J. Harold " P a p p y " Stayer, 87, went to be with the Lord June 23, 2006, at 10:55 a.m. at Chase

Center in

Logansport.

Born Aug. 29, 1918, in Curryville, Pa., he was the oldest son of Charles Urbanna and Mary M. Brumbaugh Stayer. He graduated from Martinsburg High School, Martinsburg, Pa., where he met the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Humberd. They were married on April 9, 1939, by her father, the Rev. R.I. Humberd. After 62 years of marriage, she preceded him in death on May 13, 2000.

Growing up in the mountains, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, trapping, camping and anything outdoors.

He was employed by Zenith Radio Corporation in Chicago, where he worked on developing guidance systems for U.S. military machinery.

In 1945 he proudly enlisted in the U.S. Army Special Forces and served in the Pacific Theater. After returning from the war he continued working at Zenith, developing tuners for the first color television sets.

In 1952 he moved his family to Flora, Indiana. While in Flora, he owned and operated Hal's Television Service. He also worked for the Cutler Telephone Company, retiring from the phone company (then known as Alltel) in1981.

Having no sons of his own, he started working with the Boy Scouts of America in 1957. He was troop leader for Troop 160 from 1957 to 1972, Troop 140 from 1972 to 1982, and Troop 144 from 1982 to 1989. He was an assistant troop leader from 1989 until his death. He worked at the Boy Scout summer camp for over 25 years. He received several honors and awards from the Boy Scouts, including the Brotherhood award in 1968, the Ordeal award in 1967, the Vigil award in 1971 and the Woodbadge Course in 1974. He also received the Order of the Arrow award and the Silver Beaver award. It was an honor for him to lead over 40 young men in achieving the status of Eagle.

He hiked the Appalachian Trail two times, went to Phil Mont two times, and climbed Mount Baldi three times.

In 1974, Pappy, along with 10 other men from the Grace Brethren Church, started a boys' youth group called the Grace Brethren Boys and modeled it after the Boy Scouts with a Christian foundation. In 2003 he received The Award for Selfless Service to his Nation as a Christian Father.

For the last six years he enjoyed assisting Mary Simpson with Mother's Day Out. He was lovingly known as "Uncle Harold" to every child.

He is survived by two daughters, Patricia Azbell and her husband, Charles, Rochester, and Joyce Taylor, Warsaw; eight grandchildren, Loni Taylor and Debi Sisk, Holland, Mich., Doug Azbell and his wife, Lori, Greensboro, N.C., Sheryl Pease and her husband, Ken, Logansport, Jeff Azbell, Lodi, Wis., John Taylor, Rochester, JeNelle Gilliam, Nappanee, Don Taylor, Warsaw; a special niece, Mary Simpson, her husband, Ray, and children, Matt and Monica, Bringhurst; 10 greatgrandchildren, and three stepgreat grandchildren.

Also surviving are a sister, Rhoda Blank of Corning, N.Y. ; three sisters-in-law, Jane Stayer, Concord, Pa., Anna Stayer, Altoona, Pa., and Louise Stayer, Big Flats, N.Y., and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, three brothers, Aaron Otha Stayer, Charles E. Stayer and Virgil Stayer, and one brother in-law Robert Blank.

Services were held Tuesday morning at the Bringhurst United Methodist Church with Pastor Larry DeVos officiating. Burial followed at Maple Lawn Cemetery in Flora.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of America Troop 144, Flora, or to the Grace Brethren Boys.