Individual Details

Note

I assume you all have heard that Dr. Dick Matlock passed away on February 24th at age 91! He married our cousin Beveryly Ann in 1940 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was a Navy officer in the South Pacific during the war. Bev and their children came to GJT three or four summers while he was overseas. They had four children, Marjorie, Dick, Bill, and Bob. Bob passed away in SLC some years ago. Dick and his wife are in CO, as is Bill! They llive on the Eastern Slope. Margie lives in the same house that her parents had at 1560 Ramillo in Long Beach.
Anyway, Dick came to GJT and loved hunting and fishing... Dad and Dick had great times in the Bookcliffs and fishing in South Mesa on the other side of the Uncompahgre... long ride on the horses down a steep long hot trail!
Bev was raised by my mother after her mother passed away... Uncle Bill's first wife.. Anna, had cancer and died young. She and Bill Hargleroad III were the children of Anna and Uncle Bill. Bev liked me because she could take care of me! Jim and Jack were a little tougher to handle.
Anyway, lots of memories... cute little Matlock children... took them riding on the tractor and the horses at the ranch... Bev was a very striking woman... very talented! She and Dick were the "perfect" CA family of the 1940's and 1950's after the war. Dick's father was a physician in CA... north of LAX. They were quite well to do... good business folks after some very tough times during the depression.
Bev had a Chrysler Convertible... brought all the family to GJT in that snazzy car... I got to drive it a time or two... pretty impressive driving down Main Street for a high school student!
Bev and Dick were just great family... Bev was a very special "cousin" to me... very much loved and appreciated by my mother during hard times... during the war and all those tough times!
Love to all...
daddy (Robert W. Rigg, Sr.)

(2nd letter)
You may have received the obituary re: Dick Matlock, but it not... attached, I hope!
In about 1950 we hiked down into South Mesa Creek off the Uncompahgre, well, Jim Massey and I walked and they rode horses! Great fishing! Massey and I took a little roll of safety wire and made a small "noose" and put it on the end of a stick to catch trout... really works great! Matlock said he would "kiss my behind" if I caught any fish with the rigging! We had been there before and done the same... great way to catch fish... just put the wire in the water either behind or in front of the trout... be patient... and slip the noose over the fish and then yank hard... and you have a fish! Massey and I caught a whole bunch of trout... most were small, of course! Dad and Matlock and brother Jack (I think he was there) caught fish also, as no one ever fished the creek. Anyway, it was quite a revelation to Dick Matlock that we could catch fish with the wire rigging. I always thought about doing that in Alaska... could probably work there... but, much bigger fish! Greyling, trout, probably with patience, but you need a small creek and lots of patience! And a nice warm summer day out in the mountains... by yourself or with family... grandchildren... and... "peace"!
Matlock was quite a fellow... never sat still... he was quite concerned about Dad when in his declining years... falling and bounciing off the walls... (dad). Dick said that dad could not have a drink without bouncing off walls and falling all over the place... in AZ... not good!
We all hunted in the Bookcliffs a few times... Matlock was a good shot... great times!
I have a movie of the Matlock - Hargleroad wedding, if I can still find it! Omaha in 1940, Grandpa and Grandma Hargleroad, Buzz and me playing around, various family members, all, kinda rough, but... our family from that era!
But, life moves on...
pa