Robert Lee Mize

photo on left is Robert Lee Mize and his (step)mother Elva Mounce who was born in White Lily, Pulaski County, Kentucky.
Robert Lee Mize, the only son of Eddie and Emma Mize was born about the year 1916 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. Eddie Carl Robert Lee Mize as he was called through family tradition states he was named for all of his father’s brothers. But in spite of the family tradition, he was legally named Robert Lee Mize as said on his marriage certificate. Robert Lee married Eula Velma Lay, the daughter of Walter Green Lay and Minnie Alice Calder, on the fourth day of May 1935. They were married by a Baptist preacher at Norwood in the presence of Edd Mize and Minnie Calder. Robert is listed as being a farmer. Eula was born at Norwood, Kentucky. Robert and Eula Mize lived in the home of “Uncle Jack” Mize located near Frog Hollow.

“Robert Lee Mize was born in a log cabin which was located in Frog Hollow, adjacent to Andrew Jackson “Uncle Jack” Mize’s tract of land near Science Hill, Kentucky. The cabin was later sold to Louisa Hall and still later burned down. No remains of the cabin can be found. Robert Lee always enjoyed cooking for his father who thought that Robert Lee’s potatoes were the best in the world. During the summer, Robert and his cousin, Paul A. Mize would go jasmine hunting on his grandfather’s (Isaac Mize) land, which was located near the town of Billows in Rockcastle County. During his late teens, Robert Lee and Paul, his cousin, would make moonshine to sell to supplement their meager income of farm boys. Paul would provide Robert buckets of water from the creek to soak the “snake” or copper coils of their moonshine still located on Uncle jack’s farm. They had placed their still in a hole that they had dug and when they would finish making their mash, they would camouflage the still by covering it with brush from the surrounding area. This was their attempt to prevent the revenuers from locating their still and destroying it. During his youth, Paul spent a lot of time with Robert. Paul especially liked watching Robert and Edd (his father) work the switchboard that Edd operated in the small town of Science Hill. When Robert was twenty years old, he married Eula Lay in Norwood, which is near Science Hill, Kentucky on 4 May 1935. Robert and Eula moved in with Robert’s grandparent’s, Uncle Jack and Martha Mize, and lived upstairs in their home during the early days of their marriage. Eula said she was pregnant at the time that they lived with Jack and Martha. Danny Gordon , the son of Robert Lee and Eula was born during 1936 in the home of Doolin Smith located at a place called Circlesville which is not far from the home of Jack and Martha. Circlesville received its name from being a location in the road where people would circle around in their wagons and cars to return to Science Hill. Robert and Eula moved to Detroit, Michigan where Robert worked as a tool and die maker and Eula worked in the Packard factory which was also located in Detroit.

Eula stated that Robert worked the late shift at the Willow Springs aircraft factory near Detroit, Michigan and started seeing a blonde haired woman who also worked there. Eula had become suspicious when Robert started wearing nice clothes too often. On one Sunday, she followed Robert after noticing him packing a lunch bucket and putting it in their car. After a period of time, she became fed up with his activities and went to the factory and picked up the car from Robert. She then drove back to their apartment and packed up all of her clothes along with Danny’s clothing. Eula’s landlord drew her a map to Oak Harbor, Ohio where her sister Christine lived. Her neighbors gave her extra gas ration stamps for the trip because of gas rationing during World War Two. Danny helped her read the map directions drawn by her landlord. They never made a wrong turn or became lost during their trip to Oak Harbor, Michigan she said. While driving, Eula noticed that the rear of the car sagged. She pulled over to the side of the road and unlocked the trunk. In the trunk were satin robes, negliges and a tub full of iced beer. She became furious and started throwing the items out of the trunk and onto the road. There were some young school children standing nearby watching and when they spied the lunch basket, they asked whether they could have the food. Eulas told them that they could have it all! She divorced Robert Lee after arriving at Oak Harbor. While staying on the farm of Walter Lay, Danny received a letter from Robert Lee stating that he wanted to decrease the amount of allotment for child support because it was putting a financial burden on Robert and his new wife. Robert was living in Great Britain during that time. Robert’s second wife’s name was Rose and his daughter was Roberta. During this time he was employed by the United States Air Force. Robert later lived in Beloxi, Mississippi where he met his cousin Carrol Mize who lived near by. The next letter Danny received by Danny was several years later. Along with the letter, Danny received a picture of Robert Lee wearing his Air Force uniform. The picture was lost before Danny joined the United States Army when he was seventeen. About 1958 or 1959 Robert visited Eula’s sister, Christine Witt, who lived in Port Clinton, Ohio. He stated that he was working as a salesman and his wife had ran off from him.” (personal interview with Eula Mize)

This picture in the left is Eula and Danny Mize. It was taken in front of Walter and Minnie Lay’s residence in Science Hill, Pulaski County during the year 1948.
This picture of Robert Lee Mize (center), Eula Velma Lay (left) and her sister, Gladys Belle Lay (right) was taken during the year 1936 somewhere along route 27 South between Somerset and Louisville, Kentucky.

Top photo was taken at the Jack Mize homestead. The Cast on Danny Mize's leg was put on after his surgery for Osteomylitis. Top right photo is Eula Mize and Danny taken around the year 1937.

This photo of Eula Mize was taken during the year 1942.
Marriage ceremony certificate for Robert Lee Mize and Eula Lay. The ceremony was probably at the Walter Lay house located at Norwood (just outside of Science Hill, Pulaski County, Kentucky. The ceremony was on the 4th of May 1925 in presence of Ed Mize and Eula’s mother, Minnie Calder Lay. Certificate is in possesion of immediate family member.

The above photos were contributed by Marie Myerholtz and Sandy Dickerson, descendents of Jack Mize. The photo on the left is Robert Lee Mize with his second wife that Robert Lee met while living in Michigan. The above right photo is Charles Dickerson, Laura Ellen Polly Dickerson and Robert Lee Mize. Laura Ellen lived to 107 years old.

Death Certificate for Edward Carl Robert Lee Mize