My Father Is Love

I feel it when I smell rain or orange blossoms
When I see a rabbit in a pasture
Or a big dog warming in the sun
When I touch the petals of a rose
Or touch the richness of fertile soil
When I feel the strength of ocean waves
And wind blowing against the shore
In coquinas hiding in the sand
A puzzle to solve
A line of pelicans flying by
A game of solitaire
A coke and crackers
A newborn bird
Shelling peas
Water skiing on a glassy lake
Pickup trucks
Fishing with worms
In laughing eyes
A hug so tight it takes your breath away
A touch
A kiss so gentle
A love that is understanding
A love that lasts forever
I thank God I have a Dad who is all this and more
And I thank my Father for showing me
All the faces of Love

June 16, 1991
Rosemary Estes Strange

- Rosemary wrote this letter on Father’s Day when Daddy stopped remembering. It didn’t help him remember but Rosemary felt better

Mamoo Estes Home in Haines City, Florida

The first seven or eight years of my life, my grandmother and granddaddy Estes lived in a big two story home in Haines City, Florida. She and granddaddy let us stay with them alot on the weekends and in the summer time. It was always a big treat. They had a maid that also cooked and a yardman. The maid's name was Mary and she wore a white uniform. When we had a meal, Grandmother would ring her little bell and Mary would come to the dining room and serve us. There were several fun things about Mamoo Estes home. She had a little library with lots of good books. And everynight that we were there, at bed time, we could go into the library and pick a book for her to read to us in our bedroom. She would sit in her rocking chair and read to us. She never said she was too tired. It was neat. She would buy a new book for us to find each time we came. Up stairs there was a laundry shoot to the basement for you to throw your dirty clothes and towels for Mary to wash. There was a basket at the bottom to catch things. We considered jumping down it, but thought better of it. The stairs were neat too. They had this nice wooden waxed banister. We could slid down it from upstairs and drop off at the bottom.

The scary room was the attic. It was on the third floor and used for storage and Granddaddy's rowing machine for exercise. There was this big swinging light bulb to light the place and it cast all kinds of shadows. I wouldn't dare go up there without Mamoo. But there was a real special place in the attic, she had a big old wooden trunk. One day, she said she would show us what was inside, but we had to be careful and not break it. So she lifted that big old lid and there was a lot of white tissue paper. So she picked up one and unwrapped it. There was the most beautiful white glass doll I had ever seen. She unwrapped three more and let us hold them for a little while. But she said they were very old and we couldn't just play with them. So, she wrapped them all back up and put them away. She promised we could visit the dolls another time. That was so neat. I dreamed about the dolls that night. I loved dolls as a little girl.

On the second floor, Grandmother had a bedroom and Granddaddy had another bedroom, even when I was very little. Her bedroom had a sunroom off it where Mamoo did her sewing and knitting. Sometimes, we would make Diane clothes. She could knit real good and knitted sweaters and stuff.

When we had dinner, she tried to teach us good manners. She would use china and a lot of silverware. She would use cloth napkins. We learned which fork to use for what, to always say please and thank you, put your napkin in your lap and keep one arm in your lap. She and Grandaddy would take us out to eat at some fancy place so we could practice our manners. One time she thought Diane and I needed to see what it was like to ride a train. We took a train trip our of Haines City to Tampa to see a Circus. When we got to Tampa, we got a Taxi and it took us to the fair ground. Afterward, we got the taxi again and then went back to the train station and came back to Haines City. That was my first and last train ride.

She was a neat Mamoo. I don't ever remember she getting mad at us or spanking us. That just isn't in my memory. Just good times. She would also take us to the park to play and sometimes shopping. She let us take Granddaddy's rowing machine seat with its rollers down to the sidewalk and roll down the sidewalk on it. Plus, she had tricycles for us. I never went to church with her. She was Catholic and I was Methodist. We had many big family dinners at her house. I have a few pictures at her Haines city home and a picture of the house. I'll have to look for them.

The Three Storm Hurricane Season

In 2004, we had 3 hurricanes to come through Melbourne. Doris and Sherry went to stay at Aunt Vida's. The storm tore back their roof and damaged the inside of their home with water and wind. The home was so bad that they could not live in it anymore. Doris was so upset that she could hardly stand it. It really took a toll on her. Until they had the damaged home removed and a new one bought, they had to find a place to live. Plus they had to go through their home and get the stuff not damaged into storage. Of course, many people were going through this. These were three bad hurricanes. Our home was not damaged but we were without electricity. Gil and I decided to have them live with us until they could get back into their own home again. Even though there was no electricity, we did have water and a telephone.

So they moved into the back bedroom and suffered along with us without electricity for two or three weeks, and then continued to live with us for 6 months. We got to have Thanksgiving and Christmas with them. Doris helped me decorate the Christmas tree. Everyone got along really good. I was working and Gil was doing all the cooking. They cleaned and did all they could to help Gil out. Doris shared the food bill and electricity when it finally came on. We had a big ice chest on the front porch and each day would get milk and stuff to eat for the day. It was quite a time. We took cold baths, which felt good in the 80-degree temperature. I don't know how we managed so well except we knew it was meant to be. We all became very close and have been ever since. They were family and they certainly made their visit nice.

Fish Pond At Alturas Florida Home

Diane At The Fish Pond

When I was a toddler, I managed to get into the fish pond. Mother missed me and came running around the house to the backyard and discovered me floating in the fish pond. Green slime came out of my mouth and nose. They got me breathing and called the doctor. He said to put me in bed and put lots of covers on me to warm me up and just watch me. That was a close call. Daddy came out with an axe and chopped holes in the pond and let all the water out. That was the end of the fish pond.

Piano Lessons

When I was in the first grade, I took piano lessons for 7 years. My teacher's name was Mrs. Harrison. I took classical music lessons twice a week. I practiced for 1 hour everyday. In my last year of music, all her prize students competed at the florida Southern College in Lakeland fl and were judged by 4 or 5 judges. After that, I was in Jr High and discovered boys and I was tired of Mrs. Harrison. She was such a strict teacher. Mother definitely got her money's worth. I played on the piano a lot and played for church and Sunday School but mostly for my pleasure. I can still play, just out of practice. I can still read music. It is sort of like driving or riding a bike, you don't forget. It still gives me pleasure and if I had room, I would have a piano now.

Gloria (far right - front row) with her piano class at Florida Southern College

Eddie As A Boy

In a fine suit...

I believe Eddie was dressed up because it was Mom Presley and Granddaddy Presley's 37th wedding anniversary party at Mama and Papa Capps home.

Elementary School Days... Is that a uniform?

Eddie also has this jacket on in the picture where he stands with the Capps. I think it must have meant something special. Maybe a club, scouts or something. Maybe sometime his sister Marion can shed light on that jacket.

Just a youngin' without much of a clue as to what those folks are doing with a camera...

Gloria At Seven

I had long naturally curly hair. I combed it a lot and I loved it. A lot of times mother would put my hair in pig tails which I didn't care for.

Gilbert Wayne Seifert USAF

Wedding Day

Wedding Party

Newspaper Announcement Clipping

Gloria And Eddie Outside The Church

The people and family in the wedding picture are Gary Stenger-candle lighter, Benny Brown-Eddie best friend and Usher, Linda Estes-bridesmaid, Marilyn-my best friend maid of honor, Me and Eddie, Gregory was Best man, Ann Estes bridesmaid and John Stenger-my uncle usher. Preacher John Larsen Alturas Methodist church Alturas, Florida May 21, 1961.

The second picture is of me and Daddy on the steps of the church. He was very happy because he had had several tranquilizers and I was very happy because I was getting married. I had lost several pounds and had to have my dress altered several times.

Wedding Party

Gloria Estes and her father Lawrence Estes on her wedding day.

Amazing picture.

TIP: Click on any picture for a full size version.

Photos of Eddie Presley And Family

Eddie With Mama and Papa Capps

Presley Family: Marion, Jenny, Evelyn, Mom Presley, Eddie, Gregory and Fred

Flight Crew

Eddie On A Boat

Presley Family: Eddie, Gloria, Debbie, Eddie Jr. and Sheila

Presley Family At Christmas

Presley Family Photos

Evelyn Tedder

Fred Presley And Family

Fred's Girls

Photos of Mom Presley

Mom Presley By The Pool - Oh La La!

Mom Presley And Lee Halfley With Evelyn and Karen Rainey!

Mom Presley With Evelyn Tedder, Evelyn Ann and Mrs. Tedder.

Mom Presley With Evelyn and Mama Capps

Mom Presley In Quite The Posh Frock

Mom Presley With Gregory And Sally

Eddie Presley Motorcycle Days

When Eddie Sr was about 14 of 15, he had a motorcycle. He had two friends that also had motorcycles. One guy was Don Kinard and the other I think was Kenny something. They loved to ride their motorcycles fast out on the open road. One day, Eddie was riding his motorcycle to school and he was only going about 25 miles per hour down in front of the high school. Before he knew what happened, the high school principal cut him off while turning into the parking lot. The principal hit Eddie and drug him down into the parking lot. Eddie had one foot and ankle wound around the wheel of the principal's car and the other ankle and foot caught in the pokes of his motorcycle wheel. His ankle was hanging around backwards broken. It took a couple of hours to get his feet out of the car wheel well and his ankle out of his motorcycle. He was in a leg brace for almost a year and then they put on a metal leg brace. It put him behind one full year in high school. For quite a while, when we dated, I drove because his leg was still in a brace. When Eddie went into the military, his leg swelled up while he was doing KP duty. They were willing for him to get out of the service, but he refused. He wanted to serve his country and felt in time it would get better and the leg did get better. That leg was smaller than the other for a long time, but after a while the leg filled out and looked the same. Of course he had a huge scar.

The dog is Mark Anthony. The picture in the background is of Marion Rainey.

Deborah Anne Presley Bolles

As Debbie was growing up in New Mexico, she was just full of energy and wanting to have fun. It seemed like every time she was wanting to have this fun, the local preacher would come to the house for a visit. Debbie loved to wear very little clothes. One time she was two years old and outside playing. She was running up and down the sidewalk and I was cleaning the kitchen. I heard a knock on the front door and it was the preacher paying us a visit. He said, "Do you always let your child run around outside like that?" I took a quick look and saw she didn't have a thing on, BUTT NAKED. I got her inside of course and got her clothes on. Another time, a preacher came to visit, we were sitting in the living room. Deb was about two and she decided she wanted to sit and visit too. So she went into the bathroom and got her potty chair (full of pee) and drug it out into the living room and pulled down her pants and sat down to enjoy the visit.

One day, I was cooking supper and Debbie was playing in her room. I looked around the corner of the kitchen down the hallway to see what she was doing. She was having a good time and just a laughing. She was running back and forth across the hallway to the bathroom. She was carrying shoes. So I went to see what in the world was going on. She was so proud. She had put all mine and Eddie's shoes in the toilet to wash them. She proudly pointed to the toilet and flushed the handle saying "Washy, washy."

What could I say, It was so funny, especially with that big brogan boot sticking out the top. I sat down on the floor with Deb in my lap and laughed and laughed. It was just so funny and she was so proud and happy.

When she ate spaghetti, she didn't care too much for it and always put most of it in her hair. One time, she picked up the dish and just put it upside down on top of her head. What can I say, that was Deb.

Eddie and Debbie in New Mexico

Eddie Wayne Presley Jr.

Eddie was our third child born at Holloman Air Force Base. The doctor was having a cookout and had to come to the hospital on the weekend to deliver. He was in a hurry to get back to his cookout. He thought he needed to induce labor and did. That meant being in hard labor in just minutes, but I wasn't in labor a long time and everything went fine. He had the longest feet his dad had ever seen, and his head looked like I sat on his forehead the whole time I carried him, which was true. I carried Eddie very low, but, his head filled out all nice and round and he grew into those long feet. His breast bone stuck out and the doctor said he was going to be tall with a big chest and one day would grow into the big chest bone. Eddie was a easy going baby and child. He didn't mind taking it easy in his bed when I had to fix supper. He was happy entertaining himself sometimes. He was allergic to whole milk and had to drink special milk for a long time. Eddie was happy happy most of the time. He learned to walk around a year old. Sheila had not walked up until the time Eddie came home from the hospital. That day, she stood up and walked across the room. She wasn't exactly happy with a new baby in the house. She use to get can goods out of the cabinet and throw them in the playpen on Eddie. I had to put all the cans up high so she couldn't get them. I think she was trying to finish Eddie off. Who knows, but everything turned out fine. And we moved to Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.

Eddie Jr. At Four Months

Eddie Jr. 1 1/2 Years Old

Eddie Jr. New Born

Eddie Jr. New Born

Eddie Jr. New Born And Mushy

Eddie Jr. And Gloria

Eddie Jr. And Eddie Sr.