Bob Greenley: his love of the outdoors (Part 9)

Our Dad loved the outdoors. Every opportunity was taking us (or himself) up the mountain, down the river, or anyplace else he could enjoy the beauty of Oregon.

Deer Hunting

Dad with his deer

Deer hunting was a big passion.  Every fall he would take a week, usually traveling to Eastern Oregon. When I smell venison, it evokes really strong memories of my dad. I remember going as a family at least once.  The following pictures are from a trip with a large group of friends, including his brother, Everett.  He always came home with his deer!

Uncle Everett

This picture includes the jeep. Dad is sitting on the back bumper

They made the newspaper!  Fall of 1955

Scouting

Ross and Dale (ca 1964)

As a family, we were very involved with Boy Scouts and Campfire Girls.  Both Dale and Ross were part of Boy Scout Troop 4.  Though he was not the Scoutmaster, Dad was always heavily involved. Dad was always part of camping trips and other activities. Dale recently told me he often despaired at Dad's heavy involvement, but his friends always enjoyed it.  Susie was always part of Camp Fire.  Mom was a leader -- and her involvement led to her being president of the Camp Fire Council in 1964. There was a huge community of parents and kids who were part of our lives.  

Ross (ca 1967)

Brother Ross, reached out to a fellow Boy Scout from those days, and he gifted us with his memories of our dad.

“Bob Greenley was a superb assistant scoutmaster to Roseburg's Troop 4 in the early-mid 1960's. He loved the outdoors and shared his enthusiasm with young scouts like myself. We only got 'lost' once, on a hill during a rainstorm, but his calm demeanor kept us from panicking. I always imagined him to be a professional forester, as he shared all those positive traits.” (from Carl Troy)

In search of Religion

I am not sure what led Mom and Dad to start investigating churches to attend in the middle 1960s.  Mom's background was Lutheran, but she also had strong Mormon roots from her mother.  I've already discussed Dad's history with the Seventh Day Adventist church.  I remember them going to an evening event at the SDA church, and coming home appalled at what they heard.  Mom read a book about Mormonism - and couldn't figure out WHY anyone would belong to such a church. 

The Oregonian ran a series of articles about the significant churches and religious groups and their belief systems.  Mom and Dad were intrigued by the Unitarians.  They found there was a Unitarian Fellowship meeting near us.  Mom and Dad took Lance and I to the services.  I remember going to "Sunday school".  In these classes we learned about the major religions of the world.  Unitarians don't tell members what to believe.  They believe in the journey of discovering your personal faith.  It is a church that involves itself in many social justice causes.  When Dad got sick, and needed immediate surgery (He was taken to Eugene) in August of 1970, it was church members who took Lance and I in while Mom was in Eugene.  

Tomorrow's post will focus on the birth of his first grandchild, and the last year of his life.