The youngest child and oldest grandchild of Nathan Orson & Myrtle Mary Wear Tenney pose for a photograph with the rifle.
Jerry loved to share the story of finding this rifle and enjoyed showing it to family and friends.This evening Janyce Lane Miller forwarded the following:
Jerry Lane
Rimrock, Arizona
3 December 2006
Hi Guys,
I will attempt to tell how I came to have Grandpa Ware's [sic] (Wear) 30-30 carbine.
In 1944 I was 16 years old, had a 30-30 but no ammo for it. As you couldn't buy any due to WW II. Momma came home 1 day and told Dad and I she "found 2 boxes of 30-30 ammo today". Dad ask if she bought it. She said, "No because you have to buy the gun too". Dad gave me $30.00 to go buy it and the ammo (can you see a 16 year old buying a gun and ammo today?) When I got home, Dad ask, "How good a gun did you get?" I told him I didn't even look at the gun and handed it to him. It has the /A\ brand carved in the forearm.
Dad wondered if that was Mr. Ware's [sic] (Wear) old gun (he always called him Mr. Ware). Dad said Uncle Jim Crawford would be out in a day or 2 and we would ask him. When Uncle Jim came, Dad asked him to look at the gun we bought. The 1st thing Uncle Jim said before he even had it in his hands was, "I'll be damned that is Mr Ware's [sic} (Wear) old gun. He said he sold it in Silver City, New Mexico, that he had it standing up at the end of the wagon spring seat is what wore the grove in the stock. Grandpa Ware]Sic] (Wear) had carved his /A\ brand in the forearm.
I bought it at Lewis 2nd hand store in Prescott, Arizona. I have had it 52 years, killed lot of game with it, and treasure it.
Jerry Lane
Rimrock, Arizona
3 December 2006
Hi Guys,
I will attempt to tell how I came to have Grandpa Ware's [sic] (Wear) 30-30 carbine.
In 1944 I was 16 years old, had a 30-30 but no ammo for it. As you couldn't buy any due to WW II. Momma came home 1 day and told Dad and I she "found 2 boxes of 30-30 ammo today". Dad ask if she bought it. She said, "No because you have to buy the gun too". Dad gave me $30.00 to go buy it and the ammo (can you see a 16 year old buying a gun and ammo today?) When I got home, Dad ask, "How good a gun did you get?" I told him I didn't even look at the gun and handed it to him. It has the /A\ brand carved in the forearm.
Dad wondered if that was Mr. Ware's [sic] (Wear) old gun (he always called him Mr. Ware). Dad said Uncle Jim Crawford would be out in a day or 2 and we would ask him. When Uncle Jim came, Dad asked him to look at the gun we bought. The 1st thing Uncle Jim said before he even had it in his hands was, "I'll be damned that is Mr Ware's [sic} (Wear) old gun. He said he sold it in Silver City, New Mexico, that he had it standing up at the end of the wagon spring seat is what wore the grove in the stock. Grandpa Ware]Sic] (Wear) had carved his /A\ brand in the forearm.
I bought it at Lewis 2nd hand store in Prescott, Arizona. I have had it 52 years, killed lot of game with it, and treasure it.
Jerry Lane
I am really going to miss my Uncle Jerry, he was one of the kindest people on earth. I loved being with Uncle Jerry and listening to his stories. I loved his place, and wish I had inherited some of his talent for beautiful yards. It hurts to know that he is gone, but I am so thankful that families are forever and that we will see him again someday. I have to also be thankful that he didn't have to suffer much. The world has lost a truely great man that will be greatly missed. Donalyn Lane Shock daughter of Jay Taylor Lane
ReplyDeleteWhat a legacy my dear Uncle Jerry has left. He touched so many lives for good. His life is truly one of the last surviving American Cowboys. He is a hero to me. What treasures he has left his descendants and relatives with his stories, wit, humor, character, and life of honor.
ReplyDelete--Elizabeth Lane Hibbard, Daughter of Jay and Minalyn Lane
Sunday February 28, 2010 (From Guinea, West Africa)
ReplyDeleteJerry is the oldest child in our family and the first of ten children born to Orson and Naydene Lane. From the oldest to the youngest: Jerry, Joe, Joyce (deceased), Joan (deceased), Janyce, Jack, Jayne, Jay, Jake (deceased) and Justin “Dusty,” which is also his true middle name.
Without a doubt Jerry was one of the most honest men I have ever known and was an equal example of how to treat your neighbor. I can’t even count the number of times I personally know of, when Jerry has willfully gone out of his way and at his own expense to help his family, extended family, and his fellow man. If you knew Jerry you are someone who at some point in your life he lent you a hand, did you a favor or helped you in someway.
Jerry never hesitated when asked by Mother to take Jake and me on a hunting trip, or a day at the rodeo, or wherever, which Jerry did a lot of, even though it was more of a babysitting job to look after Jake and me than he benefited from the company of two little brothers. If Mother asks him to do it, he would just smile at her with that smile only Jerry could smile, shake his head like, what are you getting me into, and seem to say, I will do it for you Mother. Jerry loved his Mother and Father and never once in my life did I ever hear him speak disrespectful to either of them. He always showed them respect and concern for their welfare and stood ever ready to do whatever was within his power to help them.
Jerry was always full of life and always gave life everything he had, even to that fateful day that has so sadly ended his life. Jerry knew he was getting old and wouldn’t be around much longer but his physical condition didn’t stop him from continuing to work on and fix up his home and property.
I will always remember Jerry in my younger years, as I grew up, always full of life. It didn’t matter if it was swimming at the river, lake, or swimming pool; it didn’t matter if it was on a hunting trip, campout or construction job; it didn’t matter if it was having a birthday party, opening Christmas presents or just renewing old acquaintances, Jerry was always smiling, always friendly, always full of life and always going out of his way to make you feel welcome and comfortable. And it was forever amazing how his happy, positive attitude always rubbed off on those around him.
Jerry was quick to stand up for the underdog and display a soft spot in his heart for the little child. Jerry feared no man and I never knew him to tell a lie. I often wondered what it was in him that made him such an honest and honorable person who valued his word more than life it’s self. I have wondered because, he truly was that person and I do not say that because he is my brother; I say that because; he was that person. His example has burned a life time memory of “honesty and stand by your word” in my heart and soul that will be there forever.
Sometime last year Jerry asked if we could move the Orson and Naydene Lane Family Reunion up to last summer because he wanted to get the family together for one last visit before he died. Jerry was very open about his age and his physical condition and seriously doubted if he would be around for the next reunion if we didn’t have one last summer. We all laughed at him but deep down inside we knew that it could be possible. The part we never dreamed is that his life would be ended by a bee nest while doing what he loved to do, work on his place. Just another lesson in life of when; “THE OLDER GENERATION SPEAKS, THE YOUNGER GENERATION NEEDS TO LISTEN.” I am so thankful that we did listen and held the reunion at Jerry’s request. We dedicated that reunion to Jerry’s life and it was the best and most successful reunion we have had yet.
Jerry, we love you and are happy you get to have that long awaited reunion with Mother, Dad, Joyce, Joan, Jake and a whole host of other family, friends and loved ones.
Jay Lane
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJayne Lane writes:
ReplyDeleteTuesday 30 March 2010 Mesa, Arizona
It truly can be said of Jerry Benjamin Lane, ‘He loved his fellow man.”
For those of you who do not know, the Benjamin in Jerry name was given to him in honor of our Grandpa George Benjamin Wyly.
Long before astronauts landed on the moon it belonged to me. Dad, Jerry and Joe were worked in the Rock Quarry’s, outside Askfork, AZ. I was about 3-4 years old and worshiped the ground my two older brothers walked on. One night as that big beautiful round and full moon rose in all it’s golden splendor rolling across the top of the mountain I wanted it. To me it was just another ball. My brother Joe put me upon his shoulders so I could reach it. When that didn’t work, Jerry climbed the tree to get it for me. Of course by that time the moon was rising into the night sky and no longer on the mountaintop. Try as hard as they could for this little sister there was no way for them to get the moon for me. They did the next best thing, my brothers give me the moon that night. They may not have remembered this all these years, but I have never forgotten it. To this day every time I see the full moon in the night sky I remember that night and my precious brothers Jerry and Joe doing they’re best to give a child the desire of her heart. So long before man set foot on the moon it was gifted to me.
My brother Jerry was one of the kindest men to ever walk this earth. He cared deeply for Mom and Dad, his siblings and his children. There has always been a special bond between Jerry and his brothers. Jerry loved little children and they knew this and loved him in return. He was always so willing to do whatever he could for his fellow man. If it was a call in the middle of the night when family or friend need help close by or hours away he never said no. When Jerry saw the need in others he cared and served them by giving of his time, talents and means. I have never heard my brother speak unkindly to or about anyone.
Jerry loved the beauty of this earth. He loved nature and beautifying the land wherever he lived. His home in Rim Rock is a prefect example of this. He loved animals and had them around him all of his life. I especially remember his big cage of birds he kept in Rim Rock, the ducks on the pond he created in front of his home there and his dog Cookie who was his constant companion when he went out riding around the property or working with a piece of equipment on his place. Cookie was always faithfully by his side.
I remember the fun times we had in Oregon and Northern California during the logging years of our lives. Janyce and Jim came up from California one year and we went out by the river to have a family picnic. We were in swimming suits and of course not wearing shoes. Without Jerry realizing what was about to happen, his brothers came up behind him and pulled him running down the path there that had rocks in it. They hurt Jerry’s feet like everything. If he would have of had his shoes on they never could have accomplished their mission. That was the year all of us were together, all of the married children and those of us still at home.
Jerry was so much fun to be with when we would reminisce about the adventurous life we lived with Mom and Dad. In the telling and sharing of his memory of things, Jerry made them live, so much so you could see them in your minds eye. Jerry truly was his father’s son in his gift to tell stories of the past and present.
How grateful I am for my brother Jerry, for all the little memories that will bring him back to mind. I will miss his great voice as I call back the stories he shared with us and so much more.
I love you Jerry, Jayne
Jayne Lane
Daughter of Orson Pratt and Naydene Tenney Lane