Profile: BERTIS WEBSTER AYERS

Bertie Ayers "Uncle Bart" Mike's Granddad, Circa 1953.

2014  T.P.WEAVER FAMILY REUNION   

       DE LEON CEMETARY TOUR

      UNCLE BERT,  MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER 

BERTIS WEBSTER AYERS    1884  -  1968

My memories of DeLeon as a child will always be with me. I have happy memories of:  John Weaver meeting our bus in front of Weaver Drugs when my mother, Bubba and I would arrive; the warmth in the old Weaver house kindled by Aunt Eula;  the fun we always had with John Mack and Thomas Henry;  the twinkle in Aunt Lela’s eyes and her soft touch on the shoulder and her amazing Sunday after church dinners. 

But I remember nothing more than the time spent with my grandfather Bertis Ayers, known to Bubba and me only as “Uncle Bert.” Over the years he became a bigger than life hero to us. He always seemed to give us undivided attention. He did things we had never seen before like: double dosing everything he ate with Cayenne pepper; pulling down yellow jackets nests by hand without first smoking them; wearing white long johns in both winter and summer; taking us to Weaver Drugs for 400s; taking us on hikes on the RR track to the Leon River to gather arrowheads, pecans, fish and swim;  milk his cow and churn butter;  plow his garden with an old mule;  skin cat fish and wring a lot of unlucky chicken necks. 

I know that Uncle Bert was a CPA. I know he had to travel some with his work. I know he was not as comfortable in church as Aunt Lela and smiled at us kids as we squirmed during what seemed like interminable sermons. 

I do not know much about how he looked at life or the world in general. 

But I know how he looked at children and how he treated rowdy kids like me, Bubba, Carol, Tommy and John Mack. He looked at us with great love. He made us feel greatly special. He gave us wonderful memories and a legacy which will always be with us.

Thank you Uncle Bert.

Mike Easterling