Because it’s June, I want to share more about Dad. Father’s Day is coming next Sunday, so I’m still celebrating him. His family transplanted from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Branson, Colorado because of my his health.
Dad Immediately Loved It!
Somehow very soon, Granddad bought Dad and Aunt Helen a horse and Dad’s life was changed forever more. They moved in April 1927 and they had their first horse by May 1927. He never told any stories of a horse in Oklahoma. They lived in the city, so I don’t think it wasn’t possible.
He quickly learned to ride, and any time my grandparents needed to find him, they just looked for him and his horse. Because he was a natural, horseback riding became his major hobby.
He attended Branson school and graduated there in 1937. I loved to hear his stories about tricks and antics they pulled on the superintendent and other students. Somehow a car ended up on the roof. They turned over many outhouses, and were surprised if someone was in it then.
It was a carefree life.
The Horner Ranch Started
My grandparents, dad and aunt arrived in Colorado in 1927. Granddad immediately realized he had an edge on the other ranchers in the area because he had a job working for the post office, delivery mail to the ranchers east of town. He started buying land and cattle in 1927. Granddad wheeled and dealt with the bank for loans and worried about increasing his debt. Also, he dealt with other ranchers in the area who were building their ranches too.
When the depression hit in 1929, Granddad’s postal job really helped him buy up land and pay off the loans he accrued. And Dad enjoyed every minute of the ranching life Granddad provided for him.
World War II & Being a 4-F
Horses, ranching and cattle became Dad’s life. After he graduated, he went to work with Granddad on the ranch he had put together, and he worked it for the rest of his life.
When World War II hit, Dad stayed home while many of his friends went to fight the war. He rated a 4-F because of his health—the asthma. When he shared these stories, he had shame about it, but he found a way to serve. He did day labor on ranches around the area whose sons went to war.
Dad loved to work on Louden ranch, east of Branson, near Mesa de Maya. He had hilarious stories about working there and having lunch with Dick and Zita Louden. I think his presence helped them with the ranch work, but it also diverted their worries away from their sons being gone.
Dad told stories about going to Trinidad, Las Animas County seat, to get tires for the ranch truck. They rationed the tires, so he had to be wise about what he did. The man ahead of him in line told the judge he needed four tires and the judge said that was excessive, so he shooed him out of the courthouse. Dad listened and asked for two and got two. He thought he was pretty smart learning from the other man’s greed.
Dad’s First Marriage
He married Nell Williams from Walsenburg, Colorado. They lived in a house near our ranch’s headquarters. They had three children but divorced in 1946. During this time, he grew his herd but lost half of it with the divorce.
Dad spent five years single but having his children as often as possible. Nell moved to Denver, so they were 250 miles away. Around this time, his sister divorced, so he stepped in helped with her two sons.
In fact, I was visiting with her eldest son today, and he said, “Your dad, Granddad and Grandma raised me because Mom was too busy.”
Dad ventured out in his cattle buying during these and some years he did well and others he lost money.
Life Changed for Dad
So in 1949, life changed for Dad. He met my mom at a dance and he was smitten. She had eyed his dance moves and wanted to dance with him but worried she couldn’t keep up. One night he sauntered across the dance floor to a group of young ladies. Mom hoped he chose her, but she wasn’t sure.
He did, and they became a couple.
One night they had plans to go to the Crystal Lounge in Raton, New Mexico and dance. The owner knew Mom was underage, so he threw them out. Apparently, she hadn’t been truthful with Dad about her age. Dad stayed away for a year until she turned 21 and. . .
Finally,
Yes, my dad became a real cowboy—he smelled of sweat, leather and manure. I’ll keep the story going next week with what happened with my parents.
For more of my dad’s story and how my Granddad put our ranch together during the depression, check out my book I co-created with Dad and Mom, Let Me Tell You a Story. It’s available as paperback, e-book and audiobook format.
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