Mom said she and dad both lied on their marriage license. Dad was only 20 but said he was 21 and mom was only 15 but said she was 18. She was born Dec 24, 1932 and they were married Nov 21, 1948. She turned 16 a month after they were married. That’s a shocker huh? Mom said she and dad were rehearsing their lie on their way to get married. I have a picture of mom in a nice dress standing outside waiting for dad. She had already picked a fight with her father and told him she was going to go and live with her mother in Omaha. Her dad gave her $7.00 for a bus ticket, which they later used to pay the preacher. Mom said she was depressed in the picture because dad didn’t show up. She said she had started her period and was afraid dad wouldn’t marry her. Apparently, Dad had gone hunting with Clyde Dethridge because the preacher couldn’t marry them until later that evening. They were married at the preacher’s house. Dad told mom her wedding ring cost $15.00. I have a picture of Dad and Clyde holding a big bird pinned on the wall. Mom said after they were married, she put her wedding dress in the little brown suitcase on the back of dad’s motorcycle and it fell off. When they went back to get it, they couldn’t find the dress. Megan has the little brown suitcase. They were married in November and there was snow and ice on the road. They didn’t make it to Omaha. Below is the famous picture of Mom on the motorcycle. She would have been 16. Cathy Wilson sent this pic into a motorcycle magazine and they printed it. I don't think mom realized how famous this picture would be in our family. I think she made us all proud.
Joy Craig was Mom’s best friend in high school. They lived in Excelsior Springs, MO. Grandma and Grandpa, Russell Orr McKinley, were divorced when mom was about 13. She, Bob and Richard moved with their dad to the farm in Excelsior Springs, MO. Russell Lee stayed in Omaha with Grandma, Ruth Lucille Wright McKinley. Joy was the daughter of the Miller family that lived across the bridge from our house at 219 Suddarth Street in Liberty. The Miller’s had lots of kids and were a poor family. Poorer than us. I only remember a few of the kids. Rusty, Walter and Vonda. Vonda babysat us occasionally. Joy married Tommy Craig about the same time mom got married and they remained friends.
