BUCYRUS — Elwood Nolen held the hand of his granddaughter Lisa Hurley throughout her life and now, she is holding his hand.

“My Papa has always been there for me and now I am taking care of him,” Hurley said.

Born to a teen mom, Hurley said her grandparents helped raised her.

“I was blessed with two moms, but Papa was always both dad and grandpa to me,” she said.

Hurley said Nolen was diagnosed with lung cancer in July.

“He has opted not to take chemo treatments,” Hurley said. “His goal is to live at least until his 79th birthday which is in April.”

Hurley said Nolen worked at Eckelberry’s in Bucyrus for more than two decades until the egg facility closed.

“He then worked with his son, my uncle, Richard, in the family business, Nolen’s Home Improvements, until he retired,” Hurley said.

She said her Papa always has been someone who would literally give you the shirt off his back.

“I actually witnessed him take his shirt off one time to give to a man who did not have a shirt. He always helps others and so many people know and love him throughout the area,” Hurley said.

She recently created a Facebook post about her Papa and his love for her grandma, who died in 2013.

“My papa met my mama in 1960,” Hurley said. “In 1961, they were married. In 1962, along came a crazy little girl, then three stubborn boys followed in the years to come. But before this was the courting phase. The holding pinkies as they walked to the well to gather water for the old-fashioned foot washing at the church. This happened many times throughout their courtship.

“Well, one day mama couldn’t make it to help him gather water, so she left papa a little love note. Fast forward to the present time. Mama passed away in March of 2013 due to complications from a stroke. Papa went through her purse sometime after her passing and found that love note dated 1961. He has held on to it ever since he found it.”

Hurley said her Papa recently told her that when it’s time for him to go to heaven, he wants that love note placed in his hands, along with their marriage license and wedding pictures.

“His reasoning? He wants to take them and hand them to mama when he gets to heaven and make her fall in love with him all over again. Just in case she has forgotten him,” said Hurley, who is planning a benefit for her Papa at the Wren’s Nest, 642 Woodlawn Ave., Bucyrus, on Jan. 11.

“We will have food available for a donation along with baked goods for our children’s carnival that includes a cakewalk,” Hurley said. “We will have raffles throughout the day, a 50/50 drawing and a silent auction. Businesses throughout Crawford County and surrounding areas have been so generous and have donated amazing items.

“John ‘Wip’ Wiparina, owner of the Wren’s Nest, even donated the use of the back room and patio area for the event and we appreciate it so much.”

She said a pair of weekend field passes worth about $500 were donated by the organizers of Inkcarceration, two certificates from Mauk Tactical Mansfield for CCW classes and a hand-painted guitar by Hurley’s daughter and local artist, Jess-Ann Wallen of Imagination and Creations, are just a few of the items that will be auctioned or given away as door prizes throughout the day.

The event kicks off Saturday at noon and will be happening until at least 9 p.m. at the Wren’s Nest. Proceeds from the event will be used for medical and other items not covered by Nolen’s medical insurance.

“I truly appreciate all of the outpouring of love and support for my papa,” Hurley said.

To donate or for more information, contact Hurley at 419-569-4764 or her mom, Phyllis Nolen, at 419-617-9078 or visit the event page on Facebook.