I was named James Wills Gale after my grandfather, James Gale because I was born on his birthday, May 6th. The Wills part was my great-grnadmohter's maiden name, so you see, I'm probably an heirloom or something.

I was born in Show Low, AZ moving to New Mexico at about 2 years of age. next my folks loaded up the wagons, kinds and junk and we headed for Arizona again. It took days to cross that Navajo reservation, going 25-30 miles a day. Dad did all the cooking on an open campfire. We lost one wagon, and all its contents atempting to cross a big wash, raging with water. Dad bought a brand new wagon for $100 and we proceeded on our way. Stopping at Grandmother Kartchner's home in Snowflake, I saw my first electric light. After going to Franklin, then to Thatcher (where I started school) we went on to Ashurst, Arizona. From there, to Chandler, AZ a distance of 150 miles, traveling on the first paved road we had ever seen -- about two blocks long. When we moved to Coolidge, I went to a little old adobe school house in the desert, killing rattlesnakes all the way to school and back.

We moved to Chandler, AZ where I was the first one in our big family to finish high shcool. Here, my father passed away. Mother moved to Mesa. I helped there, until I left home in 1933 to drive trucks for Alabama Freight Company in Prescott, AZ. This was my first time to be away from home.

I met a girl by the name of Bobbie Eccles (Echoles)and a week later we were married in the Arizona Temple in Mesa. We had 3 beautiful children that I will be eternally grateful for. During World War II, I worked for the government with the Navajo Ordinance Depot in Flagstaff, AZ and spent 3 years in the Navy (and never boarded a ship). Following my youngest son's very difficult birth, Bobbie's health failed, in spite of all we did. Finally, she was admitted to the State Hospital. In 1952 Bobbie and I divorced, and John was put in his grandmother Ecceles' custody.

Later, I met Fern Marie Wolfe. We were married by Uncle Rube Gale in Lordsburg, New Mexico. The next year, my daughter Bobbi Jean Gale went to BYU, where she met Charles Van Pelt. They were married in New York City.

My son, James Walter Gale after serving in the Navy, married Sarah Tucker in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Finally the courts granted me custody of John. He later married Linda Mall.

Larry Wolfe married Elaine Slayden, and Leslie Wolfe married Kay Walls.

Fern and I are retired, spending summers in the Northwest, our winters in our home in Mesa, AZ. This date (1978) we have 14 beautiful grandchildren. May God bless you all and keep you well and happy.

I was named James Wills Gale after my grandfather, James Gale because I was born on his birthday, May 6th. The Wills part was my great-grnadmohter's maiden name, so you see, I'm probably an heirloom or something.

I was born in Show Low, AZ moving to New Mexico at about 2 years of age. next my folks loaded up the wagons, kinds and junk and we headed for Arizona again. It took days to cross that Navajo reservation, going 25-30 miles a day. Dad did all the cooking on an open campfire. We lost one wagon, and all its contents atempting to cross a big wash, raging with water. Dad bought a brand new wagon for $100 and we proceeded on our way. Stopping at Grandmother Kartchner's home in Snowflake, I saw my first electric light. After going to Franklin, then to Thatcher (where I started school) we went on to Ashurst, Arizona. From there, to Chandler, AZ a distance of 150 miles, traveling on the first paved road we had ever seen -- about two blocks long. When we moved to Coolidge, I went to a little old adobe school house in the desert, killing rattlesnakes all the way to school and back.

We moved to Chandler, AZ where I was the first one in our big family to finish high shcool. Here, my father passed away. Mother moved to Mesa. I helped there, until I left home in 1933 to drive trucks for Alabama Freight Company in Prescott, AZ. This was my first time to be away from home.

I met a girl by the name of Bobbie Eccles (Echoles)and a week later we were married in the Arizona Temple in Mesa. We had 3 beautiful children that I will be eternally grateful for. During World War II, I worked for the government with the Navajo Ordinance Depot in Flagstaff, AZ and spent 3 years in the Navy (and never boarded a ship). Following my youngest son's very difficult birth, Bobbie's health failed, in spite of all we did. Finally, she was admitted to the State Hospital. In 1952 Bobbie and I divorced, and John was put in his grandmother Ecceles' custody.

Later, I met Fern Marie Wolfe. We were married by Uncle Rube Gale in Lordsburg, New Mexico. The next year, my daughter Bobbi Jean Gale went to BYU, where she met Charles Van Pelt. They were married in New York City.

My son, James Walter Gale after serving in the Navy, married Sarah Tucker in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Finally the courts granted me custody of John. He later married Linda Mall.

Larry Wolfe married Elaine Slayden, and Leslie Wolfe married Kay Walls.

Fern and I are retired, spending summers in the Northwest, our winters in our home in Mesa, AZ. This date (1978) we have 14 beautiful grandchildren. May God bless you all and keep you well and happy.