer always had time for relatives and the conversation Bertha and Mary Alice had when together. But there always was the next building project and I respected that. I also remember the annual family letters on recycled stationery, regularly sent to those of us who were never quite as regular in reply. I will miss Elmer.