#96 Robert Lee Thornton
"The Last Dinner Bell"
Submitted by Marisue Potts
Robert Thornton joined friends at the Matador Cowboy Reunion on Saturday, August 25, [2001] but for him, it was to be the final time he would hear the dinner triangle. The last living chuck wagon cook of the historic Matador Land & Cattle Co., Ltd., was found dead early Sunday morning by his brother-in-law, Bill Hemphill.
A Dickens native, he was visiting at the Hemphill residence, west of Roaring Springs, when he was stricken. A memorial service will be held at the red Mud community cemetery near Spur with details to be announced to be announced later.
Robert was visiting Bill Hemphill, brother-in-law, at his residence west of Roaring Springs, Dickens, Texas and attended the Old Settlers Reunion on August 25, 2001. Bill found him dead Sunday morning, August 26, 2001. Robert was a native of Dickens County and "The last living chuch wagon cook of the historic Matador Land and Cattle Company, Ltd. Thornton joins the thinning ranks of cowboys riding for the brand who have slipped over the Great Divide for the last roundup."
The Texas Spur, Spur, Dickens County, Texas - Thursday, August 30, 2001.
[Billy Jack Hemphill is the widower of Annah Florine Thornton who died May 9, 2000.]
Obituary
MATADOR: Memorial services for Robert L. Thornton, 73, of Arlington, formerly of Matador, will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Seigler Funeral Home. He died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2001.
He was born Nov. 11, 1927, in Matador. He worked as a cook for Matador Ranch and was a Korean War veteran. He moved to Arlington and was the chief pastry chief for Wyatt's Cafeterias.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Thornton; two sons, Bobby of Newkirk, Okla., and Freddy of Houston; four daughters, Elfi Stewart and Anita Partida, both of Arlington, Connie Hatfield of Huntsville and Betsy Welch of Granbury; a sister, Lillian Kuykendall of Mineola; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Source: Lubbock Avalanche Journal, August 27, 2001.
#1261 Susan Turner
Pioneer County Woman Buried Here in Services on Tuesday
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon [October 17, 1961] at 2:30 in the Spur Church of Christ for a Dickens County Pioneer woman, Mrs. Susan Cross, 94. Vernon Williams, local minister, officiated.
Mrs. Cross died Monday [October 16, 1961] at the home of her daughter, Mrs. R. L. Benson.
She was born in 1867 in Limestone County. She joined the Church of Christ at the age of 15. Her father, Malcom James Turner, fought in the Spanish American War, and during the Civil War it was his duty to feed and clothe the woman and children of Leon County.
She married William Elza Cross in 1883 at West, Texas [McLennan County near Waco]. Three of her children, Delba, Edna and Minnie were born in West, Texas. She moved to Dickens County in 1890 to what is now known as the Croton Flat Community. The county had not yet been organized. She lived in a dugout and contracted typhoid fever and almost died.
In 1892 she moved to Pollock, Texas [Pollok, Angelina County?] where Jim was born. In 1897 she moved to Baylor County where her daughter, Ann, was born.
The family returned to Dickens County in 1898, homesteading in the Red Mud community. In 1899 they moved to Bexar County where the son Elmer was born.
They returned to Red Mud in 1900, improved the land and built a home, freighting in the lumber from Colorado City. She lived here 28 years. Her daughter, Dessie Mae, was born in 1903.
She made her home in Spur the remainder of her life.
Survivors include three daughters: Mrs. R. L. Benson, Spur; Mrs. Edna Fuqua, Spur; Mrs. Anne Roten, Wharton; two sons: Elmer Cross, Spur and Jim Cross, Hereford; one half brother, Richard Fry, Cuperton, CA; two half sisters, Mrs. Pearl Hock, Clyde and Mrs. Belle Kennedy, Coleman. Nine grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren survive.
Pallbearers were Fred Arrington, Pat Winkler, Delbert Bailey, Donnie Pace, Gifford Phillips, Melvin Rankin and O.L. Kelley.
Interment was in Spur Cemetery.
Source: The Texas Spur, October 19, 1961.
#97 Annah Florine Thornton
ROARING SPRINGS (Special) Services for Florine Hemphill, 70, of Roaring Springs will be at 2 p.m. Friday [May 12] at Full Gospel Church in Roaring Springs with the Rev. Rickey Lawrence, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Roaring Springs Cemetery under the direction of Seigler Funeral Home in Matador.
She died Monday, May 9, 2000, at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock.
She was born Aug. 17, 1929, in Motley County. She was married to Billy Jack Hemphill on Dec. 22, 1947, in Matador. They lived in Motley and Dickens counties for a number of years, and lived on the 6666 Ranch at Guthrie for 20 years prior to moving to Roaring Springs in 1991. She was a retired restaurant cook and a Church of Christ member.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Bill "Boo" Hemphill of Roaring Springs and Bobby Hemphill of Magnolia; a daughter, Becky Manley of Carlsbad, N.M.; a brother, Robert Thornton of Arlington; a sister, Lillian Kukendall of Mineola; and three grandchildren.
Source: The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Thursday, May 11, 2000. Transcribed by Ron Brantner.
#503 Lester Morris Tinsley
LESTER MORRIS TINSLEY 68, passed away on Friday, July 16, 2004 at his home near Tomball.
Visitation will be 6-8 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home. Services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Monday July 19 at Klein Funeral Home in Tomball, with Dr. Richard White of Tomball United Methodist Church officiating.
Mr. Tinsley was born January 17, 1936 in Bremond, Texas, to Morris and Mary Lillian Tinsley. He graduated from Calvert High School in 1954, and served in the U.S. Army Reserve for six years.
Mr. Tinsley worked as an electrician in the Houston area for 45 years. He was a Master Electrician and owned his own electrical contracting business.
Mr. Tinsley was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Bill Tinsley. He is survived by his wife Lavoyce; a daughter, Judy Laird, and husband Danny; three sons, Ronnie Tinsley, Keith Tinsley , and Layne Tinsley and wife Debbie; a stepson, Duane Letson; three stepdaughters, Sonya Letson and husband Tad Fowler; Tammy Rebecek and husband David; and Teresa Schneider and husband Lundin; a sister, Mary Beth Collins and husband Dean; two brothers, Kenny Tinsley and Don Tinsley ; a sister-in-law, Mary Tinsley; fourteen grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Source: Houston Chronicle. Submitted by Sally Pinkos Brantner.
#6121 Terry Lee Terrazas
In Remembrance
Terry L. Jones died October 25, 1995. Retired social worker for the State of Texas after 25 years of service. Member of Lazybrook Baptist Church.
Survived by daughter, Gerrie Dickens, Barbara Jones, Cissye Markham, four grandchildren, Robbie Dickens, Daryle Courtney, Kelly Dickens, Mistye Markham, sisters, Emma Terrazas, Cecilia Miller.
Funeral services: 3:00 P.M. Friday, October 27, 1995, Earthman Resthaven Chapel, Rev. Larry Miller, officiant. Interment, Earthman Resthaven Cemetery [Houston, Harris, Texas]. Earthman Resthaven 713-443-0063 13102 North Freeway Houston, Texas.
Source: Newspaper article. Transcribed by Jerilyn Jones Yates, daughter. (Gerrie Jones Dickens Yates)
#6993 Gladys Mae Talley
DICKEY
GLADYS MAE DICKEY, NEE TALLEY , died (February 2004 date) from natural causes a few weeks before her 100th birthday. She was a descendant of the Petteway family who homesteaded in east Texas in 1840 and established the small community, which still exists.
Although Gladys failed to reach her centennial she had a long and prosperous life. She was born in Merkel, Texas on June 4, 1904 when her mother was visiting her sister and was delivered by a midwife. She grew up in the small east Texas communities of Cayuga and Dresden where her father was a rancher. She moved to Dallas as a young woman intending to pursue a career in business. Instead she met Jesse T. Dickey whom she married on Christmas Eve in 1924. She was a Homemaker the rest of her life. A few years after a daughter joined the family the Dickeys moved to Oklahoma City where they lived until Jesse died in 1964. Gladys moved to Houston in 1979. Gladys's families were fourth generation Methodists. Her mother and grandmother were Sunday school teachers and her daughter is following their tradition. Her last membership was at Chapelwood United Methodist Church where she was a devoted member of the Bible Class until her health failed. Gladys outlived all of the family of her generation including four siblings.
In addition to her husband she was also preceded in death by a beloved nephew Dr. Warren A. Law of Boston Massachusetts who died in December. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Thelma and Lee Gulledge and her grandson Martin Edward Gulledge. Other survivors are a niece she considered her second daughter Barbara Rice of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and her family.
A visitation will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home on March 2, 2004 at 2:00 PM and the family will be present. Services and interment beside her late husband will be in Oklahoma City on March 4, 2004 with Reverend William Henry officiating. The family suggests memorials to the Foundation of Chapelwood United Methodist Church, the Brookwood Community or the charity of your choice.
Source: Houston Chronicle, Tuesday 03/02/04, Section A, Edition 3. Furnished by Sally Pinkos Brantner.
#889 Josephine Turnbow
Last Rites Held For Mrs. W.F. Pierce Sunday
Last rites for Mrs. W.F. Pierce 70, were held Sunday afternoon [February 24] at First Baptist Church, Spur, with Rev. Charles N. Gilbert officiating.
Mrs. Pierce had lived in the Steel Hill community [Dickens County, TX] for over 20 years until last year when she moved into town.
Fourteen granddaughters of Mrs. Pierce served as flower girls.
Interment was in the Spur Cemetery.
Surviving Mrs. Pierce are her husband, two sons: Joe of Borger and Lewis of Spur; six daughters: Mrs. M.E. Randall, Mrs. L.A. Ince, Mrs. J.V. Brantner, Mrs. C.B. Fullerton, Mrs. Addie Pierce and Miss Mary Pierce of Wichita Falls and 27 grandchildren.
All of the above were present for funeral services with the exception of Mary of Wichita Falls and Mrs. Fullerton of Quitman, LA.
Source: The Texas Spur, February 28 [Thursday], 1946. From the records of Lillian Grace Nay. Via the Dickens County Texas RootsWeb.
#8538 George Presley Thomas
George Presley Thomas Dies; Funeral Set in Bremond
BREMOND (SPL) George Presley Thomas, 82, died at 1 a.m, Wednesday at his home in the Clover Leaf community near Houston.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Rumple Funeral Home chapel in Bremond with Rev. James Welch of Great Bend, Kan., officiating and burial in Petteway Cemetery.
Mr. Thomas was born in Petteway, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Thomas. He attended Prairie Grove public schools.
On Sept. 1, 1908, he married the former Miss Mary Ella Clevenger and they made their home at Petteway. He was a retired farmer and a Baptist. For the past three years, he had lived near Houston.
Surviving are his wife; five daughters, Mrs. Valera Rudek, Mrs. Natalie McLauchlan, Mrs. Doris Ayres, Mrs. Vernon Brown and Mrs. Catherine Cummings all of Houston; one son, Karl Thomas of Houston; one sister, Miss Ellen Thomas of Houston; two brothers, Willie Thomas of Marlin and Bryan Thomas of Addicks; and 12 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
Source: Mary McLaughlin Musia via Gerrie Jones Yates.
[Note: 1887 - 1969]
#8539 Thelma Natalie Thomas
Thelma Thomas McLaughlin
BREMOND - Thelma Natalie McLaughlin, of Bremond, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2000. Services will be a 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000 at the Bremond Funeral Home.
Mrs. McLaughlin was born October 20, 1912 in Robertson County. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary Thomas; two brothers, A.J. and Karl Thomas: and two sisters, Valera Rudek and Vernon Brown.
Mrs. McLaughlin loved her flowers and garden and yards. She was very independent and remained active over the years. She loved to sing and go to church. She will be greatly missed by all.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Sam Musia of Waco; two sisters, Katherine Cummings of Houston and Doris Ayres of Gunter; her grandchildren, David Musia and his wife Paulette of Dallas, Steve Musia of Dallas and Leahanne Musia of Waco. She was blessed with four great-grandchildren, Dustin and Briana Musia of Waco and Courtney and Shane Musia of Dallas. She had numerous nieces and nephews. She had made many friends over the years in Bremond and she treasured her church family.
Pallbearers will be Steve Musia, David Musia, A.J. Thomas, Truman Cummings, Jack Garrett and Jim Welch.
Burial: Heards Prairie-Petteway Cemetery, Robertson County, Texas.
Source: Mary McLaughlin Musia via Gerrie Jones Yates.
#10750 Valera May Thomas
Funeral Notice: Valera May Thomas Rudek
October 9, 1910 - January 24, 1993, 82 years
She was loved by her four children: Virginia Johnson, Rita Wolff and her husband, Vernon Jean Fielding and her husband, Wade Milton Rudel [Rudek] and his wife, Thelma.
She will be sorelly missed by her four sisters:
Natalie McLauchlan
Doris Ayres
Vernon Brown and her husband, K.B.
Katherine Cummings and her husband, Truman.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Marine Rudek and two brothers: A.J. Thomas and Karl Thomas.
She leaves behind a legacy of 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Valera was a member of the Channelview Church of Christ.
Source: Mary McLaughlin Musia via Gerrie Jones Yates.
