Carl Alden Groff was born amid the Great Depression. Named after a doctor in New York, Carl grew into a shy little boy--and his nickname, Doc. Despite living in a house without electricity or running water, Carl and his older sister, Esther, always managed to find fun, whether it was swimming in the creek, shooting fireworks, or sledding in the moonlight. Their bond was strong; their affection for each other even stronger.

In a wonderful tribute to family and love, Esther details Carl's life as he matured into manhood and eventually built a career as a contractor. A gentle man who...