Gary Lee Staats

I have many fond memories of my brother, Gary, as we were growing up. He was always fun to be around, liked to tease me and laugh, and liked adventure. I tried to do every activity he did. I wanted to prove to him that girls were just as capable of doing daring stunts as boys and weren't afraid either. We would climb tall trees in our woods, just he and I, We tried to see who could climb the highest. he would go one branch higher and then dared me to. So I would grab on to another branch and go higher and smile at him. We were both strong and agile then, and yes, just a little bit stupid!, Ha! We would swing on monkey vines across large ditches, rode sleds down a rather large hill and onto the frozen lake and kept on doing it until we were exhausted. We would play in the creek and check out the little critters living there and all the pretty rocks. We would explore the woods and try to walk and balance ourselves on any tree limb that had fallen.We milked cows together. In our barn, we would get bales of hay and stuff the hay in the opening that led to the lower level of the barn where the cows would eat. Then after getting as many bales as we cold cram into the opening, we would start jumping and jumping until at last we came barrelling down on top of the hay to the lower level of the barn. We laughed our heads off! One day, our Dad said they were going to kill a couple of our pigs for food. He didn't want us around. Well, Gary said that we could sneak to the top of the chicken coupe and lie flat and they wouldn't see us. Of course I went along with his plan, and boy did we ever get an eyeful. Fast Forward to our teenage years. I remember Gary always begging me to iron his slacks for him when he started dating. He even got me to peg his slacks for him. He always wanted to look good for his dates.. He was a good-looking brother. Then, somehow I ended up going on a double date with him with one of his good friends. We went to a drive in movie. Gary and his date sat in the front and my date and I sat in the back. I was only 15. Several times during the movie, Gary's and his date's head would disappear. My date and I would just look at each other, and I would just keep eating my popcorn and act like I was engrossed in the movie. From then on, no more double dating with my brother. When we were in High School, he almost got me kicked off of the cheerleading squad. He would play "hookie" from school. Then he would plead with me to write a note with an excuse as to why he missed and sign it as Mrs. Lloyd Staats. After three or four times of covering for him, we were called into the pricipal's office , and they said if I covered for him again, I could no longer be a cheerleader. So that was the end of that scheme. Fast forward. When we were older we had always loved to dance. We only danced fast,of course, but we had good rhythm and knew the right steps and danced for hours. Now I was the designated driver which was fine with me. I woud have one beer and then switch to coke. On the way home, we would usually stop at Dennys and get the French Slam. Boy was it good. We had so much fun, Fast forward again. After awhile we married and began having children. I had a son, and then Gary had a daughter. I had another son and Gary another daughter. Then I had a daughter and gary had a son. We had six children within a 4-5 year time period. We both lived in Fairpark in Marion for awhile and then both of us moved out to the country with just a field separating us. So Gary and I were very close and shared in a lot of good times with our children and country living. He ran the Chicken House in Marion for many years and made delicious side dishes there, but his chicken was some of the best (probably the best) chicken Marion had to offer. So yes, he was a wonderful brother to me, and blessed me with so many great memories I will always cherish until I am called home. I love you Gary, Sister Sue P.S. He would kiddingly call me "Sukee", and then I would call him "Gardo"- our loving nicknames!