Robert Burkett

 MY END OF STAY AT LOWRY

Sometime after November of 1956 Ellen and I settled into a routine. I was spending as much time as possible with her considering all the school and furnace job I had. I think I decided she might like me a little as she asked me to go to Steamboat Springs with her to meet her parents, Norm and Alice Buchanan (of course I would meet all 7 of her siblings as well). This involved driving my newly purchased 1949  Ford over 2 mountain passes. Have I mentioned before that I was born and raised in Florida and the first snow ever for me was in November of 1956! I was excited that she wanted me to meet her family but had no idea how far was Steamboat Springs nor hor difficult the drive would become. There is a saying that "ignorance is bliss". Well, I certainly was very blissful!

A friend of the family (who Ellen had stayed with during Business School) offered the loan of a pair of tire chains. I had never even seen tire chains much less knew how to use them! We started out and at first all was OK, but as we went up in elevation it began to snow! At that time there were no Interstate Highways so the route consisted of driving on US40 over Berthoud Pass and Rabbit Ears Pass. I decided on trying out my "new" snow chains and some how attached them to the rear wheels. I did not know anything about tightening the chains so they made a horrendous noise (clack, clack rattle rattle). So in my infinite wisdom I removed the chains!. If one has never driven on snowy, icy roads I can attest that it is a challenge! By some miracle we made it to Rabbit Ears Pass terrified and almost out of gas. Ellen assured me there was a gas station on the East side of the pass, so no problem, right? It turns out the station was closed. I can not describe how much snow was on that pass. The banks were taller than the Ford and I felt like I was driving in a tunnel (there wasn't one though).. We made it to the west side of the pass and there was a gas station!. I managed to slide up to a pump and put gas in the Ford but it was so slick I couldn't pull forward so had to back out until we were pointed downhill again. I have not seen as many stranded autos as were on that pass that evening!. We finally made it to Steamboat Springs and I thought I had won the lottery (don't think there was one then though). Oh no, Ellen told me we needed to drive up a dirt (gravel?) road another 22 miles, beyond a town called Clark, Colorado. Some how we made it all the way without once leaving the road but I don't know how.

Ellen's family had recently moved to a place called the "Murphy Ranch". It was hard to see much with all that snow but it consisted of 2 old homes and a big barn. Norm and Alice would manage this property until Norm retired in 1966. I stayed in the "bunk house" with all the children (not with Ellen). It was an adventure to which I was not accustomed with lots of cats (Feral). My first observation was that I was not suited for this life as it looked like a lot of hard work! Overall it was a very nice visit. Ellen and I rode horses up and down the road in front of the ranch. I think the boys were all trying to watch me fall off the horse, which I did not! At Christmas we went to Steamboat and sang Christmas songs on a hay ride and I went to the church with Ellen's family for Christmas. Then it was time to go back to Lowry. We loaded up in the Ford and headed out! It wasn't as snowy on the way back but boy was it cold, like -40 degrees cold. We got as far as a town called Frazier, Colorado when we both noticed it was getting colder in the Ford. Again, I had no idea about anti-freeze in the radiator (this was before modern cooling systems). Luckily the Ford kept running and once on Berthoud Pass the temperature outside went up and the heat came back to some extent. We made it back with no accidents safe and sound (I question how sound we were). We then arrived at the conclusion that we should get married before I drove Ellen crazy! I found out soon after that I was ending school in February of 1957 and would have to pick a base and a different line of work as there would be no more Matador missiles for which to change boxes. I had a choice of several bases most of which I couldn't imagine (Minnesota, Indiana or Oklahoma??) My decision came down to 2 bases, one in Yuma, Arizona, the other in California. My thought was "they grow oranges in California, so it must be like Florida, right?"

So, I made the decision that we would select Edwards AFB as the place to spend our first 3 years of marriage.  I was due to ship out on February 12, 1957 so that set our date to be married (before I shipped out). As always there were a few kinks to work out. We only had 6 weeks before we had to leave so we put the wheels in motion. It turns out that non catholics have to be instructed in the basics of the church in order to be married by a priest. (I told you Ellen was a devout catholic didn't I?) I started my required lessons and met with a priest every few days. It turns out that I was never baptised in any religion so I needed my mother to sign a document that so stated. I called her and the conversation went some thing like this: "Mom, I have met a girl I love and we are going to get married". My mother responded " Is she white or black" ! My mother was slightly prejudiced and I had a liberal reputation by her standards. I said, "mom, she is white but a catholic". She exclaimed "what is that"! After a little more wrangling I explained what I would like her to do for me. There was only one catholic church any where close to us but she found it and completed the form.

In the meantime I was busy with base duties and all that instruction. It turns out the base decided to have a full dress rehearsal on the same day I was scheduled to meet with the priest and I flunked the inspection because of my shoes! I never learned to spit shine shoes so mine were dull. I tried to explain my situation but the officer in charge was less than sympathetic: No shined shoes, stay on the base ! Luckily one of my friends was better at shining than I and offered to lend me his sparkling shoes so I went back and passed easily! 

Of the 4 young ladies in the group Ellen was the last to be married. First couple married was Red and Reba, I don't remember much of their wedding as I wasn't involved. She had family in the Denver area and I guess theirs was the best attended wedding. I'm not sure of Ted and Phyllis date of marriage either but I'm closer on Greg and Cora Lee. I was best man (last man standing so to speak) at this wedding.. After the wedding we were driving in the Ford north on a street called Speer Boulevard when there was an awful clanking sound. Ellen was in the rear seat and she looked out and said, "there is a wheel beside the car"! It turns out the left rear wheel bearing froze and the wheel worked its way off as we were driving!. I remember thinking how glad I was that this didn't happen on our adventure to Steamboat Springs. I found a guy to replace the bearing so I assumed all would be OK  now (another miscalculation).

After that all seemed ok for our wedding, except the finances. I had almost no money until payday so we worked out a financial agreement (pre-pre nuptial agreement). Ellen would, under this agreement, buy the license and I would purchase the rings. I still had no money but I was the proud owner of a charcoal gray suit with a pink shirt (it was a 50s thing)! I found a pawn shop to hock the suit and I also purchased the rings. They were plain rings and not great but they would do!

We were married February 9, 1957 at St James Catholic Church in Denver and we had a small reception and stayed in a motel until time to travel to California. Red was my best man. It was the last time we saw them. Before heading to California we drove to Florida so Ellen could meet my family. It would be the only time she met my father. More later about our continuing adventure!

BOB AND ELLEN WEDDING DAY

back row is Phyllis, Reba, Red  and friends of the family

middle is Ellen's mom and  Cora Lee

bottom row is Family friend the James, on his lap is Ellen's sister Patricia, then the wedding couple and finally Ted

I think Greg took the photo

Notice the uniforms. I had hocked my only suit