LAKELAND, Fla. - World War II veteran Edwin Gideons grew up as the youngest of 11 in his family. Times were tough in the 1930s in rural Florida, so he was helping out at home as best he could long before he joined the service.

As a teen, he found opportunity in the majestic oak trees sprawled across Lacoochee, Florida.

"We would pick the moss, because it was in high demand," he said with a grin.

"The other teenagers were picking it, so I thought, why not? I'll join 'em," he told FOX 13.

Cured moss was used for mattress and furniture padding, and Edwin found a way to cure it faster than the others by pouring lime and hot water on it.

"I don't know how I figured that out, but I did, and it worked," he said with a sly grin.

Curing it faster meant that he could sell it faster and, in

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