Happy Birthday Great Uncle Verl

The really cute one is me. I'm on Great Uncle Verl's knee, then Dad, smoking his pipe. We are at Great Great Aunt Nellie McKinley's house in Portland, probably  1950. Nellie was always happy when Dad visited with his family. Mom probably took the pic. 

Today is the 121st birth anniversary for Verl Edward Parker. He was born in Corvallis to Edward E. and Mary Luella Parker and attended Corvallis schools until the family moved to Portland or possibly a farm in Gresham. I'm not yet sure of the dates. He was a sweet man and a voracious writer. Nellie saved all his writings from World War I and there are lots of pictures taken Germany and France where he worked as a mechanic. In all the letters he wrote home he started, "I'm feeling fine as usual..." And he always ended, "Lots and Lots of Love and Kisses for you Nellie and for mother and Sister and Baby Jack." (Baby Jack was my Dad.)

Probably Germany, Verl is one of the mechanics. He was with the 148th Field Artillery, Army of Occupation.

  After the war, Verl worked on Swan Island on the family farm, security for Portland Woolen Mills and had short-term jobs. He purchased a slender acre of land on Garibaldi Bay and built a "shack" there in 1932 where he spent summers during the 30s and part of the 40s, fishing, crabbing and enjoying life. He had a circle of friends in the area that included his cousin Burr McKinley, wife Mae and their kids Burr Jr., Jay and Dorothy. He loved the Garibaldi, Rockaway area. He passed that love to my Dad, and on to my brother and me.

By 1926 Verl's parents and sister had died and when the Depression came, he and Nellie couldn't keep the farm out of foreclosure. After a time, they shared a home on Flint Street in Portland. They kept up a big backyard garden and cooked in a big wood kitchen stove. Neither Nellie nor Verl married. He took care of his aunt until he died in 1951, in her home on the front room lounge after lunch and while they were chatting. His heart gave out.

I just barely remember my Great Uncle Verl, but because he and Nellie tucked away all this family history, and because my parents saved it, I am getting to know him and Nellie and even their parents, grandparents and cousins. Thank you, thank you, thank you and Happy 121st Great Uncle Verl.