A Great-Grandfather’s Joy

Rogers Pease is many things: a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and a craftsman.

He began handcrafting toys for his great-grandchildren approximately five years ago. 

“It goes beyond just wanting to make toys for them to play with,” he said. “I wanted to find a way to teach this younger generation that there is more than iPads and electronic games to keep one’s time occupied. It is a chance to teach my great-grandkids how to use tools and work with their hands.”

The love and craftsmanship is evident in every detail of these toys that are more like small replicas and function just as well as their larger counterparts.

T&K Oilfield Yard is a company that sells a collection of hand-crafted toys and is named after Pease’s two greatgrandsons Ty Gary, 8, and Kord Griffin, 2.

Pease said his grandsons are excited to have time with their grandfather and to have such cool toys to play with. Pease’s wife, Sandra, also takes great pride in her husband’s craft.

The Peases moved to Olney approximately 50 years ago. Pease worked for Tower Extrusions for almost 18 years, then worked for Phil’s Electric.

Pease’s daughter Michelle Parker is also an employee of Tower Extrusions, and said her father’s love for the company shines through to his work.

Pease built a working model of the press the company uses in its manufacturing process. The toy was crafted completely from memory, recreated with great detail and remarkable accuracy.

Tower now displays his creation for prospective and longtime employees alike.