George Dewey was "Dude" to all the family. He was a farmer and an avid vegetable gardener. His early planting seemed to always escape the first frost. As a result, he would usually have the earliest and best produce in the whole community. He often did much of the garden harvesting, but expected "Mammy" to cook and can it to perfection.

Generosity was a trait for which Dude was noted. Hearing that someone needed a new appliance, he has been known to give away one that was in good condition--only to buy Sarah a new one on the next trip to town. Not a demonstrative person, he was nevertheless good hearted. Often nieces and nephews came to visit and would hear him say, "Go on out in the orchard and pick yourself an apple."

Dude's pride and joy was his grandchildren. He spoiled them shamelessly--even to the point of letting one granddaughter ride her pony in the house!

- Janet Tate

"We'd go out to Sarah's and Dude's to the farm, you know, and make ice cream. We'd take the ice, and they had the milk and the eggs and sugar and stuff. Dude made the best ice cream. Oh it was good. Rich, and it had a lot of cream in it and whole milk."

- Lillie Norman, as told to Dane Tate in 1994