Status Updates From Distant Sons

I e made some strides to try to understand this and the italics I was reading are from Deveraux from 60 or so years ago. It’s “Devro” his brother and uncle and really hard to get the grasp of what they are saying. The Uncle Frankie is very short and says very little
Now I’m in present and I have gathered the old guy who is getting his house fixed is present day Deveraux and he is a crotchety old guy too.

This isn’t making much sense to me. To be honest the past in italics isn’t clear so I a hoping to get more out of it