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Jack and Leota Ensey moved their family to Spur in 1924 from Mineral Wells. The "at home" family was Jerry, Melvin, Mary Belle, and Richard. We had 4 married sisters: Bessie Payne, Spur; Beatrice Nelms, Caddo; Myrtle Payne, Lubbock; Nona Mae Ledbetter, Strawn. Dad was a grocer but wanted to farm. John Payne had a section of land west of Spur so we moved into a house on his farm, but after two "crop failures" we moved into town to a home, grocery, and service station my dad and I built, located on West Harris.Jerry was working for W.C. Gruben and finished high school in 1928. He and Joe Long eventually bought the City Drug from Dr. T.H. Blackwell. Jerry married Ruth Anderson and they had three sons. Jerry died in 1974.
Mary Belle finished high school in 1933 and went to work for Southwestern Bell. Mary married Woodrow Swaringen and they have a son and two daughters. Mary and Woody live in Decatur.
Richard finished school in 1936 and married Vera Jane Robinson. They had three boys and a girl. Richard was a tailor and had his own business. He died in 1960.
I attended Simmons University for one semester after finishing high school in 1930 and Texas Tech for two semesters. But the depression was too much and I returned to Spur to work for Neal and Christine Chastain. Conditions did not improve so Dad and I went to Odessa to work. Lavada McClung (we had been sweethearts from the time she moved to Spur in the 7th grade) came to Odessa to visit a cousin and we "ran off" and got married in Pecos on July 8, 1937.
Lavada´s grandparents, R.B. and Jenny Sharp, and her uncle, John Sharp and his family moved to Spur in 1926 from Chico. Her parents Bill and Annie Sharp McClung lived in Oklahoma, but Annie wanted to be nearer her family so Bill, Annie, Lavada and her brother, Cecil moved to Spur at the same time the Sharp family moved.
Bill McClung was a barber and worked with Harvey Stack and Bill Brown. Later he worked for Bill Simpson, then Shorty Hogan and Cecil Fox. He was well known for his hounds and hunted coyotes and wolves all over the county. He had many friends in Afton, Dickens, and Spur. At the time of his death, July 14, 1946, he owned a shop with Casey Alldredge.
Annie McClung was devoted to her family and to her church. She was a member of the Missionary Society, and participated in all its functions. She always cared for others, even during her illness. She died April 22, 1980.
Cecil was an athlete. He not only excelled in football, but also played baseball and basketball. He earned a scholarship and attended school in Denton. Times were hard, though, and he came back home and worked at Bell´s Cafe. He also worked for several farmers as that was what he really liked. His health broke and he got a job with the Methodist Church where he worked until he retired. Cecil died August 16, 1982.
Lavada finished high school in 1930, too, but because of a heart condition she did not go to college. After we married she returned to Spur and to her job at West Texas Utilities where Mr. W.R. Weaver taught her bookkeeping! I went to Fort Worth to try to find a job as that is where we had decided we wanted to live. We lived several places but in 1941 I got a job with a pharmaceutical company, traveling out of San Angelo. I spent 3 years in the Air Corps and in 1950 we moved to Beaumont, and I traveled for Ayerst Labs for 26 years.
There were initially 3 Ensey families in Spur: T.C. (Cleve), J.J. (Jack), and Charles (Charley). Most all their children finished Spur High School.
Both our mothers and dads were such wonderful parents ... Christian, loving, caring, understanding - and were loved in their community. Spur was such an important part of our lives, and it is sad that there are no longer any Enseys nor McClungs living there. However, Lavada and I are so thankful for the Ex-Student Association for with it we can always "be in touch".
Written by: Melvin EnseySource: Dickens County History...its Land and People © Dickens Historical Commission; Printer: Craftsman Inc. Lubbock, Texas 1986
Submitted by Gerald Farley
Leota Virginia Ensey, wife of J. J. Ensey, died Monday evening at her home in the west part of Spur after suffering a stroke Monday morning around 9 o´clock.Services were held at the First Methodist church at 3 o´clock Wednesday afternoon. Rev. Howard Hollowell, pastor of the Midland Methodist church and former pastor of the Spur church, officiated and was assisted by Rev. Lester Hill, pastor of the Methodist church and Rev. C. N. Gilbert, pastor of the First Baptist church of Spur. Interment was in the Spur Cemetery with Campbell Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Ensey was born to Mr. and Mrs. William Orme in Hill county, August 7, 1883 and was married to J. J. Ensey at Palo Pinto, TX, December 16, 1907. They moved to Dickens county in 1925 and have made their home here since. She was converted early in life and was a member of the Methodist church. She was loved by all who knew her and was a constant worker in church affairs.
Pallbearers were: Dee Hairgrove, Leonard Fox, J. J. Payne, Alfred Payne, Denver Nelms and Douglas Orme.
Besides her husband she is survived by three sons, Jerry and Richard of Spur and Melvin Ensey of Tulsa, OK and one daughter, Mrs. Mary Belle Swaringen of Odessa. Step-children surviving are: Mrs. J.C. Payne of Spur, Mrs. Mark Nelms of Caddo, and Mrs. Allen Ledbetter of Odessa. Mrs. Pope Kirby another step-daughter preceded her in death. Thirteen grandchildren also survive.
©The Texas Spur, September 1947
From the records of Lillian Grace Nay
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday morning in the First Methodist Church for Mr. John Jackson Ensey, 92, retired grocerman and service station operator. Rev. Clarence Stephens officiated.Mr. Ensey died June 10 in Spur Memorial Hospital. He had been a resident of Spur since 1925. He was a member of the Methodist Church and Woodman of the World Lodge.
Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. John Reed, Spur; Mrs. Mark Nelms, Caddo; Mrs. Allan Ledbetter, Odessa and Mr. W.W. Swaringen, Brownfield; two sons, Jerry Ensey, Spur and Melvin Ensey, Beaumont; one brother, T.C. Ensey, Spur and one sister, Mrs. Annie Wilson, Moore, OK; 16 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.
Pallbearers included Neal Chastain, Ferrel Albin, Rex Holder, Calvin Reynolds, D.J. Dyess, Howard French, Loyd Roberson and Everett McArthur.
Interment was in Spur Cemetery.
©The Texas Spur, June 15, 1967
From the scrapbook of Lillian Grace Nay, transcribed by Kay Laster
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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