Batey Park
SIZE	1.9 Acres
LOCATION	6820 Seasons Drive, North of Verdure Way (LAGUNA)
PARK FEATURES	Tennis Courts Picnic Area/Tables Playground Equipment
COMPLETED	1992
BIOGRAPHY	Bob Batey is descended from some of the first families to make Elk Grove their home. Bob´s mother, Edna, was a member of the Coons and Polhemus families that crossed the plains in the mid-1880´s. Edna loved children and taught school in San Bruno after graduating first in her class from San Francisco State Normal School. While vacationing at her parent´s home in Elk Grove, she met her future husband, Matthew. Edna and Matthew had four children: Robert (Bob), Nancy (Mrs. William Campbell), Florence Rae (Mrs. Howard Russel), and Etta Harriet (Mrs. Thomas). Edna´s life was dedicated to communicating her love of learning and sharing her gift of storytelling with the children in the community. Matthew was an immigrant from England who served as Assistant Engineering Officer in His Majesty´s Merchant Marines, and a machinist working in the shipyards in Newcastle where he grew up. He started a machinist business after arriving in Elk Grove. Then in 1919, he began Batey Brothers Chevrolet with his brother Bob in Downtown Elk Grove. After Matthew died in 1938, his brother Bob became the sole owner. Matthew´s son, who is also named Bob, joined his uncle in the car business after serving in the Air Corps during World War II. The younger Bob assumed ownership in 1957 and moved the dealership to a location near the freeway in 1966 and ran the business until his retirement in 1982. Bob Batey met his wife Olga, a teacher, while they were both attending San Jose State. Olga and Bob raised 4 children: Stephanie Batey, Christine Sarantakis, Michael Lee Batey II (deceased), and Robert S. Batey. Both Bob and Olga were very active and involved in the community. Olga served as President of the Friends of the Library, formed the Elk Grove unit of the League of Women Voters, is a past-President of the South Sacramento Democratic Club, and was the first woman on the Elk Grove School District Board. Bob was the first charter President of the Elk Grove Rotary, a Chairman of Elk Grove Methodist Church, School Board (before the formation of the Unified School District), and was a charter member of the Board of First Security National Bank. For 17 years they also produced and sang for the Helter Skelter Players, a local entertainment group.
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