Having a funeral for one of my tree family.

I have this huge tree in the back yard that died. We knew it was sick a few years ago and we knew it was old. We called a "tree doctor" to fix it and he said it was between 125 and 150 years old.
He did what he could, but after 6 years, it gave up the ghost. A moment of silence for this tree that has been around so long and saw so much.
It was also the best place to put a tire swing!!

Lorraine, it's always so sad when a tree dies because they leave such a void. I used to enjoy watching lightning storms until a few years ago. Last year, during a thunderstorm, a destructive downdraft knocked down many trees in its path. We lost a number of trees, but none of our thank goodness. We have a very large native pecan tree in our birthing pasture, one of only two trees in there, that didn't leaf out as usual last spring. Closer inspection revealed lightning damage all the way down the trunk. It was obvious that it has been hit by lightning at least twice because some large branches were already dead. We have to have the dead and dying parts removed so a falling branch won't kill any cattle. I'm hoping to salvage about 1/2 of the tree.

I hate to see someone cutting down a tree that has been there since the civil war. I mean think of all the things that probably happened around it. (Probably because I taught history, and I love the thought of a tree that's been around so long.)

My son in law started to cut another and I was right there reminding him that tree had been around longer than his grandpa.

Here's a picture of the poor little thing. It's not really good and I'm a long way off so you might not be able to see how big it is. The limbs are falling so they do need to get those off, but I hope they will leave the trunk.

Is that a photo of the one your SIL started to cut? My FIL was a notorious tree destroyer. When we bought the ranch, I spent the first year identifying whatever I could get close to. There are still some areas of the wooded area that we have not been to because of all the greenbriar, poison ivy and yaupon. About 1/5 of our ranch is wooded. Although the land is classified as Post Oak Savanna, we have very few Post Oaks. Live oaks make up the majority of the large trees. There are a number of native species, but those are smaller trees and some invasive species. Those last ones have to go. My long term goal is to remove the competing weeds, shrubs and trees that are growing around the oaks. Most of the mesquite has to go although I would like to keep a few, but my DH thinks I'm crazy. There are two patches of land that have so many mesquite you can't get into it.

Here's a photo of one of the few post oaks. It is surrounded by live oaks. A seasonal creek runs behind these trees.

That is so pretty. Is it a new picture? What a place to sit under the trees and relax. You have so many nice trees there, it's mostly pine here and some oak, like the pic. I sent

The picture I sent is my poor ole civil war tree. They haven't cut it yet, it's too big around, and it's even been hard to find a professional who will do it unless they get a fortune.
They are afraid it will fall, since it's dead, but there's no way that trunk is going anywhere. It probably has roots to Louisiana. They will get the branches off and maybe leave the trunk. At least it wouldn't be totally gone

The photo was taken last summer. It'll be a great place to sit under once the mess is cleared from around the edge of the crown.

Your poor tree could still cause trouble even with the branches removed. We've had smallish branches fall on equipment and do considerable damage. Two years ago lightning hit a large mesquite tree. The falling branches killed two pregnant cows. Maybe your tree professionals can use a cherry picker to help remove that tree. Sometimes old trees develope a hollow center making them even more dangerous. I don't envy you having to make these decisions.

Well, it's really my daughter and son in laws problem now, and they
don't have as much respect for "old stuff" as I do.
They bought and planted a little willow tree a while back and when they had to move some big stuff around, they cut down a really nice oak tree in order to save the $5.00 willow tree!! Oh well.