OLD I.O.O.F. OBITUARIES

The Hamilton Herald-News Hamilton County, Texas

01 December 1994

Mamie Adams, 95, died Nov. 25 at Hamilton General Hospital. Services were Saturday, Nov. 26, at Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Wesley Jones officiating. Burial was in Old International Order of the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Hamilton.

Miss Adams was born Nov. 29, 1989 [sic 1898] in the Lanham Community of Hamilton County, the daughter of Robert [Allison] and [Mary] Ann "Mollie" Oliver Adams.

She was a retired secretary serving Hamilton County for many years prior to her retirement as secretary for the County School Superintendent. She was a lifelong resident of Hamilton County and a member of First United Methodist Church of Hamilton.

Survivors include a number of nieces and nephews; and five great-nieces and nephews, Barry Adams of Lancaster, Nancy Andrews of Hamilton, Allison Wylie of Prosper, Murray Adams of Hamilton and Debbie Budd of Hico.

Pallbearers were Bert Schrank, Robert Jones, Junior Crosby, Milton Harelik, Milton Rainwater and Murray Adams

BARKLEY, ADA ACENITH (MARRIOTT)

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 29, 1964, at 10 a.m. from Riley funeral Chapel.

CLEMMER, ODEE (McCRARY)

Odee McCrary Clemmer, 89, of Hamilton, died in Hico City Hospital on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Funeral services were held in the Riley Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, Sept. 1, with Rev. Robert Cavanaugh officiating. Burial was in the Old I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Mrs. Clemmer was born in the Pleasant Valley community of Hamilton County on Nov. 16, 1898, the daughter of the late James H. and Martha Jane Oglesby McCrary. She had lived in the Hamilton area all her life. She married Avery Bryan Clemmer on July 12, 1924, at the First United Methodist Church in Hamilton. He preceded her in death on July 4, 1979. She was a housewife and retired merchant. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Martha Vaughn of Maryland; a sister, Myrtle Meadows of Waco; three grandchildren, Richard Vaughn of Carrollton, Rebecca Caldow and Phillip Vaughn, both of Maryland; and six great grandchildren;

Pallbearers were Ken Sparks, Dale Taylor, Ken Craig, Bob Gardner, Dennis Dorton, Bill Chumney, and Habert Kelm. Honorary pallbearers were Rowland Willeford, Jess Pruitt, Burl Jackson, Bill Coats, Ken Gardner, Joe Dalton, Bill Barkley, Milton Harelik, and Clarence Watson.

DAVIS, VIVIAN LEE (TAYLOR)

Vivian Lee Davis, 101, died in Humble on April 29, 2005. Funeral services were held May 6 in the Riley Funeral Home Chapel in Hamilton with burial following in Old I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Rev. Don Grogan officiating.

She was born March 11, 1904 in Hamilton, the daughter of Henry Lee Taylor and Ora Gentry Taylor. She was the great-granddaughter of Captain Frederick Gentry, who fought along with General Sam Houston in the war for Texas independence from Mexico.

She was raised in Hamilton and on April 20, 1922, she was married to Everett Hunter Davis in the First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton. He preceded her in death on March 24, 1967. The couple had two daughters and moved to New London, where their daughter June was killed in the New London school explosion and their surviving daughter Gloria was badly injured.

They later moved to Beaumont where they were active in their grandchildren's lives. Mrs. Davis was devoted to her family, a faithful Christian with a strong Texas determination. She was matriarch of the family, and set the example to follow in independence, strength, love, and compassion.

Survivors include one daughter, Gloria Gay Davis Henson of Houston; four grandchildren, Everett L. Henson, Sara Lee Lenzer, Pamela Gay Nelson, Walter Lamont Henson; seven great-grand-children; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her daughter, June Taylor Davis; sister, Sara Taylor McCollum and brother Judson Gentry Taylor.

Pallbearers were Everett Lendrith Henson, Walter Lamont Henson, John Paul Newton, Bruce Louise Lenzer, Aaron Henson and Joshua Henson.
Riley Funeral Home

Vivian Lee Davis, 101, died in Humble on April 29, 2005. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. May 6, 2005 in the Riley Funeral Home Chapel in Hamilton with burial following in Old I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Rev. Don Grogan officiating. Mrs. Davis was born March 11, 1904 at Hamilton, the daughter of Henry Lee Taylor and Ora Gentry Taylor. She was the great-granddaughter of Captain Frederick Gentry and Zackary Taylor. She was raised in Hamilton and on April 20, 1922 she was united in marriage to Everett Hunter Davis in the First Presbyterian Church in which she was one of its first members. He preceded her in death on March 24, 1967.

After their marriage, the couple moved to New London, where their daughter June was killed in the New London school explosion and Gloria was badly injured.

They later moved to Beaumont to be active in their grandchildren’s lives. She was devoted to her family, a strong Christian with a strong Texas determination. She was matriarch of the family. She set the example for the family to follow in independence, strength, love and compassion.

She was a member of the Daughters of the Republic and the First Presbyterian Church. Survivors include one daughter, Gloria Gay Davis Henson of Houston; four grandchildren; seven great-grand-children and three great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her daughter June Taylor Davis; a sister, Sara Taylor McCollum and brother Judson Gentry Taylor.

Pallbearers will be Everett Lendrith Henson, Walter Lamont Henson, John Paul Newton, Bruce Louise Lenzer, Aaron Henson and Joshua Henson. Riley Funeral Home

DOUGLAS, JESSIE JUANITA McANELLY

Services were Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Michael Graham officiating. Burial was in the Old I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Mrs. Douglas was born Sept. 23, 1916, in Hamilton, the daughter of George Travis and Lela Mae Kirchman McAnelly. She was married to Nathaniel L. Douglas on Feb. 19, 1936, in Hamilton. He was a retired school superintendent and preceded her in death on April 18. She was a member of the Methodist church.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Creola Harris; and three brothers, Norman, Early and Buddy McAnelly.

Survivors include three children, Leon Douglas and wife Carolynn of Georgetown, Gary Douglas and wife Jeanne of Houston and Beverly Coonrod and husband Jim of Galveston; two sisters, Lucille Bailey of Dickerson and Eve Karrh of Plainview; a brother, George T. McAnelly of North Carolina; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Grant Douglas, Nathan Douglas, Paul Coonrod and Kenneth Clark.

DOUGLAS, NETTIE (JOHNSON)

FRITZ, ROSETTA FAY (HOBDY)

Rosetta Fay Hobdy-Fritz, aka Fay H. Fritz, died Dec. 14, 2002 at the age of 87. Funeral services were Dec. 17. Burial followed at (Old) I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Hamilton.

Mrs. Hobdy-Fritz was born in Hamilton, on October 10, 1915, the daughter of Dr. Will and Mrs. Kora Tucker Hobdy. She was married to William Francis
(Frank) Fritz, University of Texas Law Professor, on Dec. 26, 1937.

She is preceded in death by her two sons, David Lawrence Fritz and Kermit Edward Fritz; her brother and sister, William and Vera Hobdy.

Mrs. Hobdy-Fritz graduated from Southwestern University at Georgetown and received her Master's degree from the University of Texas. For a period of time she lived with the noted author J. Frank Dobie and his wife while attending the University of Texas.

Mrs. Hobdy-Fritz taught school in several rural areas before teaching at Waco High School in Austin. During her career, she was also a cataloguer at Yale University and an architectural librarian at the University of Texas.

Mrs. Hobdy-Fritz was an avid traveler and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, often accompanied by her grandson, David Fritz II.

She was also interested in genealogy and was a member of the University United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Couples Plus Sunday School Class of the church and a charter member of the Austin Lawyers' Wives Auxiliary.

Survivors include a grandson, David Lawrence Fritz II and his wife, Mandy as well as eight nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers were her nieces and nephews, Judy Teague, Christa Butler, Jean Nagel, Doug Fuchs, Howard Fuchs, Anthony Fuchs, Henry Wood, and Roger Wood.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the William Francis Fritz Scholarship In Law, University of Texas Law School Foundation,
727 E. Dean Keeton,
Austin, Texas 78705.

Cook-Walden Funeral Home

HOUCK, HAMILTON HAROLD

Hamilton Harold Houck 88, of Corsicana died August 27, 2004 in Corsicana. Funeral services were held August 29 in the Riley Funeral Home chapel in Hamilton with Rev. Wesley Jones officiating. Burial followed in Old I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Hamilton.

Mr. Houck was born Dec. 19, 1915 in Hamilton, the son of C.E. Houck and Minnie Smith Houck. On Nov. 15, 1939 he was married to Sarah Harris.

He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. Hamilton was a veteran of United States Marine Corp serving during World War II. He retired from Gulf Oil after 30 years of service as a transport driver. He was an active member of the Dawson Masonic Lodge # 155 as long as his health permitted and Baptist by faith.

He is preceded in death by his parents, four sisters and three brothers. Pallbearers were James Bradford Houck, Martin Jeffery Quiram, Dennis Daniel Quiram, Martin Jeffery Quiram Jr., Bobby Ray Massingill, Jimmy Don Massingill

Survivors include his wife Sarah Harris Houck of Corsicana and a son James Harold Houck of Hubbard; two grandchildren, James Bradford Houck of Denton and Rhonda Sue Houck of Carrolton. Riley Funeral Home

JONES, E. CULLEN "E. C"

E. Cullen (E.C.) Jones died May 16, 2003. The body was cremated and graveside memorial services will be Saturday May 24, 2003 in the Old I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Hamilton. He was a veteran of World War II, a past member of the Hamilton Lion Club; a past Executive Director of the Hamilton Housing Authority where he was instrumental in building the housing unites on East Gentry Street in Hamilton.

Survivors include his daughter, Jill Kilgore and husband Jarvis of Brady; a granddaughter, Melissa Vaughn and husband Tony, and grandson Curtis Baugh of Alvarado; a stepdaughter, Marin Locke and husband Tom of Austin, twin step- granddaughters, Keely Clemmer and Kemberly Locke Payton; several nieces, nephews and great- great-nieces and nephews in New Mexico.

The family has designated the First United Methodist Church of Hamilton, the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department and the American Cancer Society for memorials.
Riley Funeral Home

OGLESBY, BEATRICE (HEYROTH)

Mrs. Beatrice Heyroth Oglesby, 86, a life-long resident of this area, died Sunday, July 30, in Leisure lodge Nursing Home in Hamilton following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Aug. 3, in Riley Funeral Chapel with Rev. Tim Walker officiating. Burial will follow in the Old I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Mrs. Oglesby was born on March 16, 1892, to O. W. and Martha Heyroth in Coryell County. She had been a resident of Hamilton County since 1907, where she was a rancher. On Nov. 15, 1914, she married Ambrose Oglesby, Jr., who preceded her in death in 1916. She was a member of the Agee Baptist Church.

Survivors include a brother, V. H. Heyroth of Gatesville; four nieces, Mrs. Warren (Louise) Alexander of Hamilton, Mrs. J. D. Gregory and Mrs. Joe Isbell of Midland and Mrs. Guy Lockhart of Gatesville; two nephews, J. W. Heyroth of Richardson and Robert Heyroth of Beaumont; nine great nieces and nephews and eight great great nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be J. A. Edwards, Jess Fulton, Clarence Bullard, Don Bullard, Cecil Grisham, and Robert Jones.

OGLESBY, FAY BEATRICE (CROSBY)

Fay Beatrice Oglesby, 98, of Hamilton, died Sunday, May 3 at Forest Oaks Nursing Home after a sudden illness. Funeral services were held Monday, May 4 at Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Wesley Jones officiating. Burial was in the Old I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Hamilton.

Mrs. Oglesby was born June 1, 1893, in Dallas to Marcellus Cicero and Mary Minerva Simmons Crosby. She was married to James Willie Oglesby, who preceded her in death. She was a homemaker and a member of Lanham Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by five sisters, three brothers, and one grandson, Jimmy Oglesby.

Survivors include four children, Amye Craig of Hamilton, Beatrice Strickland of Hamilton, Mavis Jones of Lanham, and James Willie "Punch" Oglesby of Lanham; five grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren; and eight great great grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Elverne Jones, Carl Ray Sellers, Clint Crosby, Jr., Ed Williams, David Holley, and Jimmy Smith.

SENGER, ERNEST FRED

Services were Tuesday, July 14, at Riley Funeral Home with Pastor Melvin Hammer officiating. Burial was in the Old I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Hamilton.

Mr. Senger was born Sept. 30, 1920, in Hamilton County, the son of August and Annie Ratt Senger. He was married to Gladys Faye Blansit on March 4, 1943, in Priddy. He was a longtime resident of Priddy, prior to moving to Hamilton 15 years ago. He was a farmer and rancher and a member of the Lutheran church.

Survivors include his wife, Faye Senger of Hamilton; two sisters, Helen Tischler of Winters and Pauline Kuklies of Hamilton; two brothers, Herman Senger of Comanche and Rudy Senger and wife Betty of Hamilton; 22 nieces and nephews; and other extended family members.

Pallbearers were August Gaydos, Gerry Amador, Ricky Lovelace, Ben Brumbalow, Jim Oosterhof and Raymond Blansit.

WEST, MARY OPAL

Mary Opal West 98 died at Plano March 15, 2005. Funeral services were held March 18 at the Riley Funeral Home Chapel in Hamilton with burial following in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Mrs. West was born March 14, 1907 at Hamilton, the daughter of Robert Lee West and Dollie Colwell West.

After graduating from Hamilton High School in 1925 she attended Daniel Baker College in Brownwood, obtaining her elementary teaching certificate and launching a career of 43 years in the public schools.

She continued her education taking summer classes at Tarleton College and earning her B.S. degree from North Texas Teacher’s College at Denton in 1939. In 1951 she earned her Master of Arts Degree in Library Science from the University of Denver.

Mrs. West also did work at the University of Texas and at UCLA at Los Angeles. She developed a first class library for the Hamilton schools and for her outstanding work in this area was inducted into the Virgil M. Santy Honor Society.

After retirement Opal volunteered to work in the Hamilton Public Library and ended up working full time. She also headed the committee that compiled the book “A History of Hamilton County Texas.” In 1980 she was awarded Outstanding Citizen Award for Hamilton County for her years of dedication as a teacher and community leader. She was a member of Park Heights Church of Christ. In 1999 she moved to Plano to live with her sister.

Survivors include a sister Ethel Lou West Anderson of Plano, three nephews and their wives; Sid and Elaine Anderson of Plano, Freddie and Marsha Anderson of Allen and Bernard (Bernie) and Julie West of Waco; a niece, Mary Jane Reinach, her husband Siegmund and their daughter Michelle of Radcliff, KY and great nieces and nephews Lisa Anderson and Brian Anderson of Plano, Brady Anderson of Baton Rogue, LA, Christopher Anderson of Madisonville, LA and by a number of cousins.

Pallbearers were Sid Anderson, Freddie Anderson, Lisa Anderson, Brain Anderson, Brady Anderson and Pete Jordan.
Riley Funeral Home

WILSON, EDWARD E. "EDDIE"

Mr. Eddie Wilson, a lifelong resident of Hamilton County passed away in the Hamilton County General Hospital on Tuesday, Feb. 3, after a short illness.

Funeral services were held for Mr. Wilson on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 2pm in the Riley Funeral Chapel, Rev. Ronnie Horton officiated, with burial following in Old IOOF Cemetery.

Mr. Wilson was born Sept. 4, 1884, to William and Martha Wilson. He was married Nov. 1, 1908 to Mattie Smith, who preceded him in death on Jan. 16, 1973. They were members of the Baptist Church.

Survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Clara Smith of Hamilton; Mrs. Sue Gardner of Kerrville; three sisters, Mrs. Bertie Barrett of Oregon, Mrs. Gertrude Stroud of Stinnett, Mrs. Estelle Donahoo of Amarillo, six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Tommy Hermansen, Bruce Morton, Woodrow Standifer, Gary Gardner, Doug Graham Jr., Hubert Wilson and Alton Wilson.

E. A. Wilson of Stephenville and Edd Wilson of Hamilton celebrated their 77th birthdays with relatives and friends at the Hico Park on Sunday, August 3.

Those present were E. A. Wilson and Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Stanford of Stephenville; Miss Cleta Jo Stanford of Fort Worth; Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Wilson and family and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Boen and baby of Arlington; Mr. and Mrs. Edd Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Hobert Trumble and family, Mrs. C. T. Lawson.

Mrs. Henry Schwartz, Mrs. J. J. Wilson, Mrs. Mattie Brown, Mr .and Mrs W. A. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Burton Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Alton Wilson and daughter, and Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Lee Rost and son, all of Hamilton; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Smith of Pottsville, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Gardner and daughter of Kerrville; Mr. and Mrs. Gary Gardner of Beaumont; Albert Wilson of Killeen, and Mrs. E. L. Smith of Houston.

WILSON, MATTIE (SMITH)

Funeral services for Mrs. Mattie S. Wilson were held in the First Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m. Jan. 18, 1973, with Rev. George Gaston officiating. Burial was in the Old IOOF Cemetery. She died in the Hamilton County General Hospital Jan. 16, following a lengthy illness.

The daughter of the late Spencer Smith and Catherine Brazil Smith, she was born in Taylor County, Texas, Feb. 28, 1889. On Nov. 1, 1908 she was married to Eddie Wilson, and he survives her. She was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Other survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Clara Smith of Hamilton and Mrs. Sue Gardner of Kerrville, six grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. 1 daughter, Mrs. Novella Trimble preceded her in death.

Pallbearers were Gary Gardner, Doyle Graham, Tommy Hermanson, Roy Brazil, Hubert Wilson, Homer Wilson, Woodrow Standifer and Alton Wilson.