Lazytea Times

I now live in Brainerd, Minnesota. My mom reminded me that I had family here sorta. So I did some research. Remarkably, she lived to be 107 years old. I never met her but I did grow up on the property my grandparents bought from her sister. And, she sure looks like family.  Here is a rough sketch of how this branch of Zabel connects with the Easton and Brennan branch. Ellen & Ray were some of the nicest people you will ever meet. I know blog posts are better with photos; but, I just can’t find one that is appropriate.

Hank Easton married Amy Zabel (My Grandpa Mac’s sister)

Shirley Easton is Hank & Amy’s daughter

Which also makes her Ellen’s cousin

Ethel Esther Easton Hess is Hank Easton’s sister
She and Henry were born near St. Cloud (Fairhaven)
Ethel married George Hess and lived in Brainerd most of her life in a house next to where the YMCA is now
1877-1984 (107 years old)

They had one child. One was the pastor of the church
Her husband was a barber and owned several buildings in Brainerd. his family is also a longterm Brainerd family. They are all interred in the same section of Evergreen Cemetary.

Mabel Easton (Matthew) Brennan (who we bought the store from) is Ethyl & Hank Easton’s sister (thus also Ray’s Aunt)

Mabel, Ray, & Ethyl would be Grandpa Mac’s cousins (children of his sister Lenora (Nora) Zabel Easton

Raymond Calvin Easton – Henry Clay Easton’s brother
Making Ethel Easton Hess Ray’s Aunt
Ray’s First wife is Amanda Stave she died in 1963
Married Ellen Scharr 1964
Ellen Scharr Easton – Ray Easton’s second wife is Lenore (Nora) Zabel’s (Amy’s/Ray’s Mom’s Sister’s) Daughter – So Ray Easton married his cousin (by marriage)

Truman Easton married Ethyl Viola Zabel just to keep those branches hooked together. I can’t even get started between the Easton Scharr Zabel downline marriages. And, why why why did everyone name their kids the same thing?