Thanks for the Ride, The World War II Years, 1921-1953, (Color) The Love Story of Ray and Ocie Lue Snodgrass

Inspirational Memoir of a Studebaker Dealer, Progressive Farmer, and an Advocate for Love

De: Patsy Rae Dawson

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

An Inspirational Memoir of a Studebaker Dealer Turned Progressive Farmer Alongside an Advocate for Love--The Love Story of Ray and Ocie Lue Snodgrass. The series is also available as color or black and white paperbacks.

My 1987 project to gather pictures, stories, and cards for Mom and Dad’s 60th-anniversary scrapbook turned into a journey of wonderment and love that I didn’t foresee. After Mom’s death, I never intended to read their World War II love letters. Mom was so protective of them, it almost seemed like a violation of their passionate love. But I am so glad I read that first letter and kept reading.

I read their wartime pledges to love each other forever and witnessed their fulfillment of those pledges for 64 years. I learned things about my own conception and that of my brothers that none of us knew. Not only has my delight in Mom’s and Dad’s love for each other increased, but I’ve had the privilege of seeing how they learned how to love from their own families.

A suitcase full of pictures
After Mom died, I found a suitcase in the attic stuffed with old pictures I had never seen. Mom had tucked the suitcase away for safekeeping.

What an amazing treasure store of memories and information about times before the births of my parents, myself, and my brothers. Pictures revealed stories we never knew anything about. Oh, how we wish we could ask our parents for details.

I thanked God many times over for my family of origin and also for the advantage of looking through the keepsakes my mother, grandmother, and other relatives cherished and preserved for future generations.

"You Never Know What's Good for You"
...is what Ray started saying in later years. Time and again, when fate got in the way of his and Ocie Lue's plans, they turned it into a blessing that they couldn't have foreseen. The three books span 64 years of changing occupations and where they lived. Despite the setbacks, Ray and Ocie Lue worked at keeping their marriage passionate. Each volume is full of pictures and designed as a standalone.

The World War II Years: 1921-1952
The book features many of Ray and Ocie Lue's love letters while they dated and when he served in the Navy. They both pledged to love each other forever, which they did for 64 years. When Ray got out of the service, he took his growing family custom cutting from Oklahoma to Canada yearly. Always innovative, he bought a Jeep to pull his combine when everyone else used tractors. He knew it would be easier to sell a Jeep than a tractor when he got home. His hunch proved true.

The Studebaker Years: 1953-1961
Ray encouraged a Guymon, Oklahoma businessman to start selling Studebakers after the war as they were the first car to change their body style. Eventually, he bought the dealership and later transferred it to Dumas, Texas. He won many sales awards. He also won many trophies racing Studebakers at local racetracks. One time, he won money for the trip home with a race on a Tennessee mountain top. The book features Studebaker newspaper ads from 1949 through 1961.

The Farming Years: 1961-2014
Ray’s love of farming never stopped and when Studebaker went out of business, he turned to farming fulltime and moved to Perryton, Texas. His mechanical skills and insights into farming helped him achieve the highest milo yield in the nation one year. He was featured on a national magazine and won a trip to Hawaii. He and his son, Tom, won many awards for farming.

Ocie Lue was Ray's biggest source of encouragement and was always ready for another adventure. She had her own ways of spreading love in their community. Theirs was truly an American success and love story.

Order your copy today and start looking at pictures and reading about times that were different and difficult but full of love that was fresh and passionate.