fan-ring, "Alf' purchased bagged fertilizer from a company in Windsor , N.S. , shipoed by railcar to Sta., from where he and Earl sold it to nearby owners of small, mixed farms. They shipped beef cattle by rail to Newfoundland , and sold cattle to local buyers, Packers and Swifts. Earl's education, love of the simple life and hard manual labor, served to help his father develop some of the best farmland on the Island. The woodlot was another source of income. Earl took meticulous care of all bookkeeping, taxes, associated office work and a myriad of miscellaneous records. He possessed an astounding memory, keen intelligence, and accuracy of detail. Besides his skill with written records, he seemed to possess an ever-ready mathematical and filing system in his head, yet, he was modest, totally unassuming and humble almost to a fault. For Earl, the chief purpose and secret of life was to love and do the Will of God to the best of his ability. He had a sensitive and generous heart, and though somewhat reclusive by nature, he genuinely cared about his neighbours. He was deeply prayerful and often wept at hearing the Lord's name taken in vain. He prayed unceasingly; the rosary every day of his life and never missed a Sunday He was the first member of the "Brothers of Jesus," having made a private commitment in that Society. God asked much of this holy man: On July 15, 1959, his two sisters, Edna 26, and Alfreda, 24, while attending summer school at St. Dunstan's , were killed by a train in Charlottetown -a tremendous cross for him and his parents. Years later his father died as a result of a car accident which also caused lingering injuries to his mother. After her death, Earl lived alone. On September 2,1998, at about 2 a.m., Earl's home, built by his grandfather, Michael, in the 1880s, was destroyed by fire. Earl awoke and barely escaped through the window of his upstairs bedroom. He lost no time and he resolutely rebuilt. He was in his new modern home within four months. He was hospitalized frequently from August, 1999 with serious illness. He received visitors when able, and dictated from memory many details of family history and genealogy he wanted written for younger relatives.. Resigned to God's Will he accepted failing health, and in his last months gratefully and joyfully welcomed regular visits from local priests who ministered to him and prepared him for his holy and peaceful death which occurred on July 21, 2000.