Work

This week's Sepia Saturday theme is Work and I'll focus on my maternal grandmother, Betty Whitfield and my father, John Riley.

Betty Whitfield attended nursing school at Vanderbilt University. She did not finish her nursing degree, though, because she contracted tuberculosis and was sent to convalesce. After three year's rest, she had recovered, but had sustained some permanent lung damage.

Betty went on to get a teaching degree in Oklahoma. She taught mostly second grade for decades, but I don't have a photo of her in a classroom -- the photo below is of her retirement party. Betty is standing, holding the package. Her very good friend, Avanelle Burns is seated beside her.

My father, John Riley, also started out in nursing school, but ended up a mechanical engineer. John started work as a young teen with his own lawn mowing business. By the time he received his engineering degree he had worked many jobs including summer farm hand, dental assistant in the US Air Force, mattress deliverer, ice cream scooper, and draftsman. But he was always an engineer at heart, able to design, fix or build pretty much anything.

After retirement, John continued working as a volunteer for the American Red Cross. He is on the left in the photo below. One of his Red Cross assignments was interviewing affected New York City residents after 9/11.

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Going Out

Sepia Saturday theme this week is Going Out. I can hear my grandmother's voice in my head saying, "Oh! Look at me in that number!" or "That was some garb I was wearing!" and laughing. And that IS some garb she has on in the first picture! It was taken around 1929 when she was about 14. My grandmother was named Phoebe Frances Whitfield after her Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Frances. Apparently, when she was a little girl, she liked playing with the pig, whose name was Betty. Her siblings started calling her Pig Betty and eventually, Betty stuck. She's with her older brother, Sam in the second picture.

Betty Whitfield, Alex Lucas and Ethel c1929. Probably near Valliant, OK

Sam Whitfield and Betty Whitfield c1931

Here Betty is with a friend and with my grandfather, Lewis Moore.

By the time the pictures below were taken, Betty and my mom had moved to California.

Sandra Moore and Betty Whitfield Moore c1947 Nita Jones and Betty

Into the 50s -- Here, Betty is the one wearing glasses. She's beside her sister, Dell who has the white earrings. Dell's husband, Harold Bates, was a fireman and everyone is ready to go to the Fireman's Ball. Harold is the fireman on the left. My mother, Sandra, is the rightmost girl and she was about 13 when this was taken in 1956 in Fresno, CA.

Both of my grandmothers attended my brother's 8th grade graduation in Page, AZ in 1986.

Treasa Hall Riley, John Whitfield Riley, Betty Whitfield Moore Vedder May 1986


And just a couple pictures of me and my dad ready to go somewhere.

Margaret and John Riley about 1966, Cambria, CA Margaret and John Riley c1972, Phoenix, AZ

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