At Sadie’s, a final goodbye

By Lance Griffin

Published: August 2, 2008

Frank, the security guard at Sadie’s Flea Market, stopped on his way down to Larry Geimer’s booth Saturday morning to pick up something.

A minute later, he walked away from one of the vendors with a large white wreath and a wire stand. When he finally got to the south end of the market, a tearful Wendy Carter met him with a hug. Frank put the wreath on the stand and placed it next to a wooden desk on the back of a trailer. The desk also held a small vase with two flowers. Next to the vase was a framed picture of Geimer.

Carter said honoring her deceased father here, this way, was the only thing that made sense. He sold his wares here for the past seven years, finding whatever he could for a buck and selling it for two.

Selling stuff at the flea market was an addiction for him, Carter said. He retired many years ago from the home-building business and set up shop at Sadie’s, where he became a regular.

And along the way, he made some friends.

“He talked me in to buying a bunch of stuff I probably didn’t need,” said one man who frequented Geimer’s table at Sadie’s.

So, amidst the plastic chairs, rusted tables, colored bandanas, washtubs and puppies for sale, friends and family paused for just a minute to say goodbye to Larry G.

The service was simple. Carter read the 23rd Psalm and an oft-quoted poem about not weeping for the dead, because they’re not here anymore.
With that, it was over.

A handful of Larry G’s faithful customers offered hugs and words of sympathy. Other nearby vendors stopped unpacking their merchandise and paused to pay respects.

“I know y’all have things to do,” Carter told them. “Y’all get back to work and make a lot of money today.”

He fought a long battle with cancer before passing away July 25. He was cremated and his family plans to spread his ashes on a small farm in Wisconsin where he grew up.