United States Army World War I Veteran.
Viola came to Lorenzo in 1924 on the train from Arkansas at the age of fifteen. She came with her parents and grew up in the town of Lorenzo. She is very proud to be a nonagenarian and still driving her car, for hair appointments in Idalou, to Crosbyton for doctor's appointments and lunch after church in Ralls.
Viola Mack married in 1940 to Herman B. Chastain, Sr. in Lorenzo. They each had a son, his H.B. Chastain Jr. and hers, Don Rachel. Together they had a daughter, Darla Sue Chastain.
Herman B. Chastain, Sr. of Lorenzo served his country in World War I as a private in the occupied territories of France from June 1918 to 1919. Chastain was a machinist in the Army and returned to Floyd County after being discharged.
Herman was a farmer and raised cotton and maize on his farms. When he retired his favorite pastime was fishing at Lake Stamford. He passed away in 1970.
H.B. Chastain's son, and Owen Chastain, were the instigators in the building of the new Masonic site on Harrison Street.
Viola continues to be active in the First Baptist Church and Senior Citizens group of Lorenzo.
Viola remembers much of what happened in early Lorenzo. The flood of 1927 and cars being stuck in Shirley Lake. The Shirleys lived on the west side of the lake and charged for pulling people out of the water. The Chastains were neighbors of the Ike Wallace family and Herman actually farmed the Wallace place at one time during the early 1940's when the Wallaces had moved to Littlefield.
Darla Sue married Gary Hencock and they have a son Tristian who is an airline pilot.
Viola's parents were fondly remembered as Mr. and Mrs. Mack. On July 6, 1924 they moved here from Arkansas. He came for a job at the flour mill and cotton gin from Rum Seltzler who later sold out and moved away.
Mr. Mack's residence was located where the old post office now stands. It was a small building behind the post office on Fifth Street. He had two electric wringer type machines. Working together, Mr. Mack picked up and delivered the clothes and Mrs. Mack ironed them.
In 1930 the depression came and people had to do their own laundry. He went back to work at the cotton gin, and did carpentry and plumbing jobs to bring in money.
Their children were Viola, Ferman, Archie, Rose and Wylie.
Mr. Mack attended the First Baptist Church and was the oldest member at the time of his death in 1976. He was preceded by his wife in 1963.
Submitted by Viola Chastain"Once Upon A Plain" by Carroll Wayne Wallace, Sr. and Sydna E. Wallace ©2000
Graveside Services for Viola Chastain, 96, of Lorenzo was held at 2:00 PM, Monday, December 13, 2004 in the Lorenzo Cemetery with the Rev. Jerry Williams and the Rev. Dennis Williams officiating. Arrangements are under direction of Adams Funeral Home of Lorenzo.
Mrs. Chastain died on December 10, 2004 at Ralls Nursing Home.
She was born August 14, 1908 in Little Rock, Arkansas to William Victor and Nora Ethel (Evans) Mack.
On February 28, 1940 she married Herman B. Chastain in Lorenzo, Texas. He preceded her in death on June 6, 1970.
She moved to Lorenzo in 1924 and was a member of the Lorenzo First Baptist Church, the Garden Club and the VFW Auxiliary.
Survivors include; a son and his wife Don and Dee Chastain of Weatherford, a daughter and her husband Susie and Gary Hancock of Lorenzo, a sister; Rose Eaves of Arlington, four grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 5 PM to 6 PM Sunday, December 12, 2004 at Adams Funeral Home in Lorenzo.
The family suggests memorials to the Lorenzo First Baptist Church P.O. Box 310 Lorenzo, Texas 79343 or the Lorenzo First United Methodist Church P. O. Box 429 Lorenzo, Texas 79343.
©The Crosbyton Review, Thursday, December 16, 2004, page 19
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