Blessed Birthday to our Uncle Comillo Morelli dcd 1968

   

  Our Uncle Comillo Morelli was a very special human.  He was our Dad's sister Etta Maxine's husband.

  He was born 20 May 1908 in Petaluma, Sonoma County, CA.   I had the privilege of knowing his parents and most of his Grandparents. One in particular  Granda Ricioli.

  Comillo and Etta had 3 boys, Robert, Donald and Michael. I grew up with the older boys. Mike was born quite some time later. I had the joy of babysitting Mike.

  Comillo's parents were: Amedeo Morelli born 19 Jan 1880 in Cevio, Switzerland his wife was Irene Mattei b 6 Feb 1883 in California and  both died in Sonoma Co., California.  He 11 May 1951 and I was almost 11. Irene Mattei died 22 June 1968, also Petaluma, Sonoma Co. CA.  

Remembering them with fondness.  His demeanor was so different from his wife's.   Grandma Irene was very very formal and prim. He was what I called human. Even though I was small, I was for ever
having Grandma Irene, telling me to set down and be quiet. She was raised, children were to be seen but not heard. I learned to go to our house when she showed up because otherwise we children would be setting in chairs not even able to speak to each other.

Some of her family that lived near were not that way.  But it comes back to me often.  He was polite and friendly but we seldom seen him. He would go to the barn or cattle pens with his son.

 We moved from Wyoming to California so Dad could help milk the cows because the war kept taking his workers off to war. Dad was color blind so they wouldn't take him so, with Mom's health and Uncle Comillo in need of help we left Wyoming and came to Petaluma, CA to live.

Uncle Comillo had a dairy ranch that became well known in the Dairy Industry. Ollimac Dairy.
The boys helped with daily chores as did  Aunt Etta and me as a tag along.  Loved to feed the calves, and Don  later had some really cute Banties as a project for either school or 4-H.  He had several varieties of them. Some only 2 or 3 inches tall and some about 6 inches tall.  They were many colored but unique when he was school age and up.

Bob worked with the calves and feeding and watering. Gathered wood, and assisted in the Dairy Barn as he grew up. Don did the same over time. Both went to college and served in the service of their country as did their DAD prior to his marriage to my Aunt.  That is how they met.

Bob was 5 years older than I and Don was 2 years older than I.

Two of Comillo's brothers served during the WAR. One used to buzz the property if he had a chance and would wave the wings to tell us hi.   Maybe both did but I recall one definitely did. They were
Alvin and Vernon Morelli.

Aunt Etta met Uncle Comillo at the AFBase in Cheyenne, Wyo where she was living when he was stationed there.  Her Mom lived in Cheyenne, as did two of her sisters with her. Muriel and Bethel Jones.

Uncle Comillo loved to tease me, when he would eat his favorite cheese as a snack before going to milk in the afternoons.  We used to share snack with them: Mom, Dad, Aunt and Uncle and boys if they were around.  Because they milked about 2 pm or 2:30. It would not end until about 7 or so.
You had to milk the cows, clean the barn and the milk room and prepare for the 2:30 am next shift.
So generally it was cheese and crackers or cheese and crusty bread.   Uncle had a mustache,  and sometimes the cheese would get whiskers on top of his lip.  Since he loved it he did not notice sometimes the extra.   He always gave Aunt and  I a hug and kiss before going out the door.

 He tried for years to have me taste it saying it was mild just smelled that way. I so remember the fun we had when I would back away instead of wanting kissed.  Aunt Etta finally told him it was when the cheese was in mustache I backed away.

The funny thing was, many eons later in the late 1990's I went to lunch with a friend and we had a French salad for lunch.   Pear and Gargonzola.  It was tasty to my shock.  Funny how the nose made it smell different.  I realized after ordering it was his cheese.   I am glad I did, "Uncle it was as you said".  I shared this story with her and she said her first was a waning experience also. But she had eaten it for years.

 We loved when birthday's rolled around for him and my Dad and my other Aunt.  We many times shared them all together in the 1950's and later.  Aunt Etta grew strawberries, We supplied the cream and  the other Aunt provided either the biscuits or I made Dad's favorite Chocolate cake from the Hershey Can.  WHY because Aunt Ruth Hoffman Feil ( Mom's baby sis) 18 May, Dad 19 May and Uncle Comillo was 20 May.   It was double awesome if it fell on a weekend where everyone could get together and share a day.

I so miss our getting together with family and with friends.

My Uncle worked hard and diligently all his life, was hard for him to  drop work and share time. He laughed hard and enjoyed company.  I still see when his eyes would sparkle with happiness.

We lost him with cancer while my own family was in Hawaii so I was not able to go to  his services.
Amazes me as to how often that family comes to mind.  But they were our only family in California for more than 9 years.

A fun thing Bob, Don and I used to do was go to Granda's (Uncle Comillo's Grandmother)  in early fall and help her make the cough drops for the family for the winter.  We picked the greens in the landino (Lawn area) and she boiled them in water and added sugar after taking the greens out. It had to come to a hard boil.
She dropped them on waxed paper we put butter on, small spoons full. After set she would cut them and then we wrapped them. She then put in gallon jugs for each family of her's. We were always included in that family.

This beloved woman died 15 Oct 1960 in Petaluma, Ca   I would visit her when in High School after school weekly when I could. She was more than 100 when she died. Granda was Matilda Traversi born in Italy, when married had to leave most of the wedding items behind to expensive to ship but she brought her feather bed she made for their wedding with her.
I have one pillow left she made for each grand when they tore the bed apart. Feather bed pillow.
She remarried to Achillie Ricioli after  Amedeo Morelli died.  Amedeo gave us a ride in the back of the car where the trunk opened to set in to His place  about three miles from his sons. I have never forgotten that event either.  He complimented us on our doing such a good job. I suspect he was afraid we would jump about and fall out.

Bob or Don do you remember?  I have so many more stories I am going to share. Like when Don and I went to the dam to check the pollywogs and when telling me I was a sissy and a girl, which landed him in hospital. Not my intent and when Don dared me and he landed in the cactus.

Love you guys always.  Mike being born later missed a lot of fun.  Your family needs to hear some of these stories so they know you did have a loving family and fun along with work.

More to come.

Happy Birthday to Our Dad RAY DEE JONES SR dcd

  Today is the day our Dad was born.  His life was harried and worn and fun and casual.
He started life in Waterloo, Iowa area.  Later rode train to Wyoming where his Dad had gone to work for a cousin, with his Mom. He said he sat on her lap most of the time on the ride. He was small but he remembers going over a wide river and long bridge on the train.  ( I never got him back to that place) Felt bad for that.

He tried hard to do the right thing.  Seeing what he lived through he never wanted his family to experience those things.

YES, HUNGER, COLD, NEGLECT, were all part of his early life. Part of it was the times.

Some of it was the personalities. He loved school and was glad for all the schooling he received.

 He took us to see his school house he was so proud he was able to go there.  He made it through 8th grade.  Which in my day was same as High School.  That is how far back our Education has slid.

He had great support from family's when they lived near family and friends.

He was matured with a great couple whom we met. Mr and Mrs. Morris Thomas of Wheatland, WYO or Slater area.  His brother was taken in by another Rancher. The girls went to Cheyenne, WYO to live.  Found Husbands when young and had fabulous mates and families.  All the siblings were solid in their marriages. I had great Aunt's and some great Uncle's.  I was able to learn much from each one of them. Even Grandma came around and was a different person from when I was small. I loved them all.

Amazed that all the children had excellent families.

Took Dad years to find his Father.  We did find him and was so happy to share with us.
 It took Mom to get Dad to make up to his MOM.  She wouldn't marry him until he and his Mom were on speaking terms.

Ironic how two people could love each other so much and take it out in negative feedback then cry because they fought.  Grandad never remarried.  Grandma did and had a nice life while he was alive.

Dad worked on the ranches in Wheatland, Wyo area then got a chance to go to work at the Diamond Tail Ranch in Greybull, Wyo.   He gave up Rodeo after marrying MOM.  He loved working the cattle and the land.

He came to California to help his Brother in Law with his Dairy Ranch since milkers were being called to WAR. Ollimac Dairy, Very well known in CA.
When War was over he changed jobs and worked another dairy and chicken Ranch combo.
I watched a horrid fire there. Had to run to neighbors to tell them to call for Fire help. I was 5 or 6.
It was end of WAR time and few had phones, our neighbors did and the men had gotten in the truck to go try and stop the fire approaching the ranches buildings. They had grabbed shovels and buckets.

When we moved to our own land in 1948, Dad called it his Mini Ranch.  We had cattle, cows for milk, animals for eating and chickens for eggs. We grew wheat, oats, and alfalfa. We always had a good size garden.
We grew corn, beans, cabbages, squash, beets, turnips, carrots, onions, cucumbers, radishes and some times we had Strawberries. But it was the Blackberries I loved. Mom used Asparagus to mark garden rows.
We had fruit trees because it was a test ground for a famous person. Delicious apple was created there on our ground some years before we bought it. Best Blackberries ever.
I liked the apple from tree before the Delicious.  It was more tart.  I loved my horse. Old Crow.

Ironic, I even had a pet crow named Pete we raised after he fell out of his nest 30 feet up in tree.
I had a 4-H calf that when grew up I milked.  Some day write a story about this lady.  She loved Bologna and lettuce sandwiches.

 Learned I did not like Geese, they may be watch dogs but they are mean.
Loved my Dog, Australian Shepherd.  Tubby. When small he rolled everywhere so called Tubby but his legs finally grew. Dad help me pick him out from one of his friend ranch.

Dad liked to have cats on the ranch to mouse and keep rodents down.

Dad taught us to butcher and care for the meat and grow the produce and care for the keeping of the vegetables as of course Mom did too.

Dad taught me to make Pancakes when I was about 6 years of age. Mom was very ill.  He, later when we had our own home, taught me how to make biscuits and use a gas oven.  Mom was very ill again. Taught me how to hand milk a cow, feed hogs and chickens and horses. I learned how to feed calves at my Aunts home long before we bought our place.  I learned milk machines the year I graduated

Dad was strong on his children getting a good education and be reliable.

Dad would have a beer after hard work and share with friends but only on holidays it seemed any thing harder was around.  Eggnog and rum or bourbon for holiday drink.

Learned when I had first child Dad was allergic to milk.  That would explain why he would get sick if he ate oatmeal for breakfast.  He liked it. It did not like him. He tolerated whole milk before processing better than the modern processed stuff we have today.  So did our  boys. And their Dad doesn't drink it either. Double whammy.

Dad wanted his children to graduate from college.  I promised him I would 3 classes from finishing but doubt it will happen.

I worked, married and we have 5 children, 10 grands and 3 great grands. O yes, I did 4-H when young and genealogist/historian since. Made many dresses and wedding gowns and skating ensembles.
Worked in school system since first child started school until last grandchild graduated. Even taught Adult school for awhile. Taught classes and worked as aide at times. Also taught CCD.

Sis had 3 boys raised two. changed spouses had some interesting businesses, sold drapes and did a car and house sales book for her area. One buried at Punch Bowl if I remember right as infant.

Older brother graduated high school, had done 4-H and FFA and the USA in VietNam. Came home semi broken. Married had 3 children. 2 boys 1 girl.  2 are married.  Did care for MOM for a period of time. Has his handicaps for health, since he was a new born.  Today do not think they would allow in service.  Our children have some of same problems and the military wouldn't take them. Just Don qualified.

Younger brother graduated HS, had his own business, then sold it and started driving long haul trucking. He also did FFA, when in school.  He has two boys from first marriage and 3 girls from second marriage., they came with the terrific wife.  He has lived all over west coast also.

Dad so love you and miss you, been a long while since 1995. Shame on you Loosing Mom in the store again.  That joke came back to take you away. That is how she told me you were gone.
"Sue, I lost your Dad shopping today."  They played the game in the store,  I thought she was sharing their game and then she re said it and I realized he was gone.

Yup teasing the waitress friend ordering your favorite sandwich with your wife, son and grandson, you left us all.

You are both together again and for that I am very glad. Thanks for all you taught me and helped me with always.

BLESSED MOTHER'S DAY

   2020 MOTHER'S DAY THOUGHTS


WISHING EVERYONE A BLESSED MOTHER'S DAY AND LIFE.

ENJOY THE MOTHERHOOD WHILE YOU CAN,

IT SLIDES AWAY SO QUICKLY.

IF BLESSED YOU THEN BECOME A GRANDMOTHER
WITH NEW TWISTS AND TURNS.

OF COURSE IT IS ALL FUN IN OUR TIME OF LIFE.

IF DOUBLY BLESSED YOU MAY BECOME A GREAT GRANDMOTHER.

OF WHICH I AM  THREE TIMES SO FAR.

THANK  YOU CHILDREN FOR TOLERATING ME AND SHARING YOUR LIVES WITH YOUR DAD AND I.
 WE DO LOVE YOU.

WE LOVE MANY OF OUR FRIENDS CHILDREN THE SAME.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE BONDING. 2020


EDWARD (BINKY) WAS FIRST, DONALD WAS SECOND, CANDY WAS THIRD, BILLIJO (NAMED FOR MY GIRLFRIEND WAS FOURTH AND ALAN COMPLETED THAT GENERATION.

EDWARD  HAS 3, 1 B 2 G, DON HAS 4 ALL B, CANDY HAS 2 B, BJ HAS 1 B AND ALAN GETS TO PLAY UNCLE TO THEM ALL.

CANDY HAS BOTH B MARRIED AND OLDEST HAS 1 B AND YOUNGER HAS 2 G. THIS IS ALL WE HAVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION AT THIS TIME.

LOVE TO ALL MOTHER'S EVERYWHERE, KIN OR NON.

SUSI JONES PENTICO