Happy 100th Dad

December 27, 1906 my father was born to Charles and Lucille (nee Webster) Raley. For their time, these guys seemed to do OK. Apparently there was a lot of love between his parents. They were together till a massive heart attack killed Charles in 1953. He was born and raised in a plantation atmosphere in rural Kentucky not far from where Abraham Lincoln grew up. My father was a man of few words and from what I gather, not at home much. He certainly wasn't around much for us kids, but he worked the same job day after day year after year at International Harvester in East Moline Il. He was a good man but didn't show much love. He paid his bills and always had food on the table every night. He died when I was 21 and him being fifty years older than me, we didn't see eye to eye much. That's OK, I still loved him.


My dad as a child, he's on the right, his older brother Charles is on the left and the gentleman in the middle is their "help".


My dad and his family. He got the "short" gene. thanks.


My dad, my brother and me. Have I thrown up yet?



My dad and mom. 1965. He was 20 years older than her. I used to win bets by saying that my grandmother was younger than my dad. My mother's mother was younger than my dad. A fact my grandfather could NOT live with til the day he died.
Yeah, that's me in the background.

I wonder what you'd say, how you'd feel and most importantly, what you'd think. Have I done OK? Are you proud of me? Vickie? Did I do the right thing? You have the answers now. How's Butch..Mom? What I wouldn't give for 30 seconds...