MyStory5

Page 5

It was on this occasion, picking tomatoes in the heat of day, and being seven months pregnant, that Etta was approached by a gentleman who offerred to carry the heavy buckets and tomato boxes to the ends of the rows. They struck up an acquaintance during lunch break, and exchanged a few life experiences and present circumstances. The gentleman was William Russell (later becoming husband and father of five precious children, adding to this unique family.) William (Russ) and Etta car-pooled for a time, working in various tomato fields and grape vineyards. Then, as the time drew near for Susie's arrival, Mother stayed home. Russ came over to the family's home the evening before, and the two waited expectantly.... In the middle of the night (as is often the case...), that dear little girl was ready to join us! Russ stayed with the children for the rest of the night, after taking Etta to the hospital. He called Grandma the next day, who came over to stay with the children. Russ went south to work for the winter.

15 years later: A divorce, re-marriage, family of five children, much happiness and many trials and tribulations.... wondering.......Chess'L returned to look up all his children and meet them and their children... then disappeared again!
1975 Susie had never seen her father until this time, and she had a husband and two children (Billy and Wade) when he found her. She and Bill also were raising Bill's two children from a former marriage.....Todd and Brenda.

1978 Laura and her boys (Des and Shaun) went to visit him in Modesto, California. He was living in a wrecking yard with his new wife, Maria (at the time). He later married a lady in Troutdale, Oregon and spent some time with Kathy and Laura and his grandkids. He was there about a year.

Over the years, some of the girls had tried to locate their father,but it wasn't until 1992 that Laura managed to find him through the Veterans Administration. he was in a nursing home, and soon was reunited with Laura and her family. He then made the rounds and spent some time with Teresa in Washington, Kathy in Salem, and Mike in Sunny Valley. He was suffering from dementia and had other problems resulting from strokes. He lived in foster care for a few years (had his own room). Then later, after a major stroke lived in Camelot nursing home until he died July 13, 1987.

Etta May (Roberts) Russell
Etta and William were married in August of 1954, and William took on the responsibility of six young children as well as a wife. He was a farm equipment operator and truck driver, and worked many long hours to support his family. From the vegetable and grain fields of Southern California, through the San Joaquin Valley, to the hay fields of Northern California, he plowed, disced, and leveled land for crops - and mowed and bailed hay in Alturas, where Alan (Gregory was born). Also harvested rice in Sacramento Valley.

In August of 1955 the family had just reached Alturas, California, as the hay harvest was in progress, and set up camp under the welcoming shade of a large tree, beside a babbling brook, on a ranch. The following day, there in God's country, Alan announced his impending arrival! It wasn't long until the family welcomed that dear baby boy! While Alan and his mother were in the hospital for a few days, his dad was mowing and bailing hay, and Laura (who was almost nine years old at the time), was the "little mother" of all the younger children. Mike, ten years, and Randy, seven years, spent their days fishing in the brook.....and made some good catches! Teresa was six, and Kathy, not yet five, and Susie, going on four, were all in sister Laurie's care. They called her "Wardie", which was a nickname that stuck with her for many years.

So, little Alan spent his first month of life in a basket under the shelter of that magnificent tree and surrounding bushes. As September came along, and school days were upon them, it became a necessity to find a house and get settled for the fall and winter. None was available in that area, so the family again headed south.

Arriving in Lancaster, CA., a job was secured on a ranch, with a comfortable house furnished, and the family of nine settled in, and the three oldest children enrolled in school. The father was working the fields twelve hours a day.......several hundred acres of soil being prepared for the fall planting of grain.

As summer drew near, another precious life was about to join the family...... Under unexpected and difficult circumstances, David was welcomed and loved. His father had shown signs of an alcohol problem, and quitting his job, he picked up 10 month old Alan and drove away! Etta and the children had to leave the ranch house, since other workers would be needing it, and rented a small cottage near by. Though distraught with money problems and concern over Alan's absence, the mother managed to make the move and care for the other six children. It was June, and extremely hot in that arid country, and the new baby was expected in August......but, tiny David couldn't wait. July 3rd 1956 (one month early), David joined the family. Etta was heartbroken, not knowing where her other baby was, and how he was being cared for, but had to get through each day, while doing the routine tasks and trying to keep her spirits up for the children's sake.