Executive Summary: Oxley Thing Research Findings

 Executive Summary:  Oxley Thing Research Findings

With my tongue firmly “planted in my cheek”,  I set out on my psychological research quest in March of 1962 to determine if the Oxley Thing is a genetically predisposition or a set of learned  behaviors.  I selected a unique group of Oxley’s to observe and document for the past 52 years.

I could have chosen the descendents of John Oxley who was a historically significant explorer and surveyor of Australia.   For the purpose of this research,  I selected an obscure clan of Oxley’s who are the descendants of Ira and Margret Oxley from a small desolate rural village known by the locals as Penline, Pennsylvania.   

The Ira Oxley Clan is descendants of English immigrants from the Staffordshire region of England.    The Oxley name is location originated meaning  “a clearing for Oxen”.  It could be said that Oxley’s have walked in BS for thousands of years.  Even though there is not primary source documentation to verify, it is mostly likely this clan of Oxley’s were kicked out of England for smarting off to the King.  Legend has it that King George stole the Oxley proclaimed joke and claimed it as his own. 

The primary source research strategies utilized for this “tongue in cheek” quest were fifty-two years of observations, reviewing Ira Oxley Clan documents, and listening to the stories of Ira Oxley Clan descendents.   The Oxley Thing research explored this essential question: Is the Oxley Thing psychological state a genetic predisposition or learned behavioral patterns shared between generations?  One old timer, who has known the Ira Oxley Clan since the depression, stated that the Oxley Thing is just a bunch of hooey because the Oxley’s are all nuts.   The old timer could not determine if the Ira Oxley Clan were walnuts or beechnuts so his observations were dismissed.

The research will not document the negative aspects of the Ira Oxley clan.  The negative aspects research of the Ira Oxley Clan will be left to in-laws and casual observers.   As this researcher learned, most Oxley’s just don’t care if you don’t like them.  They are whom they are and are perfectly find if you don’t like it.

Three generations of the Ira Oxley Clan were observed and the following key elements of the Oxley Thing were documented.   The Ira Oxley Clan members are not cookie cutter “Bedford Wife” like individuals.  They are truly individually unique, but all show aspects of the identified Oxley Thing elements to varying degrees.   A full accounting of the Oxley Thing research will be published in the Winter 2014 scholarly journal of Smart Mouths Like Us.

Oxley Clan Element One:              Self-Resilience and Work Ethic

The Ira Oxley Clan is self-reliant.   They are willing to accept help, but understand they need to make their own way in the world.  Oxley’s are known for a strong work ethic based on giving more than expected.  They take their work seriously, but rarely take themselves seriously.   The researcher recorded Dana Oxley declaring, “There is work ethic and then there is the Oxley work ethic.”   Oxley pride is based on a strong work ethic and self-reliance.

Oxley Clan Element Two:              Loyalty and Acceptance

The Ira Oxley Clan is fiercely loyal to their families and friends.  They form strong friendships and stand by their friends because their friends stand by them.  The Oxley Clan is accepting of others.   A direct quote from Rick Oxley regarding acceptance,  “Why should I care how you live your life, just don’t make me live it.” The researcher concluded that Oxley’s believe in a right of an individual to live their life as they see fit.   

Oxley Clan Element Three:              Resilience and Perseverance

Rain and storms enter clans from time to time.   The direct descendants of Ira and Margret Oxley lived a hard demanding depression era childhood of poverty which became worse after Margret died and Ira became increasingly lost in alcohol addiction.  

The researcher determined that Oxley’s have another “gear” they shift into when faced with personal, health, family, or economical challenges.   Oxley’s shift into “Oxley Gear”.  They put their chins down and face the wind taking one step at a time moving forward and eventually traverse out of the storm.  

Oxley’s have great personal pride which gives them great resilience and perseverance.   The Oxley perseverance gives them a strong sense of hope and they know hope will never disappoint.  The direct descendants of Ira and Margret Oxley resilience and preference are considered the model for all the generations to follow.

Oxley Clan Element Four:            Creative, Inventive, Strong Interests

The differences in the Oxley clan are most notable in the areas of creativity, inventiveness and exploring strong interests.   However, the traits of creativity, inventiveness and exploring strong interests are evident in all Oxley’s.  Many of the Oxley’s are musically gifted playing multiple instruments and enjoying singing.   Some are crafts persons and show creatively through art, writing, crafts and woodworking.  

The Ira Oxley Clan wanted the researcher to know that MacGiver was based on an Oxley and the main character’s real name was Ox and not Mac.   Oxley’s invented repurposing what you had in the shed, basement, or garage to solve the problem at hand.   The re-purposing inventive trait was very strong in Dave and Dick Oxley.   Richard Oxley said,   “Give my Grandpa (Dick Oxley),  a coat hanger, scrap wood, a few nuts and bolts and he can find a way to fix it.”   Dave Oxley built a covered bridge and many an Oxley campout was made better by a Dave Oxley fire side beer holder or extra long in-destructible hot dog stick.

Oxley’s have strong interests.  One example is Carl Oxley who was a very accomplished wood carver and volunteer fire chief.  Command Sergeant Major Bill Oxley found great solace breaking the soil and tending to his large vegetable garden which he then distributed the fruits of his labor to family friends.  Ed Oxley enjoyed cooking for others, which is a trait that he learned in his long service in the United States Army.   Oxley’s are amateur astronomers, woodworkers, and winemakers.  Oxley’s are active community volunteers benefiting booster clubs,  church groups, and service organizations.  

Oxley Clan Element Five            Oxley Humor

The Oxley humor element identified by the researcher is most intriguing and interesting.  However, interviews with the spouses and co-workers of the Ira Oxley Clan members identified the humor to be sometimes obnoxious and often only funny to a member of the Ira Oxley Clan.  

Researcher Ruby Payne concluded in her book “Understanding  the Framework of Poverty” that a sense of humor is highly valued among the working poor.   Humor is entertainment when you cannot afford other forms.   Today’s members of the Ira Oxley Clan are descendents of the rural depression era poverty of Western Pennsylvania.   Finding humor in daily life was entertainment and made the hardships seem less grim.

Oxley humor is sarcastic and observational anecdotal.   Bob Oxley, current keeper of the Oxley humor torch, recently named is boat “Knot Funny”.   Oxley humor is a trait that makes the Ira Oxley Clan smile.  They can sit for hours sharing stories and antidotes with the only purpose being making someone laugh.   The researcher observed that the Oxley clan doesn’t really care if you think they are funny, because if you don’t laugh they are too busy laughing to notice.

Research Conclusion

50 years of “ tongue in cheek” researching of the Oxley Clan has left this researcher no closer in determining if the Oxley Thing is a predetermined genetic code or learned behaviors passed from generation to generation.   The Ira and Margret Oxley Clan is unique in finding the humor in daily life, practicing resilience, working hard, staying loyal, and enjoying the exploration of strong interests.

The research grant from Smart Mouth’s Like Us has come to a conclusion.   Fortunately,  The Laurel and Hardy Foundation has agreed to continue to fund the study of the Ira Oxley Clan.  Genetic testing maybe needed to finally settle if the Oxley Thing is learned or genetically predetermined.   Further findings will be published annually in the Journal of American Wisecrackers.