One of the most beautiful characters ever to have scattered sunshine along the pathway of others passed off the stage of action at her home in Ralls Tuesday afternoon at 4:20 when the angel called for the spirit of Mrs. R. R. Travis. Though her passing was not unexpected, she having been a great sufferer for several years, a pall of gloom settled over this entire community and country when the sad news came that the end had come. Her sweet, even temper, her gospel of cheerfulness and the many, many deeds and acts of kindness she had bestowed upon everybody who come in contact with her had so endeared her to the citizenship that great sorrow was manifest when it was learned that she would be with us no more.Mrs. Travis (nee Lucy Florence Bullock) was born September 9th, 1871 at Rogers, Bell County, Texas, being 50 years, 2 months and 9 days of age at death on Tuesday, November 18th. To she and Mr. Travis were born one son and two daughters, Oliver Travis of Ralls, Mrs. J. Edd McLaughlin of Ralls and Mrs. Flora Rutherford of Tatum, N.M. She also took a grandson, Oliver Travis, Jr., when he was nine days of age and nurtured him in the home till death interfered. Oliver Jr. is fourteen years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Travis and the children, Oliver, Pearl and Flora, came to Crosby County twenty-five years ago in 1905 and settled at Emma. When the town of Ralls was born they moved here and Mrs. Travis has been a citizen here since. As one of the pioneers in this territory she waited upon the sick and afflicted, rendered help to the needy and was ever anxious to contribute her whole part to any worthy undertaking that meant well for her community, county, state or nation. She possessed the "Big Heart" so famous in the early settlers of this great western country and went about doing good in such a cheerful and happy way that her presence was always deeply appreciated by her friends. She had a happy way of disseminating joy and cheerfulness among those with whom she came in contact. Her idea was that "things are not as bad as they seem," and even after great physical affliction came her way some four years ago and she was called upon to submit to painful surgical operations, be confined to her room and bed a great portion of the time after having spent such an active life, she never complained and was always in the very best of humor. Even when she realized that she must depart this life, she called her immediate loved ones about her and said to them: "It is my time to go, I am willing and ready."
Indeed Mrs. Travis was a loving and faithful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, neighbor and friend. "Her home was a happy one and her memory will always shine in the thoughts of her loved ones as "The best woman God ever made." Her friends will remember her as a ray of sunshine and a blessing. Her neighbors will think of her as the best neighbor they ever had.
Funeral services were held at the Church of Christ in Ralls Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 o'clock, Elder Jno. T. Smith and Brother H. Hall officiating. The funeral orations were the most appropriate and helpful we have ever listened to. Mrs. Travis had been a member of the Church of Christ since 1899. The church building was far inadequate to seat the great throng of loved ones, friends and neighbors who gathered from all over the country to pay the last tribute of respect to this good woman and offer solace to the bereaved ones. The floral tribute was the most profuse in the history of this country and the beautiful and fragrant flowers were truly emblematic of the beautiful life of this most excellent character. Interment was made in the Ralls Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were I.D. Moore, M.A. McLaughlin, W.L. Betts, M.I. Wilson, C.E. Denn and Cecil Hollingsworth. Honorary pallbearers were: All members of the Ralls Rotary Club and Boy Scout organizations. The Scouts were present at the funeral services in uniform. Oliver Jr. is a member of the Scout organization and Mr. Travis is a Rotarian. Other honorary pallbearers were W.E. McLauhglin, P.B. Ralls, Dr. E.L. Haney, A.B. Micheal, H.T. Reed, J.A. Bedingfield, J.B. Cole, Sr., C.W. Farmer, J.M. Rankin, Carl Lewis, P.M. Reed, Tim Lyle, C. Golihar, Tip Williams. D.E. Prewitt, T.H. Holmes, Tom Reed, W.L. Tomlinson, D.H. Benton and T.A. Tidwell, all of Ralls; Tom Johnston, Clayton Cartel, Bill Romane, W.T. Dunn, Brute Mitchell and Edgar Allen, of Crosbyton; Gus Hendrick, Foster Pearson, Clabe Pearson, Rube Bowman, Fred Wiese, M.C.C. Kirksey, J.M. Kilparick, Buck Shipp and Coke Fullingim, of Lorenzo; C.W. Sargent and Jeff Spikes of Cone; F.B. Reed, H.G. Hendrick, S.S. Scroggins, T.H. Durnal and I.P. Wilson, Rogers, Texas; Dr. A.C. Scott, Dr. Pruitt, Dr. Goeber, Dr. Craeber and Dr. Longmire, of Temple; Fred Spikes, Temple Ellis, Neil Wright and Pink L. Parrish, of Lubbock; E.C. Nelson, Harry, Roy and Glad Snodgrass of Floydada; W.A. Baker, of Monday, Texas; Chas. Hale, Stephenville, Texas; G.R. Moore, Mission, Texas and Geo. S. Link, Spur, Texas.
In addition to her own immediate family of husband, son, two daughters and two grandsons and one granddaughter, Mrs. Travis is survived by five brothers and three sisters, Porter, Bob and Wade Bullock of Rogers, Texas; John C. Bullock, Hagerman, N.M.; L.B. Bullock, Morse, Texas; Mrs. N.H. Hilyard, San Angelo, Texas; Mrs. J.F. Bradley, Bowie, Texas, Mrs. Will bradley, Rogers, Texas, L.B. Wade and Porter Bullock and wife and Mrs. Hilyard were numbered among the many relatives here for the funeral.
The Banner joins the many friends of this excellent family in extending real sympathy to the bereaved loved ones.
©The Ralls Banner, November 21, 1930
Submitted by James Travis
One of Ralls most prominent and distinguished pioneer citizens passed out into the great beyond Monday night at 9 o'clock when R. R. "Little" Travis succumbed quite suddenly to a heart attack at his home on West Watts Ave. in this city. He had been ill for over a week, having suffered a severe attack on Friday night, Jan. 30, after returning from Dickens where he went to see the Ralls high school basketball team play an important game in the tournament in progress in that city. It was known that he was seriously ill of a most dangerous heart affliction, but he showed immediate improvement and was thought by the physician and all his loved ones and close friends to be on the road to recovery. He sat up a while Monday afternoon and his relatives were elated over his marked improvement. When it was about time for the ball game Monday night between Ralls and Crosbyton he urged those about the place to go to the game, just leaving one, his son, Oliver, with him. Oliver Travis, Jr., Miss Ruth Bullock and his brother, R.L. "Big" Travis, who was near and dear to him, did go to the game, but his daughter, Mrs. J. Edd McLaughlin, for some reason had an apparently unwarranted apprehension of his welfare and remained at his bedside.Dr. E. L. Haney, his physician, came by to see him early in the evening and sat and talked for quite a while. Upon leaving he told Mrs. McLaughlin that he was pleased with her father's improvement, that his pulse was better and his general condition on the upgrade. Dr. Haney had hardly got home, living only a little way from the Travis place, when Mrs. McLaughlin heard Little Travis gasp for breath and saw him attempt to raise his head. She called her brother, Oliver, to be with him and ran hastily for Dr. Haney.
R. R. Travis was born at Whitman, Arkansas, on August 10th, 1869, being one of a family of eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Travis. He moved with his parents to Rogers, Bell County, Texas, when thirteen years of age where he resided until the fall of 1900 when he moved to Jones County. He was married at Rogers in 1886 to Miss Lucy Bullock, to which union were born three children, Oliver, Pearl and Flora. In 1901 he moved to Haskell County, Texas where he resided until the fall of 1905 when he moved to Crosby County and settled near Emma, then the capital of this county. His wife preceded him in death only a few months, having passed away in November, 1930.
Little Travis was engaged in the farming business during all this time and for a while after moving to Emma. He and his brother, R.L. Travis, were partners in all holdings and operations and were very closely associated in al life's activities. Whatever one had belonged to the other and they were almost continually found together. They embarked in the real estate business about the time the city of Ralls was established and perhaps handled more land deals in this country than any other real estate firm. It is said of them that their clients were always satisfied with their business dealings and no litigation of any kind ever resulted from a trade they negotiated.
In 1915 Little Travis moved to Ralls to better take care of his real estate business and to lend his whole-hearted assistance in promoting the welfare of this city. In 1917 he erected, what was at the time and is now, one of the most palatial homes in the city. He resided there until the silent messenger came for him. He affiliated with the Church of Christ when a young man and was an active member of the Ralls Rotary Cub.
There has never been a man in Crosby County who was more universally respected than Little Travis. He stood for what he considered the right and then fought for it. He was just as aggressive in opposing those things he considered wrong. But he was always willing to extend the hand of mercy and was generous in a marked degree. He pitched his battles on a high plane, never stooping to underhand methods in putting over any project. He believed in fair play - coming out in the open and fighting like a man - with the result that even those who differed with him, had the highest regard for him as a good citizen and a fair minded man, and looked upon him as a real friend. He was a friend to everybody and aimed always to treat his fellows courteously and kindly, refusing to wound their feelings intentionally. He was possessed of a most unusually cheerful disposition and went abut spreading the gospel of gladness. He wanted everybody to enjoy themselves and his home was always a pleasant and cheerful place to visit.
Ralls and Crosby County have suffered a distinct loss in his passing. Even though he had passed the 60 years of age mark, he was quite well preserved, very active and looked not more than fifty years of age. You didn't think of Little Travis as an old man, for he wasn't. He entered into life's activities with the energies and enthusiasm of a young person and was more than quite active up to a little over a week ago. His services as a stalwart, honest, honorable, truthful, generous and cheerful citizen will be keenly missed.
Little Travis' place at the head of his home as a loving father and grandfather and as a comrade of his brothers and sister will not be filled and his absence will be deeply felt. He assisted ably in rearing an excellent family who are numbered among the best citizens of the land. Other near relatives and close friends will greatly miss his cheerful presence.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 o'clock in the Municipal Auditorium in Ralls and the great throng of folks from all walks of life who came from all over this section of the West to attend the funeral and pay last respects to this good man evidenced the high esteem to which he was generally held in this country. Beautiful songs were sung, the quartet te being especially pretty. Little Travis was a great lover of music, especially songs. Brother H. Hall, a close friend for several years standing and one in whom our departed friend had utmost confidence, delivered the funeral oration, and though it was perceptible that the speaker was heavy of heart and indeed sorrowful, he forced back the tears and made a masterful talk on the good deeds of his departed friend. Lloyd A. Wicks, personal friend of many years standing, spoke on behalf of his friendship for the departed one and for the Ralls Rotary Club. It was a touching scene when he attempted to prove master of his emotions and extol the virtues of his friend with whom he had been closely associated for many years. There was hardly a dry eye in the vast crowd when the speaker tearfully finished his most excellent remarks which came direct from the heart . Thus followed one of the longest funeral processions in the history of this county, the body of Little Travis was taken over to the city of the dead and laid away by loving hands by the aide of his beloved wife for whom like rites had been performed only a few weeks ago. The grave and that of Mrs. Travis was a veritable power of beautiful and fragrant flowers, tokens of love and appreciation from friends over this country.
The Travis children have been called upon to undergo sorrow almost unbearable in the loss in a short time of both their mother and father. Heart-felt sympathy goes to them from their innumerable friends in this country. Our fellow citizen, L.R. Travis, who has lost more than a brother, partner and close associate shares alike in this sincere sympathy, as does Oliver Travis Jr., who had been reared in and is an inmate of the Little Travis home.
The surviving children are: Oliver Travis and Mrs. J. Edd McLaughlin, of Ralls and Mrs. Henry Rutherford of Tatum, N.M.
The grandchildren are: Oliver Travis, Jr., of Ralls, and Billy and Patsy Rutherford, of Tatum, N.M. Those surviving of the ten brothers and sisters are C.L. Travis of Cone; W.W. Travis of Hawley, Texas; R.L. Travis and Mrs. W.R. Richards of Ralls, all of whom have the sympathy of their many friends in their sincere sorrow.
Active pallbearers were: H.L. Wilson, I.D. Moore, L.A. Wicks, C.E. Dean, C.M. Sargent and Wil Betts.
Honorary pall bearers were: Members of Ralls Rotary Club, W.T. Reed, W.E. McLaughlin, Bruce Spencer, H.T. Reed, Jeff Spikes, Dr. E.L. Haney, L. L. Rutherford, T.A. Tidwell, and Roy Moore of Ralls; Cike Fullingim, R.L. Bowman, Gus Gendricks, J.M. Kilpatrick and Clabe Pearson, of Lorenzo; Bill Romane, Edgar Allen, B.W. Mitchell, Tam Johnston and Bill Dunn, of Crosbyton; George S. Link, W.B. Lee and Clayton Carter, of Spur; W.A. Baker, Roy Snodgrass and Clad Snodgrass, of Floydada; Neil Wright, Fred Spikes, T.H. Ellis, Bob Murray, Pink L. Parrish and George Roles, of Lubbock; W.I. Wilkins of Sudan; George R. Moore of Mission; G.C. Sargent of Cone; J.H. Willard of League 4; F.O. Snipes of Owens; N.H. Moore of Emma, L.W. Tomlinson of Farmer. Marsh Wheeler of Robertson and M.C.C. Kirksey of Kirkseyville.
Submitted by James Travis
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