Timothy Burch sent in this picture from this morning of a funeral procession in Oakfield for Alan H. Myers, who died at the age of 88.
According to his obituary, he led a heck of a life:
At age 11, he worked for adult wages on the Elba muck. He delivered newspapers by bicycle, set bowling pins, and in the winter, ran a muskrat trap line. He served during World War II with the Marine Corps and was awarded medals for marksmanship. He was stationed in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.
After an honorable military discharge, he was employed by U.S. Gypsum for 11 years and survived severe injuries from a mine tunnel collapse. He farmed and ran a chicken egg business.
He was trained as a draftsman with the aid available from the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, eventually retiring from Eastman Kodak Co. as a master draftsman engineer in 1989.
Al Myers was an exceptional craftsman in home repair and antique restorations and a gifted landscaper. His land and home were his passion. An avid naturalist and protector of wildlife, Al was also a marble shooter, game player, chess player, hunter, lover of dogs, cats, and the comedy duo Laurel & Hardy. He was a renowned billiards player, friend of Native Americans, and a Civil War enthusiast. He helped found the 44th NY Volunteer Civil War Regiment and was instrumental in the development of the North South Skirmish Association, where he won many marksmanship medals in antique firearms competitions.
