Edward James Ayers

1932 - 2016

Edward James Ayers
May 8, 1932 – March 14, 2016
Edward James Ayers was born May 8, 1932 in Manitowoc, WI, to Joseph and Margaret (Gese) Ayers. He, his older brother and three younger sisters grew up in various towns and cities, most memorably Grand Forks, ND and Watertown, SD.
Ed was a serious, energetic student and employee, contributing to his family's income from a very young age. He allowed himself one fun activity in high school—acting in the senior class play. He also developed a love of writing which continued through the decades.
At age 19, Ed came to Los Angeles and worked for Northtop Aircraft before being drafted into the U.S. Army and serving in Japan following the Korean War. His family later followed to California and settled in Modesto. He and Jan were married in Almond, WI, her hometown in 1955. He had met her years before when he drove his two youngest sisters and some girl friends to the movie theater in a neighboring city.
The death of their infant son, Steven, and subsequent births of twin daughters, Lori and Lynn, led Ed to end his college studies in Chemistry and Physics just short of completion, and to move his young family to Modesto. He became a technician in the entomology department of the Shell Agricultural Research Lab. Another son, David, and daughter, Lisa, were born in Modesto.
Ed thrived in his work at Shell. His keen mind guided him in designing experimentation on nerves of insects. He enjoyed showing others what he was doing there and why. He would take his children to the lab on an occasional Saturday. All of them recall the huge metal drawer of scurrying cockroaches and the trips to pick corn, tomatoes, peaches and figs from the control fields when produce was released to the employees. His favorite projects were ones which sent him into the Sierras to collect plants.
Backpacking—Emigrant Basin, Devil's Postpile, and even in the Canadian Rockies—was another major joy of Ed's life. Being a skinny kid, he began lifting weights as a teen, pushed himself in the military, and hiked the entire 210-mile John Muir Trail in two weeks at age 38. His son joined him on a number of shorter trips. Ed took beautiful slides and photos of his hikes and loved showing off California's beauty to out-of-state visitors.
Ed's consistent faith and rock-solid trust in God kept him steady and permeated his whole life. He had a heart for the poor, and loved his family dearly. He is survived by his loving wife, Janis, and four children—Dave (Luisa) Ayers, Lisa (Carl) Ballantyne, Lynn (Mike) Friesen, and Lori (Ron) Leonardo; grandchildren Alana and Daniel Ayers, Katie (Chase) Yardley, April, Michael, and Jacob Ballantyne; Jonathan, Bethany, Jeremy, Cameron and Meredith Leonardo; and Melody (Robert) Watson. He is also survived by one great grandchild, Anthony Riojas, and by his siblings Joseph Ayers, Marguerite Hargrove, Marilyn (Bill) Turkel, and Sylvia (Jim) Kershen.
A Rosary Vigil will be held Monday, March 28, at 6:00 PM at the Franklin & Downs McHenry Chapel. The Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, March 29, at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 505 W. Granger Ave., Modesto. Remembrances of Ed may be sent to the United Samaritans Foundations, St. Vincent de Paul, or Community Hospice.
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