7
Roots
A Bevo girl through and through, Florence lived her
first quarter century in the shadow of the now famous Bevo
Mill. Born in 1927, Florence was the first child of Oliver and
Elizabeth Gartner Bayers. Bernice, LaVerne, Joan, Oliver
(Bud) and Thomas soon followed.
As the family grew and their needs changed they
moved—from Cherokee Street to Steffens Avenue to Frieda
Avenue, always within the boundaries of the Bevo
Neighborhood. They were comfortable in the German-mix
community where several of their relatives formed a system
of support and security.