~ Silas Johnson Jones ~
September 24, 1921 ~ February 26, 1999
Almost everything you needed to know about my dad could be heard in his laugh;
stern yet yielding, pragmatic and playful, approachable and plain ol’ fun. Silas Johnson Jones (he hated the middle name) would be 91 years old today. He was 77 when he died of sudden cardiac death, walking back from the mailbox at the end of his driveway in Albany, Georgia. There was no suffering in that moment, he was “dead on the way to the ground” the doctor said, as is the case when oxygen to the heart is cut off. I was grateful that his life ended with him on the move, outside under the big sky where he loved to spend time; hunting, fishing, puttsing around in the garden or yard.
Whatever I know about telling a story I learned from him, a natural master at timing, inflection and all the stuff workshops teach you.
Within our family he was a legend in his own time; the baby uncle because he was the last born in a family of 21. His dad, Ras Jones, married twice, but that’s another story for another time.
Yes, Silas has much in common with my story’s hero, Fletcher Dukes, as you will learn in time, but for today, let these pictures tell a story, and take this quote my dad often repeated:
“Save your hay…
…you might marry a mule one day.”
9 responses to ““Save your hay…””
Judith Eloise Hooper
September 24th, 2012 at 14:49
Just looking at the pictures the one of him and Betty the day before is haunting . . . the two of silas and Miranda fishing make me smile. Judith
Diane Flynn Keith
September 24th, 2012 at 15:42
Anita, this is a wonderful tribute to your father! And I love his pearl of wisdom, “Save your hay…you might marry a mule one day.” I invite you to post this gem to my new website/blog at http://www.PapasPearls.com. It’s a companion to my new book, “Papa’s Pearls: A Father’s Gift of Love and Wisdom to His Children and Grandchildren.” Not only do you and I share the same birthday, it looks like we both had amazing fathers as well. Love and hugs, Diane
Gina Sarao Webster
September 24th, 2012 at 16:15
I can only imagine what an amazing laugh it was!
Peter de Lissovoy
September 25th, 2012 at 11:02
Your Dad’s smile sure says “Good Times.” Nice stringer of bream looks like maybe. What a serious little fisherman Miranda is with him. Great pics and a priceless saying. . . . I am going to pretend it’s mine . . .
Anita Gail Jones
September 25th, 2012 at 11:06
By all means!…steal that saying and pass it on! Silas would want it that way!
Catherine
September 26th, 2012 at 17:28
Anita, I loved hearing about your dad and seeing the wonderful photos.
Thank you for sharing him.
Catherine
Daniel Johnson
September 27th, 2012 at 23:16
This is a very nice tribute to Uncle Silas 🙂 Love it!
stephaniewellsgreen
October 3rd, 2012 at 20:14
Anita: Looking at those pictures was really fun. Thanks for sharing.
You look like your dad, right down to the space between the two front teeth…I’ve got one too.
Very cool for the church to honor him it that way. And a blessing to the folks that get to live there.
My mom was also a school librarian (media specialist) so I zoomed in on the bookshelves right off the bat. How many, if any, of your dad’s siblings are still alive?
What a great saying…and really mules have a lot going for them…long lives, small feet, agility and boy can they jump. Stubborn, perhaps but they don’t spook easy on a trail. A nice feature when a pilot decides it would be fun to “buzz” the mountain top where you are trail riding. Granted their ears did just about a full rotation, but they didn’t buck and they didn’t bolt. Earned my respect for sure.
Hope you are doing well. Your daughter is a real beauty. Enjoyed hearing about her mission trip.
Anita Gail Jones
October 3rd, 2012 at 20:31
Thanks for dropping by Stephanie. All of my dads siblings are “gone to glory” as the old folks say. He was the last born and the last to pass on.