Jane and Elmer Dale purchased a 250-acre farm two miles up the river from Blanco. Jean was ten years old at this time. Mr. Dale bought and sold horses. Jean claimed one named, "Diamond." The horse was a paint. Mr. Dale had him trained to do tricks. He could count and Jean taught him to kneel down. Jean rode him all over the town, even to school at times for the next four years. Mr. Dale sold "Diamond" and Jean got a new horse named, "Rhonda." This horse was a bay color and was a quarter horse, the type ridden in rodeos. Such horses could turn on a dime. Jean had a favorite gun, a 22-rifle. She spent many hours at their pond on the land shooting turtles. She hunted at times with a Mexican boy whose family lived on the farm. They would frequently hunt squirrels together, Jean with her 22 and the boy with a sling-shot.

When Jean was about 14 there were several mysterious fires within a period of one year on their land. The fires consumed a chicken house and barn. Then one night about two in the morning, the family was awakened to discover their home was being consumerd by fire. The only articles saved were Mrs. Dale's cameo pin, Mr. Dale's pocket watch, and a red and blue dress that Jean hated. The town people furnished the Dale Family clothing, and the family moved into Blanco to live with Mr. Dale's father and mother, Jarvis and Zula Dale.

Mr. and Mrs. Dale built a colored rock house on the Jarvis owned land and the house is still standing in Blanco. Mr. and Mrs. Dale were active in many professions to keep ahead of family expenses. They operated a cleaning establishment in Blanco; they owned and published for years the Blanco County News. Both Elmer and Jane Dale earned real estate licenses. Jean helped in the newspaper business and, later, even showed farms for them.

Mrs. Elmer Dale and Hazel (Jean's sister) both graduated from the College of Industrial Arts in Denton, Texas. Jean, at age 17, attended this university for one year, earning part of her tuition by waiting on tables in the dining room. The next year, Jean transferred to the University of Texas in Austin. She majored in music. On a blind date, she met Chas. After their first date, they began to date steadily. Each organization at the University voted to have a Blue Bonnet Belle representative, and in 1939 Jean became a Blue Bonnet Belle. Jean and Chas. enjoyed dancing very much and attended most of the "German" dances in Gregory gyn on Saturday nights.

Chas. graduated in June of 1940 and was hired by the Texas Company for $125 a month. This amount was sufficient to get married. On 14 December 1940, they were married in Blanco at the Dale family home. At this time, Chas. was employed by the Texaas Company in Midland, Texas. Jean and Chas. lived in a one bedroom house for several months before being transferred to the Division Headquarters of the Texas Company in Fort Worth, Texas. To supplement the family income, Jean worked at Montgomery Wards catalogue shipping department for $18 a week. War was declared about one year later, and Chas. was sent first to Shepherd Field, Texas, and later to officer's training in Miami, Florida. During this period, Jean lived at home in Blanco. Her Mother had a heart attack and Jean ran the newspaper for the Dale family. After Chas. was commissioned a 2nd. Lt. in the Army Air Corps, Jean and Chas. were sent to Newark Air Force Base, N. J. Charles V. Manes, Jr. was born in April of 1943 in the former Blanco County Court House that had been converted to a hospital. Chas. asked for leave to be present at the birth. However, the only transportation he could find was a C-47 loaded with dynamite. He arrived in Blanco 24 hors after Charles Jr.'s birth. Jean and Chas. lived for a while in Upper Montclair, N. J., a very exclusive neighborhood that would not sell meat products to Jean, because she was not a native of that area. This was definitely war time and rations were at a minimum.

In May of 1945, Robert Dale was born at Newark Air Force Base hospital. Mrs. Dale was present for the birth, but she left a few days later to join Mr. Dale in Blanco. Mrs. Harry Manes (Birdie) arrived a day or two later to assist Jean with the new baby. However, Birdie became ill and left after two days for Dallas, Texas. At this time, Chas. received orders to attend the Command and General Staff School in Fort Leveanworth, Kansas. So, Jean, Chas. and both children left for Blanco via train. Jean remained in Blanco while Chas. was in the school. Soon after graduation, peace was declared and Chas. left the Army Air Corps. Mr. and Mrs. Dale, because of their experience with county seat newspapers, convinced Jean and Chas. that this would be a good career for them.The Western Observer, a Jones County seat newspaper located in Anson, near Abilene, Texas, was purchased. Jean handled all of the advertising matters and Chas. was responsible for the editorial and news items.

After a number of months, Chas. was recalled by the Air Force and sent to the Philippines. Mrs. Dale returned to Anson to help Jean run the The Western Obsserver until they were able to sell the newspaper. When Chas. returned from the Philippines, the family relocated in Abilene, so that Chas. could complete a master's degree in economics at Hardin Simmons University. To help with family finances, Jean and Chas. completed personal surveys for the Psychological Corporation. Each survey brought in an additional $1 and took only about fifteen minutes each. For entertainment, Jean and Chas. started square dancing, an activity they continued for many years. Jean had her hands full trying to keep ahead of two young boys, ages four and two. One morning while on the telephone, Jean saw Charles Jr. going back and forth from kitchen and living room. She asked Charles Jr. what was happening, and he answered, "Don't worry, Mother, I can handle this." When she got off the phone, she found that the younger son Bob had set fire to the curtains behind the couch and Charles Jr. was running back and forth with a glass of water trying to douce the fire.

After graduation with a Master's Degree from Hardin Simmons University, Chas. was offered a position with Oklahoma Baptist University as head of the Business Division. The family moved to Shawnee, Oklahome. They were fortunate to buy for $9,000 a brick house directly across the street from the elementary school. They had a German Shepherd dog named "Bluff." Bluff became so protective of the children and so hated the next door neighbor that Jean and Chas. had to give Bluff to a friend who lived on a farm outside of Shawnee. To replace the German Shepherd, the family bought a brindle boxer named, "Mugs." Often Mugs would visit his children across the street, and too often would return home with someone else's coat as a presemt to the family. Other parents resented these actions of Mugs. A favorite place to rest for Mugs was the sidewalk in fron the family house. He would not move and persons using this sidewalk would be forced to use the street to continue their journey. This was the period when a daughter Ann joined the family in July of 1950. When the Korean War started, Chas. was recalled by the Air Force. The family moved from Shawnee, Oklahoma, to Kelly Air Force Base (Billy Mitchell Village apartments) while Chas. was in Korea. Like most wives in the 75th Wing, Jean and the children spent a lot of time at the officer's club at the swimming pool. Charles Jr. and Robert were good swimmers. Robert sat on the bottom of the pool, trying to find out how long he could hold his breath. This caused Jean a good deal of concern. Ann at two years old tried to imitate her brothers. This caused Jean additional concern. When Chas. returned from Korea, the family moved to Springfield, Virginia. His new assignment was in the Comptroller's office at the Pentagon.

After his tour at the Pentagon, Chas. and Jean and family were moved to Denver, Colorado, and remained there for the first four years of assignment to the Air Force Academy. Social activities engaged Jean for the period at the Academy. For example, their small home had several breakfasts that invited officers from the Academy. This included the Falcon handlers who brought to these breakfasts their falcons for exhibition. After four years in Denver, the family moved on the new site of the Academy in Colorado Springs. Jean and family were there only one month when Chas. received orders to be Chief of Finance for Stragegic Air Command in Madrid, Spain. Jean found a three story house for the family at Rodriquez Alfonso Santa Maria 13, the shortest street in Madrid with the longest name. A maid was hired for $12 a month. The children attended American schools. All the family enjoyed living in Madrid. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Dale visited the family once while they were on an European antique buying trip. Jean became quite active in Protestant Women of the Chapel and made President of the Spanish chapter. This involved many European trips, as well as visits to the Morocco organizations. She was able to move around on these trips, because the maid was able to take care of the family needs. Charles, Jr. became President of the senior class in the Madrid High School. He left Madrid upon graduation from high school and flew to Austin, Texas, to enroll as a freshman at the University of Texas. In 1961, the family moved back to Virginia, when Chas. was reassigned to the Pentagon. During the next few years, Robert attended high school, graduated, and then enrolled at the Universty of Texas as a freshman. In 1967, Chas. retired and the family moved to Dallas, Texas, when Chas. was employed by Dallas Baptist University as professor of economics.

After ten years in Dallas and Duncanville, Jean and Chas. retired to New Braunfels, Texas. During these years, Jean was busy with children going to school, graduating, and marrying. Grandchildren and great grandchildren followed. There are as of 2004, eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. In 2003, Jean and Chas. moved to the Army Residence Community (ARC) in San Antonio. Jean keeps saying that she has had a blessed life and daily thanks God for these blessings.