HER STORY

Born as Frances Octavia Smith on October 31, 1912, Dale Evans too, had storied early beginnings. Her young life was spent significantly with her uncle, an internal medicine physician, in Arkansas. She eloped at 14 and had a son at the age of 15, her husband abandoning her and her child a year later. Pursuing a singing career in Kentucky and Tennessee, she sang and played the piano, landing jobs in jazz, swing and big band choruses with a variety of radio stations.

After her divorce in 1929, at 17, she married twice again between 1929 and 1946. In an effort, perhaps, to shield her from unnecessary criticism and market her talent, the 20th Century Fox studio had purposely promoted her as an unmarried supporting “sister,” to her teenaged brother Tommy –who was actually her own son. It would not be until her liaison with Roy Rogers, that she would dispel the deception and publicly acknowledge their true relationship.

The persona of Dale Evans took form in the early 1930s at the suggestion of a station manager who felt she needed a short, attractive name with an easy pronunciation. She became a featured singer on the Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy show.

She would meet Roy Rogers at Republic Studios in 1944 when they were cast together in their first film, Cowboy and the Senorita. Dale couldn’t ride when they first met, but with Roy’s encouragement, it wasn’t very long before she looked pretty sweet in the saddle.

In 1947, they filmed Home in Oklahoma, where Roy stars as the editor of a newspaper. When a rancher is murdered, his fortune is inherited by a young boy. Editor Roy helps bring the murderers to justice with the assistance of a big city news reporter, Dale Evans.

As their friendship grew, Rogers started inviting Evans to dinner and for drives to his ranch in Ventura County to visit his children. In September of 1947, he presented her with a token of their friendship – a friendship ring.

A month later, while sitting astride their horses during a rodeo at Chicago stadium, he gave her a present she thought was for her birthday – a star ruby ring – but then he asked her, “What are you doing New Year’s Eve?” which was also the title of a popular song with an underlying meaning – a proposal.

As the announcers broadcast their entrance, she responded, “Let me think about it,” galloping into the stadium.

They were married for the next 51 years, sealing their vows during a blizzard at the Flying L Ranch where they had filmed Home in Oklahoma. They would join their families, having one more child, Robin Elizabeth from their marriage, as well as adopting four more.

Roy Rogers had Chocktaw heritage on his mother’s side. Cheryl, (Rogers Barnett) had been adopted by Rogers and his second wife, Arlene. In pursuit of her biological parentage, Cheryl visited her former orphanage in Dallas, and met a seven-month-old child of Chocktaw heritage, named Mary Little Doe. Mary Little Doe made an impression on the Rogers family, and Cheryl told her she hoped she would find a good home with a family who loved her.

After they returned home, baby Robin Elizabeth, (Roy and Dale’s only biological daughter) developed complications due to mumps. Robin had Down Syndrome. When they returned home, she died just before her second birthday. They were devastated and went to Dallas to visit family after Robin’s death.

While they were there, Roy said he wanted to go revisit the orphanage. Dale said she wasn’t ready, but she was willing to go. When they arrived, she went immediately to see if the little Chocktaw baby was still there. She was, and the agency, knowing that Roy had Native American heritage, arranged, and completed the adoption.

Dale ultimately wrote a book on Robin’s life, titled, Angel Unaware. Altogether they had nine children, with the heartbreaking loss of three. Their adopted Korean daughter, Debbie perished in a bus accident at the age of 12 while on a church field trip, and their son, Sandy, died overseas while serving in the armed forces.

Together they showed the real power of love; making 88 movies, and 100 episodes of the Roy Rogers television show.

Roy was sponsored by Post Cereals with pictures on 2.5 billion boxes of cereal, honoured with three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; for motion pictures, radio and television. He was named Outstanding Indian Citizen of the Year. Rogers and Evans were inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, in 1976, and Roy was inducted again in 1995 as a founding member of the Sons of the Pioneers.

As of August, 2022, Roy was the only person elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame twice; once as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers, and one again as a soloist. He received recognition from the State of Arkansas, and a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs California, (the Walk of Stars was dedicated to him and Dale.)

Theirs is a love-story of heartache, endurance, faith, and dedication. Dale wrote their signature song, “Happy Trails,” and it embodies the spirit with which they lived their lives; “Who cares about the clouds when we’re together, just sing a song and bring the sunny weather, Happy Trails to you… ’til we meet again.” WHR