Leah's 17th Birthday!

Leah Anita Gregory was born on February 29, 1940. She was the first of the 5 Gregory kids and almost 3 years old before Leone came along in 1943. This gave her time to become very spoiled and ingrained in the thought that she was "top dog" of the kids in the family. She was the "boss"... the "leader" into all kinds of things - mischief and trouble!! She mothered us all for the rest of our lives!! And we followed her everywhere - kept her in our sights as the model of "how to be". Still do!!

These two pictures are the first I can find of her. They are taken in the east yard of "The Bartlett Place" south of Parks, Nebraska soon after she was born in the early spring of 1940.



In the "ladies" picture are Esther Bartlett, great-grandmother; Mae Crabtree, grandmother, Alice Gregory, mother and baby Leah.



In the " men" picture are George W. Bartlett, great-grandfather; Frank Crabtree, grandfather; Richard Gregory, father and baby Leah.

If Leah was actually 17 years old this month, here is what she would look like. It is her junior class picture.

After attending Union College in Lincoln, Leah "came home" and worked at the Haigler Equity for awhile until she and Dwight Brewer from St. Francis, Kansas got married in the spring of 1963. They lived mostly in the Wray - St. Francis - Haigler area until their move to Tucson, Arizona in 1984. They have two bright and wonderful daughters who are both nurses, and five grandchildren who are, of course, smart and beautiful (handsome in the case of the four boys).

They are retiring this year... Leah from her real estate job at Long Realty and Dwight from his "rental & property maintenance" job. They plan to spend the whole summer in St. Francis.

Seriously, Leah and our mother have been the glue that has kept our family together through thick and thin. We all love and respect her and hope she has a wonderful birthday.