When Gala Seeley was born in Casey, Iowa on October 31, 1900, her father, Charles Justin, was 28, and her mother, Viola Ellen Spear, was 28.
Her father, Charles Justin Seeley was born on June 4, 1872, in Vandalia, Missouri, the son of L.D. Seeley. He married Viola Speer on November 17, 1891. They had four children during their marriage. He died tragically as a young father on July 8, 1905, at the age of 33. (See additional notes at end on Charles Justin Seeley)
Her mother, Viola Ellen Spear was born on June 16, 1872, in Iowa, the daughter of Margaret and Mr. Spear. She married Charles Justin Seeley in 1891 and they had four children together. Gala’s sisters were Golda, (1893-1976), Gladys (1897-1979) and Rena (1904). After the death of her husband, she moved the children to Los Angeles sometime between 1905 and 1907. She remarried Arthur Parks on November 7, 1907 in Los Angeles. At the time she is listed in the 1910 census as renting in L.A. on East 32nd Street, Rear 205). She is listed as a seamstress and he a laborer. In 1922, she is listed in the voter registration record as living at 1107 E. 48th Street in Los Angeles.
Gala’s mother died on October 9, 1954, at the age of 82, and was buried in Forest Lawn, Glendale, California. Unfortunately, I do not know too much about her since I was 4 when she died. I do have one recipe.
Ruby French Dressing
½ c. sugar
¼ c. lemon juice
½ c. catsup
1 c. olive oil
2 T. vinegar
½ t. salt
1 t. onion juice
2 t. celery seed
Boil sugar and lemon juice together for 5 minutes. Let syrup cool. Add remaining ingredients, and beat well.
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I don’t know much about my grandmother’s early years but have pieced together information from papers and photos she kept. She was baptized at the First Presbyterian Church in Casey, Iowa on July 13,1901. A letter to her from my grandfather during WWI (he was in Vancouver WA), listed her address as 1186 E. 55th street. In 1915-16 she was a member of the Church of the Brethren in Los Angeles. She attended Sunday School with 17 or 18 other young women. She kept letters from her Sunday School teacher W. H. Keim which listed her address as 1186 East 55th Street in Los Angeles. In 1916, her address was down the street at 1138 East 55th Street.
Bill met Gala Seeley in Los Angeles when she was only 16; he was 22. It is not known how they met each other but they did live in the same neighborhood. He lived on 45th street and she on 55th street. They were married when she was 18 on June 19, 1919. I remember my grandfather telling me that when he proposed to her, he took her down to the bank and showed her his gold coins that were safely stored in the safe deposit box. It seemed that this was an impression that he felt was important to make and that he would take care of her. When they married in the Catholic Church, she agreed to raise any children they might have as Catholic. She kept that promise and in her 80s, finally decided to be received into the Catholic Church. My grandfather would have been so pleased. All their lives they had been to church together.
In just less than a year, their first-born son, Robert Spencer Pruett was born on May 16, 1920. Margie Jean was born in 1928. The birth certificate for Bob lists their address (house) as 1001 E. 55th Street in Los Angeles. It was in the 1920s that Bill and Gala purchased a home at 451 E. 47th street in Los Angeles (not far from Bill’s parents’ home on 41st street. Bill’s occupation is listed as machinist and manufacturer of auto accessories and Gala’s occupation is listed as Housewife. It was also around this time that Spencer built a home in the Sierra Madre Canyon, called Outside Inn. Bill Pruett carved his and Gala’s initials in a tall oak tree there.
Outside Inn; cabin built in Sierra Madre.
I think it is not unusual for a woman to keep a “memory box.” I have one. Gala had one too. On the outside of the box she wrote “Past Memory cards. Very valuable.” Inside this box were things she treasured: early photos of her son and daughter, their high school vocal programs, a letter from her just born “grandson” via her daughter Margie, my parent’s wedding announcement, a pattern for a crocheted sweater, several hand-made cards she made or saved from friends, a postcard from their trip to the South Seas marking their 46th anniversary. Sentimental things she loved…
One of those “treasures” lists American National Red Cross cards certifying that she took beginning and advanced first aid courses in April and May 1942. She also held an official card as Air Raid Warden for the Los Angeles Police Department. In researching this program, I found the following “during World War II, when the war depleted the pool of qualified police officer candidates. To help make up for the personnel shortage, the LAPD looked to citizens, who began to serve as auxiliary police and air-raid wardens.” https://laprf.org/to-protect-and-to-serve/
Her card, like others of this time was signed by Chief of Police C. B. Horrall. Insert card
“The birth certificate for Bob lists their address (house) as 1001 E. 55th Street in Los Angeles. It was in the 1920s that Bill and Gala purchased a home at 451 E. 47th street in Los Angeles (not far from Bill’s parents’ home on 41st street. Bill’s occupation is listed as machinist and manufacturer of auto accessories and Gala’s occupation is listed as Housewife.[x]
My mother, Mary Louise Pruett talked to me about Gala, her mother-in-law and her sisters, She was always so impressed how sweet they were to each other. They always addressed each other in warm, loving ways and surprising to us, they kissed on the lips! Our pet name for our grandmother was Manu and it seems that I could not say “grandma” when I was little. Somehow Manu was my interpretation of Grandma. (I will use those names interchangeably here.)
Gala was a fabulous housekeeper. She had designated days for laundry, kitchen, sewing and she was rigid in keeping that schedule. Her house was spotless and although I only saw her kitchen in Covina and then later, her Yucaipa mobile home, it always smelled so fresh and clean. Susan remembers making lemonade in the kitchen with Manu with the frozen lemon juice in the Pruett ice crackers. She had the job of stirring and stirring and it would take forever before it was ready!
Manu loved Revereware and mounted all her copper clad pans on the back of a door. I was always in awe of how beautifully shined they were. We all loved the plaque she had in her kitchen “No matter where I serve my guests, it seems they like my kitchen best!” We did. Janet remembers: “I asked her once how she kept her sinks so clean… she told me she dried them with a hand towel after every use!”
My sister Susan reminded me that she always smelled so wonderful. All of that generation seemed to layer powder and fragrances and they all loved Shalimar. Later, we remember Manu loving Jean Nate. She always dressed in a pretty housedress and wore aprons, most of which she made. She had beautiful beaded earrings and matching necklaces, and many were passed down to her daughter, Margie and to my Mom. We all now have some of her pretty pieces.
Once in a while, we would spend the night in Covina. I don’t remember too much but I do remember being with Patty and we were supposed to be taking a nap. Instead, we climbed on top of the recliner chairs, just able to reach the glass eyes of the stags that hung there. I never asked about those but I assume my grandfather shot them and had them preserved. We were always wanting to see if those eyes were real. They weren’t.
Janet remembers her stay with them in West Covina when the rest of the family went camping. Manu set up a cot right in between their two twin beds just for her, “so that I would be with them, and not off by myself.” She also reminded me of there great porch swing, under the grape trellis. Those Concord grapes were slips brought from the old family homestead in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
The nights were filled with the scent of the citrus groves. Once I went with Grandpa to check the gopher traps. Only once.
Two o’clock was “beer time” and Grandpa would come in and sit down for a beer. We would join us with our shot glasses of beer. Later, I figured out that it was a way to get us to take a nice long nap!
Her home in Covina was filled with what we now call mid-century treasures: Cleminson, Hedi Schoop, other California pottery, big ashtrays with lighters set on them. When no one was looking, I always tried them out. We loved to play the card game Flinch and she taught us to play special types of Solitaire. I still remember “Once in a Million” to this day! Janet remembers swinging on her porch swing below the grapevine arbor with the Concord grapes from the Pruett family homestead in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
For us kids, she had such fun toys in the service porch. I remember a spinning top, a washing machine that you could put water in, and a lot of plastic dishes and teapots. We would always bring out Madame Alexander dolls to play with. One year she surprised us! There under the Christmas tree was a basket of doll clothes for each of us that she had made for our dolls. I was so amazed and we loved that gift! Each one was intricately made with the smallest buttons. I can only imagine the hours that she spent preparing these gifts.
My sisters and I grew up with so much music in the house. My maternal grandmother Mimi played the piano by ear. Anything you could hum, she could play. My paternal grandmother Gala (Manu) also played piano and would accompany my grandfather when he played his 4 string Gibson banjo.
I’m not sure how they did it, but early in the 50s, they had a record press and they made records for us to play on our little record players. We had to always start it from the inside to play outward. We would hear my grandmother say “for Kathy, Mary Ann, Patty, Susan and baby Janet from Grandma and Grandpa on Christmas.” They then would play their renditions of their songs they loved to play: 5 foot two, Bye bye blues, Is it true what they say about Dixie, Let me call you sweetheart … and so many more. We were so little but we would run around the house singing all the songs! We knew all the words! Later, several of us learned to play the ukulele and those were some of our favorite songs to play. So much music… so fun!
Photos of records
Manu loved to do handiwork and crafts and these were her “life-savers.” For ten years, my grandfather suffered with extreme mouth pain. In those days, it was not unusual to have your teeth pulled (bad hygiene then…) and have false teeth. Apparently, they damaged the nerves in his mouth and he was in constant pain with what he called “tories.” He lived on boiled eggs and egg custard and jello. Combined with depression after he retired, crafts were her salvation. She would join women at the mobile home park for sewing circles and crafts. Janet remembers her playing shuffleboard at the mobile home park. We all loved playing it too when we would visit. These activities got her out of the house and brought her so much happiness.
She especially loved to make handmade gifts for her granddaughters. The range of things she would make ranged from beaded purses, needlepoint sampler bags, knitted hats and crocheted sleeveless tops to special baby blankets for each new grandchild. She also made each of us a hairpin lace afghan. I remember I spent the weekend with her in Yucaipa when I was about 9 and I brought a skirt pattern and pink gingham. That weekend, she worked with me to teach me to sew and by the end of the weekend, I could wear the skirt home.
Janet recalls that “I loved to watch her sew at that old machine with the foot pedals… amazing at how talented she was with every seam perfectly finished. Along with the baby blanket she made for each of us, she also made sure we each had some of the old family night gowns from the old family pattern.” Susan also remembers her seamstress skills and wishes now that she had asked her to teach her: “She sewed (and knitted and crocheted) so many outfits for us. We all had pleated kilts she made. I’ve given my grandkids some of her tops she crocheted. So artistic!”
Janet also remembers our Sunday drives to Yucaipa: “We would drive out to see our Grandparents every other weekend. “I would either be in the car between Mom and Dad, in Mom’s arms, or sleeping over the top of my sister’s laps in the back… no seat belts yet of course.”
Gala loved to bake and cook and we have many handwritten recipes from her. Many I incorporated into a “Family Favorites” cookbook recipe boxes for wedding showers. (As I organized, I kept copies.) I am so happy these recipes are preserved for posterity. Each Christmas, she would line department store boxes with parchment paper and carefully set in her special cookies: dream bars, brownies, date bars, dates with pecans rolled in powder sugar, her oatmeal refrigerator cookies.
Banana Nut Cake (my Dad’s favorite)
Egg custard (my grandfather’s favorite)
When Gregory was going to be baptized, Janet picked up Manu from the retirement home in San Dimas and took her to her home in Ontario for the weekend. “She helped me make all the food, and gave me pointers along the way. I had no idea that tomatoes will peel much easier if you stab them with a fork, and hold them over the flame of the burner. She taught me that! It was a wonderful time we had together.”
Not long before my grandfather died from colon cancer in 1984, Gala fell playing shuffleboard and injured her arm. She had very bad arthritis as well and never regained her range of motion. Later, after Bill died, she got progressively weaker and weaker so Margie and Bob decided to place her in a convalescent home in Covina. I would visit her about once a month, more often when I felt her slipping away.
When she was nearing death, several of us would take turns going out to visit. I was able to tell her how much I loved her and in her weakened state, she was able to look at me and say “I love you too.” The convalescent home called us a one day and we called a priest for the Anointing of the Sick, also called the Last Rites. I can’t remember all who were around her but know that Margie, my Mom and Dad (Bob and Mary Lou) were there and I think Janet, Susan and I. The priest told us that although it seemed like she was in a coma and that her breathing was labored, there was no question that she knew everything that was going on. He said “she knows you are here to strengthen her for her journey home to heaven.”
He continued with the service and asked us to all place our hands over her body, as we prayed. The heat radiating from my hands was so amazing, this deep warmth that radiated down to her. She opened her eyes and looked around at each of us and then lifted her eyes to see her son and daughter at the end of the bed. She lifted her head and did not say a word, just waving to them as if to say a final goodbye. She then lowered her head to the pillow and closed her eyes again as we finished our prayers. To this day, I have never experienced anything like this most spiritual final experience. She died a day or two later. She is buried at the family plot at the Catholic Holy Cross Cemetery at 5835 West Slauson Avenue in Culver City, Los Angeles. My sister Janet loves to go on special holidays and she places flowers on all their gravesites and in the mausoleum.
Charles Justin Seeley
Obituary
Died at his home in Casey Saturday, July 8, 1905 Charles J. Seeley aged 33 years, 1 month and 1 day.Charles Seeley the second son of Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Seeley was born near Vandalia, Rolls County, Missouri, June 4, 1872.When about six years of age he came with his parents to Iowa. The family located on a farm north of Casey where they resided until their removal to town.[On] November 17, 1891,Charles Seeley and Viola Speer (sp as it is in paper) were united in marriage. To this union four daughters have been born: The eldest twelve years of age and the youngest 17 months. As the deceased had spent the greater part of his life here and for a number of years has been in the draying business his acquaintance is wide and he has many friends who regret his untimely death. The funeral was held at the Presbyterian Church Sunday at 2 o”clock pm. Rev. Linn assisted by Rev. Ladd conducted the service. The funeral was largely attended. Besides his bereaved wife and children he leaves his parents, two brothers, W. H. Seeley of Waterloo, Nebraska and Clarence.of Casey and two sisters Mrs. Will Jefferson of Millard, Nebraska and Miss Tessa Seeley of Casey.
More About Charles Justin Seeley:
Burial: Unknown, Buried on top of hill in Casey, Iowa.Grave is now under permanent care–Source, Bill Pruett
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Viola Parks lived at 409 N Larchmont Blvd.in Los Angeles. She died October 12, 1954.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85484179
Gravesite of Viola, her mother
Viola Ellen Seeley Speer Parks
| BIRTH | 16 Jun 1872 |
| DEATH | 9 Oct 1954 (aged 82) |
| BURIAL | Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, USA |
| PLOT | Sanct. of Sheltered Grace, GM, Lot 0, Space 13953 |
| MEMORIAL ID | 85484179 · View Source |
