You don't know me, but my great grandfather had a ranch in your part of Nebraska. His name was Tom Ashton. I am the granddaughter of his daughter, Helen Ashton, for whom I am named. I just found out today (because I am woefully behind on reading my emails) that my mother's cousin, Grand-dad Ashton's grandson and his wife, both of whom lived on the ranch when they were young, died in the last year.
From the brief notice that my sister, Lucy, received, no one in Mesa really knows anything about Gerry and Nelle's families.
I thought I would let you all know because some people may remember what wonderful people they were. My sister and I were lucky enough to be able to visit them a couple of years ago when I was visiting Arizona. They both must have been ill at that time, but were so gracious and welcoming that we had no idea that there were any problems.
Sincerely,
Ashton Laurent
Staten Island, NY (originally Bartow, FL)
347-422-3101
Additional Information;
My grandmother was Helen Ashton Christina Long and she had 2 children, my mother in 1923, Martha Helen Long Laurent and Charles Whittington Long, Jr. (Buddy) in 1926. Grandmommy died in 1972. Mama and Daddy both had Ph.D's, my father's from Cornell and my mother's in English from the University of Georgia. Mama was one of the first women to earn a Ph.D. in English there. Shortly after earning her Ph.D., and fully expecting to teach at the university level, our father decided that he had always wanted to travel, so he took a job with the U.N. in Bogota, Colombia. From there, they moved to Nigeria, then Tanzania, then El Salvador, then Iran, then DC for several years. After that, they went to Jordan, which was their last residence abroad. They moved back to Bartow, FL, where Mama died in July, 2000. Buddy had died in 1989. Buddy never married. Both of them spent a lot of time on the ranch in Nebraska, where they spent a lot of time with Gerry and Nelle (who either lived there or was close by - in any case, Gerry and Nelle were childhood sweethearts). My mother showed my two sisters and me the ranch when we traveled west to California.
I was hoping to come to Nebraska for a project (I'm a financial systems trainer), but I lost out to an Indian from India unfortunately. I had hoped to go there because I am working on a series of children's books about trains (Mercury the Magic Train) that take place in the past. I actually used part of the story about the ride and tie method in my first book. I was hoping to get there to learn more to use in a later volume. Oh well, maybe next time.
Sincerely,
Ashton Laurent
July 2d and Gerry passed away on July 23'. They both
passed away due to the effects of cancer. Their passing was
peaceful and they were able to be at home- We have had
some problems finding those whom to notifu. They were
wonderful people and they will be greatly missed- Per their
request no funeral or memorial service was held. They were
buried in Wray, Colorado. We know we will all remember
their goodness and many great memories of these two
wonderful people. Thank you for being their friends and may
God bless you.
Read More about the Ashton Faimily on the Dundy County GenealogyTrails site.