Tell about your favorite uncle.

From: Philip Harris

My favorite uncle was Harold Harris. He was easy to talk to. He would always help out with car problems. He also helped me buy a good used car. He brought up 4 small children after his wife died.

From: Lucy Welden

I don't really have a favorite uncle, my mom was close to Uncle Albert and Uncle Phil Gagne, and they were in service during WW11. Uncle Albert was born on my mom's 8th birthday, after service he married and lived in Mo. Uncle Phil lived in Texas and he was close to my mom also, my sister and I went with my mom to see him in Nov. 1996, my mom passed away in May of 1997 and he passed away in Nov. that same year.

From: Lois Rotella

My Uncle Ike (Alexander Adamson) was my Aunt Lena Gagne Adamson's husband. He was fun to be around. He enjoyed life. When my family visited my grandmother in Schuylerville, he and my aunt would be the first people we would visit. Their children are still my closest cousins. He was a fun loving teasing man. Family was his pride and joy. When he and my Aunt passed on the left a family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren which they both would have enjoyed.

From: Linda Smith

I was asked to write about my favorite uncle. As I thought about it, I decided I had 2, my Uncle John on my mother's side, and my Uncle Lloyd on my Father's side. Neither of these was a blood uncle.

Let me tell you why I thought each of these was my favorite.

First, my Uncle John was a Baptist minister, in a town about 3 hours away from where I grew up. So, whenever our family would go to visit, it was a "big deal". He was always friendly and sociable, which I was not used to. Because he was a "man of the cloth", and because church was such a big part of my upbringing, I looked up to him. He was also quite good looking, and had a nice smile. More about Uncle John, later.

My other favorite uncle was my Uncle Lloyd, who was my Aunt Emma's husband. He, too, was very outgoing, but kind of loud and sometimes gruff. He smoked a lot, but I liked him because he was "cool". He had a Cadillac, and a new one at that, every other year. He and my aunt traveled a lot, going on cruises and car trips. He had a lot of money, and no kids to spend it on, so I always got nice presents for Christmas and birthdays.

AS a child I looked at these two men with childlike eyes. Now, as a 60-something adult, I would like to rescind my title of "Favorites" for these two men for the following reasons: Uncle John, along with my mother's sister, Lucy, encouraged my mother to leave and then divorce my father. I recently discovered how manipulative my Uncle Lloyd was with his wife, my aunt, and his wealth, to the point of leaving my aunt without any say in her or his estate.

Revelation: It seems to me now, that as a child I was taken in with superficial status, not honesty, kindness and depth of character.

So, now I have to comment on my other uncles: Bill, Eric, and Franz. Uncle Bill was always quiet, so I didn't have much interaction with him as a child. I now enjoy talking with him, especially about the way things were. He seems more outgoing now.

Uncle Eric was also very quiet and, to me, seemed kind of grouchy, so I never interacted with him much. I wonder now if he was having post-traumatic syndrome, because he had been in the attack on Pearl Harbor, and was wounded and spent months in a Naval Hospital. He moved to Florida midway through my childhood, so I didn't even get to know him when I became a "rational" adult!

My Uncle Franz was my father's sister's husband, and he, too, was kind of gruff and/or grouchy, and so I didn't talk to him too much. He tried to joke around some, but, if you didn't get the meaning, he kind of "put you down". I later saw how he ridiculed my father some, and that made me think even less of him.

From: Lee Harris (written by his wife Jana)

Lee mentioned that He had shot his first deer with Uncle Bill Harris up at hunting camp. A few years later he helped him track his first buck. I first met Uncle Bill when I was a teenager. Whenever I think of him it makes me smile. Your Uncle Tunk and Aunt Millie, Uncle Bill and Jean used to take us country dancing. It was a lot of fun. Whenever we see him he always gives a big Uncle Bill sized hug.

From: Connie Olsen

There is a tie for #1 uncle. Uncle Herb is on my dad’s side. One is my Uncle Herbert H. Hubbard; he lived one and a half hours north of where I live now, in a very isolated tiny country home. He moved there in the 1920's when the roads were narrow and still dirt. Old logging trails as he called them. He bought 100 acres of wooded land. Land from a man up in the Effie area. They literally carved a home for himself and his wife from the forest. He was only about 25 miles from the Canadian border. A few miles from the Bigfork River that flows north into Canada. He was a great story teller and loved to go out and eat with friends and family. When you went to visit him he never wanted you to leave. He drove a milk truck pulled by horses to pick up the milk from the farmers and then brought into the town of Big fork to the dairy which was a 7 miles trip one way. He earned money any way he could back then. He logged, he trapped, and he worked for anyone who would hire him just to earn a living in this hard country. Herb and his wife never had any children. Herb was the youngest in his family of 10 children. Of these 10 only 3 had families. Three of his male siblings died on the same day and were buried together. We don't know what mishap happened to these three boys to this day. Herb was a widower for 26 years. His wife Ester (sp?) kept a huge garden and canned much of the food. Uncle Herb was a good hunter and fisherman they basically lived off the land, woods, and lakes for food. He passed away at age 89 from old age. He is buried up in Big fork along side of his wife.

The other is my Uncle Emil he is on my mom’s side. Here goes. My uncle Emil was one of my mom’s younger brothers in a family of 10 children. He was a happy go lucky guy, and jokester of sorts. When we were small he would come over to see us then give us BIG hugs and a kiss on the cheek. I always thought he would squeeze my innards out he hugged me so hard. Always had a piece of my favorite candy in his pocket. They had three children, two they adopted and then in later years ended up with one of their own. His wife Ella Mae, was always laughing, and very good natured. Both were wonderful cooks. We always looked forward to going to there home for meals. He passed away this year at age 89; he had Alzheimer's and didn't remember any of us anymore.

From: Connie Farrington

Now that I think of it: My grandfather Brayton Harris Jr. had only one brother. That brother had two children, Art and Henry, neither of whom had children. So it looks like I have no second cousins either. Woe is me. I do remember eating bear meat over at my grandfather's, after Art brought him a big hunk. It was less than delicious, if I remember correctly. Although probably as good as the squirrels and raccoons I had eaten over there. Yum, yum.

And here's an irreverent story about Henry. I can remember one really cold snowy wintry morning when I was quite young; I was standing out on our porch listening to Peanut call his cows into the barn. After listening awhile, I went into the house and asked my mother why Peanut had named all of his cows with the same name. She asked why I thought he had named them all the same. I looked her right in the eye and said, I just heard him shouting, "Jeeesus Christ, get in here, Jeeeessssuuusss Christ get in here, Jeeesussss Christ,
get in here, and they all had that same name, and they all came when he hollered."

By Renee (Harris) Zamora

I have several favorite uncles. On my father's side it would be my Uncle Tunk. His name is really Donald Carlton Harris. I have no idea how he got that nickname. I used to spend a lot of time over to Uncle Tunk and Aunt Millie's home in Fort Ann. I played with his children Lee, Sharon and Mark. He was always happy and light hearted. He seemed fun to me as a child. I loved to hear the story of how Uncle Tunk and Aunt Millie lived in a tent after they married until they built their home. I thought that was so interesting.

My favorite uncle on my mother's side is Uncle Mylo. I loved it when he and Aunt Hattie would come to visit. Or we would visit them. I loved to sit on Uncle Mylo's lap and smell his cigar. He just seems so safe and strong to me. He seemed so smart and new so many things. Even as a child he would talk to you and explain things. I always knew that Uncle Mylo loved me.

My other favorite Uncle was Uncle Harold. Uncle Harold and Aunt Martha were always together. He was very quiet but interesting. He had a radio studio in his home. I enjoyed listening to him talk to people on his radio. I could have sat in his room for hours just listening to him. He had such white, seeming translucent skin to me. It must have been because of his bad heart. We visited Uncle Harold and Aunt Martha a lot. They had no children, so they spoiled us, and it was always fun to visit.

From: Brenda (Harris) Olszewski

My favorite Uncle was Uncle Milo Hyde. I remember him being very strong and I would swing from his arms. He always played with us kids. He had these big muscular arms that I thought were the strongest on earth! He always gave me hugs and kisses. I remember at Aunt Martha's funeral he saw me and hurried up to me and hugged me so tight I thought I was going to snap!. I felt great!

From: Sharon (Harris) Lowell

My favorite uncle would have to be uncle Bill. When I was younger, we would go to his house in Lake George, off of Flat Rock rd. I would go into the basement and under the stairs was a place where April and Julie would keep their Barbie dolls. That was the only time I could play with them and my brothers (Lee and Mark) could not take them from me. When I got bored with them my brothers and I would go out and ride his pigs around their pen. I must say we smelled great when we done, my mom and dad always threatened to strap us to the roof of the car.

From: Amy Freeman

My favorite uncle is Steve. I love all my uncles, but growing up I was closest to him. It was probably because he was the youngest, and still living at home so every time we visited, he was there. He used to take us out with Lisa, and we'd spend the whole day together. It was fun being little! Uncle Jim has always been hilarious. It was a riot when these two were in my wedding! They made that day so fun. I unfortunately don't know a lot about Uncle Randy. I do remember playing around with him when I was younger, and playing with the kids at the reunions. I hate that we all live so far away! Just thinking about this makes me feel home-sick for everyone.

From: Joyce Eggleston

Uncle Wally Archard was my favorite uncle, because he was always good to me and made me laugh. He taught me how to shoot a rifle. He had a beautiful flower garden.

From: Heidi MacDuff

...this is hard one. I can think of something special I liked about each uncle. I have always looked up to Uncle Phil and I think that is because my mom did and the rest of the family. I think of knowledge, understanding and caring when I think of him. Uncle Billy is fun loving and unique. I know he liked me, he was always quite the public relations man. Uncle Tunk and I used to bowl on a league together. He was fun to be with...always looking for laughter. Uncle Woody always was caring and loving to me, even though he could get a bit obnoxious. Uncle Don Goodrich always made me feel special and important.

From: Marie Zamora

I only know one. My Uncle Randy. He's rather quiet, except when he gets mad... :P

From: Jenny McMurray

That's hard to do. I have great memories of all of them.