P.S. Happy Birthday!!!

Thanks !!!!

Now if I'm right, Grandpa Fike was born in 1889. Brother Harry and Jean, Jim, Fred, were all in about that time. Now, your Grandpa Harry Willis, that was born in 1924, about the the same time, that mother was born - 1920, so I know that great granpa Robert, was the father to them all. As far as Bruce Willis, he does look like the Willis's. Some would say that he's a typical Willis, A good set of clothes, a good bottle of booze, and not worth a good G** D***! Francis Willis who was killed in WWII looked like the actor Gary Cooper, and he was the glue to the whole families out there in Montana. That was south of Havre, and north of Fort Benton, near Big Sandy on a homestead. After Francis was killed, mother's brother Stanley -(Buck)-who was a couple of years younger than Francis never recovered from his death. When he left to go over seas on the train, from Fort Benton Francis smiled to everyone, waved and then turned to Stanley and said, They'll going to get me, I won't be back. My ropes, saddle, spurs, are all yours. Then he got on the train, and a few months later was killed in Tunisa.
Mother and grandmother used to say that Stanley turned cold, and hard. It was because of the loss of Francis. Many times they said they used to see him by himself looking down at the ground, and they could tell he was thinking of Francis. He would say that he lost his only brother in the war..It was forbidden to even talk about him among all the relatives. Francis was something else. He'd walk into a room, and it would lite up, and then everyone would just want to be near him. I once read a letter from his mother Aunt Ida who was married to Jean Willis, and it was so touching what she said about him, that I couldn't even finish it. They where just lost without him. Take care and keep in touch -- Cousin Tom. Boone Helm, they say was a uncle to the Willis's, I think on great grandma's Willis's side. I heard it once, but that was years ago...

Thanks !!!!

Now if I'm right, Grandpa Fike was born in 1889. Brother Harry and Jean, Jim, Fred, were all in about that time. Now, your Grandpa Harry Willis, that was born in 1924, about the the same time, that mother was born - 1920, so I know that great granpa Robert, was the father to them all. As far as Bruce Willis, he does look like the Willis's. Some would say that he's a typical Willis, A good set of clothes, a good bottle of booze, and not worth a good G** D***! Francis Willis who was killed in WWII looked like the actor Gary Cooper, and he was the glue to the whole families out there in Montana. That was south of Havre, and north of Fort Benton, near Big Sandy on a homestead. After Francis was killed, mother's brother Stanley -(Buck)-who was a couple of years younger than Francis never recovered from his death. When he left to go over seas on the train, from Fort Benton Francis smiled to everyone, waved and then turned to Stanley and said, They'll going to get me, I won't be back. My ropes, saddle, spurs, are all yours. Then he got on the train, and a few months later was killed in Tunisa.
Mother and grandmother used to say that Stanley turned cold, and hard. It was because of the loss of Francis. Many times they said they used to see him by himself looking down at the ground, and they could tell he was thinking of Francis. He would say that he lost his only brother in the war..It was forbidden to even talk about him among all the relatives. Francis was something else. He'd walk into a room, and it would lite up, and then everyone would just want to be near him. I once read a letter from his mother Aunt Ida who was married to Jean Willis, and it was so touching what she said about him, that I couldn't even finish it. They where just lost without him. Take care and keep in touch -- Cousin Tom. Boone Helm, they say was a uncle to the Willis's, I think on great grandma's Willis's side. I heard it once, but that was years ago...

Cousin Tom--

What a great story!! You sound just like a Willis. Grandpa Harry used to tell me a story when I was little about his first wife (Wagon Wheel Mary) she only had one leg!! This story continued to where she had no legs, 3 legs, one arm, one eye etc...till I was in my late 20's!!(he was such a story teller) Could never get him to talk about the war though.
I am having a great time going through this cedar chest, I just wish some of the pictures I'm finding were labeled. There is so much information in here. I'll keep sharing as I go along. My home email is terwert@charter.net Please keep in touch--

Cousin Tina

Yes, he is the brother of William (wid) Johnson Helm, one of the eight brothers that came out to Calif. in the mid 1800's. They settled in the Warners Springs area and became cow ranchers. Wid is my great grandfather. The Helms were known to ware their rough side out.
If you would like to go to myfamily.com and register you will find a ton of info regarding the Boys.

I am Patsy Shaeffer - Daughter of Pearl Mae Helm whom is the daughter of John "Babe" Helm and the granddaughter of Wid Helm who owned the Helm ranch which is now the Jasper ranch in Ranchita, California.
Good Luck in your search.