Working for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. and its major receiving port in Conneaut, Ohio, Roy’s work on the Great Lakes would keep him away from his family for lengthy periods of time. At the time when this class picture was taken of Merle (1926), the strain caused by his frequent absences was too much, and Evelyn filed for divorce.

Source

Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas. (1926). Case No. 2231