Robert "Bob" Greenley: Early Years (Part 2)

1921 - 1942

Bob Greenley was born in Wagon Mound, in the northeast corner of New Mexico, the first child of Ansel and Mary (Maddux) Greenley. (Read about their courtship here ( Ansel meets Mary). Ansel and Mary were working a small farm with the help of Ansel's brother Joe.  Dad was referred to as "Bobby" in his mother's diary.

The family began to grow, as Lela came along in 1922.  The farm was less successful, and the whole family left for Casper, Wyoming soon after.  They lived in Casper for a couple of years, where Bette was born in 1926. Family history is hazy, but it appears as if Ansel struggled to find work, and Ansel and Mary moved their family to Rocky Ford, Colorado,  When they moved on to Colorado , Uncle Joe and family stayed behind in Wyoming.

Ansel with twins William "Billy" 
and Joseph "Joey"

Mary gave birth to twins, Joseph and William, in January 1929. Only William survived. Ansel and Mary's last child, Everett, was born in Rocky Ford, Colorado, in 1931.

One of the influences on my dad was the Seventh Day Adventist Church.  His mother was raised in the church.  Ansel was not.  I don't think they were completely devoted to the church until 1930, when Ansel, his mother, and his brother Matt, were all baptized.  I wonder if they turned to the church after the death of Joseph.  But that is a guess.  I know that dad and his siblings all went to Seventh Day Adventist schools (rather than public schools) and that Ansel and Mary were devout members through the rest of their lives.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Ansel and Mary struggled financially (Honestly they struggled throughout their lives).  Ansel had jobs as a salesman while in Rocky Ford.  In 1936, Ansel was able to get a job as a cook at the VA Hospital in Roseburg, Oregon. They packed up the family - again - late in June, and two weeks later arrived in Roseburg.  It was instant love. The family called Oregon "God's country".  Finally, they were home

A side note about Dad's Grandma Greenley. She lived near Ansel and Mary from New Mexico, Wyoming, then Rocky Ford Colorado.  They didn't want to leave her in Colorado when they moved to Roseburg. By that time she was ill, diagnosed with cancer. My Dad and his siblings talked about her with much adoration and love. They may of spoken of her to me because apparently I am built she like her. (Thank you Grandma) She was six foot tall. She gave birth to my Grandfather (Ansel) who was 6'8".  So the Greenley tall is her genes doing their work.

Grandma Greenley (Mary Brown Greenley)
at home in New Mexico (1921)

My father attended the Seventh Day Adventist School in Roseburg through 10th grade.  To continue his education, he went to Laurelwood Academy, which was located in Gaston, Oregon, outside of Portland.  He didn't have the money for the tuition, so while in school, he was given a job working in the dairy. He had to get up extremely early, go to school all day, then do homework.  It wasn't long before he became discouraged, and decided to return home.  Remember, this was during the depression -- so money and work were scarce.

In this picture Ansel and Mary with their 5 children. Back row from left: Lela, Bob (behind her), Mary, Ansel. Front row: Everett, Bill, Bette. In this picture, I see a strong resemblance between Bob and his grandson Dodge  

According to the 1940 census, he was 19 years old, living at home, working as a gardener.  At some point, he decided to move back to Colorado, to live with his Uncle Matt and Aunt Eva.  He was successful in finding good work while living there.

He wrote a letter home, on Dec. 8, 1941.  (The day after Pearl Harbor).  He doesn't mention Pearl Harbor at all.  He tells his parents he really likes his job and his boss.  He sent money home to go to help building a new church school.  At the end of the letter he says, "It looks like I'll be coming home to join up."

Picture taken in Denver, Colorado (1942). Along the bottom of the picture his mother had written "new car, new suit, age 21"