Wednesday, May 30, 2012

My Step Grandfather Robert E. Lee Rorie

My paternal grandfather Clyde Mosier died when dad was 12 years old. His mother remarried after her three children were grown, but before she had grandchildren. Papa Bob was the only paternal grandfather I ever knew and he was loved by all of his eight grandchildren. His marriage to my grandmother was his first so he had no children of his own.


Grandma and Papa lived in a two bedroom home with her room at one end and his at the other. We spent a lot of time in her room because that is where her sewing machine was, and also where I slept (with her) when I visited her during the summer. We rarely entered Papa's room. I remember a twin bed that was always immaculately made and a small dresser. The only other thing I remember was a large oval framed photo of a man in a uniform above Papa's bed. We knew it was his father but never asked him anything about his family. We were a little afraid of it because the eyes would follow you. Maybe that is how he kept us out of his room!

When I started researching my family history I of course included my Papa Bob.  I was stunned to find out that his father, pictured above his bed, was in the Civil War. My GREAT grandfather was in the Civil War! Papa Bob was the 17th child of William Thomas Rorie, from his second wife. William Thomas Rorie died in 1924 when Papa was 12 years old.

I asked my aunt what happened to the framed photo and she thinks my grandmother gave it to Papa Bob's only surviving sister, who came to his funeral. That makes sense and is exactly what grandma would have done. How I would love to see it now, and I am thinking with the 1940 census out I may be able to find descendants of his sister, Cara Maybelle Rorie Laney.


Bob and Thelma Rorie

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