Son of Eli James Petty & Lucinda Mapel Petty

Albert James Petty had 4 brothers Matison, Jonas, George and William also 6 sisters, Mary Jane, Eliza, Clara, Lillie, Lizzie and Cecil. Bert had a half-bother James and half-sister Katherine from Eli's first marriage.

Bert was a world traveler in his younger days. He sailed around South American. He worked many jobs, from farming to Boilermaker. But he returned to his family in Fall River, Wilson, Kansas.

Bert met Bessie M. McCall in Wilson County, Kansas. Albert moved to Campo, Baca, Colorado and Bessie follow, they were married May 23, 1920 Bert was 35 years old and Bessie was 25. They started their family the following year with the birth of their son James Robert. Then came Velma May, George Lynn and Dale McCall. Bert built many houses in the Baca and Mesa counties.

As before he worked many different jobs in Colorado. Farmed had a Cream Station and delivered cream, chickens and ducks with a wagon. He also delivered water to cisterns. Bessie father came to live with them in March 1928.

In April 1929 Bert bought a new Model A Ford and the family moved to Los Angeles, California. On June 5th they settled in Lincoln, California. Built a 24X24 house, the same floor plan as those built in Colorado except this one had a bathroom connected to the back of the house. Bert's sisters Mary, Eliza and Clara were living in Lincoln. The family joined the Lincoln Pentecostal Church in 1930.

They had a baby girl on December 12, 1929 she was stillborn.. Rex Albert, my father was born November 23, 1933. March 6, 1936 they lost her daughter Velma May with spinal meningitis, during the same time George was in the hospital with appendicitis..

In the late 40's the family moved to Ceres, California. Bert built his home at 610 Wade Street in Modesto, California. He also built rental on the street, the street was only one block long. This is where they were living when I showed up in November 1952. My Grandpa was like the storybook grandfather. I have many great memories of him. I would go to their house it was about a mile from us, it was the sun came up when I came. He would take me across the street to the corner store a buy me a Pepsi. At Christmas he would sit next to the Christmas tree and work on his bubble lights to keep them bubbling. The Christmas' that were spent at their house was the best. Wasn't the gift it was the love.

In the early 50's their first Grandson Douglas was born. His proud parents were George and Ruth. Dougie was born in Eastern USA and Bessie and Bert never got meet him. Dougie died around the age of 3.

Bert and Bessie had 3 grandsons and 6 granddaughters.

While visiting his son Dale and his family in Van Nuys, California he had a stroke and died. I still think about him and the wonderful memories I was left with.