Obituaries

Fannin County TXGenWeb
Mrs. Cordia M. Newell, Thomas Morris Newell, John E. Lawrence Jr. & Robert Gilliam

From: Ruth Walsh

Bonham Daily Favorite, February 23, 1962, p.2., col. 6
RITES ARE HELD
FOR MRS. NEWELL
   ECTOR (Spl.) - Funeral services for Mrs. Cordia M. Newell, 80, long-time resident of Ector, were held at Wise Funeral Home chapel at 4 o'clock Friday afternoon. She died in a Savoy rest home Thursday morning, Feb. 22, 1962.
   Officiating at the rites were the Rev. Glenn Selander, pastor of the First Baptist church.
   Interment was in Carson cemetery and grandsons served as pallbearers.
   Survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Jess Finnell (nee Lyndol Gilliam) of California; four sons, Frank Gilliam (aka John Emil "Jack" Lawrence) of California, Emmett and Jake Newell, both of Odessa and Roscoe Newell of Big Springs, Texas, four step-sons, A.T. Newell and D.Q. Newell, both of Ector, Orville Newell of Denison, and E.A. Newell of Savoy; a brother, Bill Walsh of Dallas, 21 grandchildren, and a number of great-grandchildren.
View Her Tombstone in the Carson Cemetery
(research note: Cordia M. Walsh Gilliam Newell's first husband was Robert Lincoln Gilliam who died 8-29-1902. Robert Lincoln Gilliam was the son of Washington Holt Gilliam and Sarah Ann Jane Catherine Blanton and the grandson of Fannin County, TX pioneers Josiah Blanton and Lucy Westbrook.)
Bonham Daily Favorite, Wednesday, November 6, 1946, p.3, col. 4
T.M. NEWELL PASSES AWAY AT ECTOR
   Thomas Morris Newell passed away in Ector at 7:10 this morning. He was born in Pulaski county, Kentucky on July 21, 1862. He has lived in and around Ector for the past 43 years.
   He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Cordie Newell and seven sons, O.E. Newell of New Mexico; A.T. and D.Q. Newell, both of Ector; E.A. Newell of Savoy; E. M. and J.L. Newell, both of Odessa; and H.G. Newell of Greenville.   Other survivors are two step-children, Mrs. Lyndall Finley (sic - (nee Lyndol Gilliam Finnell) and Frank Gilliam a daughter, Mrs. Jess Finnell (nee Lyndall Gilliam) of California; four sons, Frank Gilliam (aka John Emil "Jack" Lawrence), both of California; one brother, J.H. Newell of Ector, twenty-one grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
   Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Methodist church in Ector followed by internment in Carson cemetery. Cooper Funeral Home will be in charge.
View his tombstone
The Register Pajaronian, Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., CA, July 12, 1991
John E. LAWRENCE Sr.
   In Watsonville, July 9. 1991, John E. Lawrence, a native of Texas.
   He leaves three sons, James, of Watsonville, John, of Anaheim, and Dave, of San Jose; a daughter, Mary McGraw, of Texas; a sister Lyndol Finnell, of Porterville; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. His wife, Bertha Mae, died in 1973, and a daughter, Florence M. Camp, died in 1986.
   Memorial services will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Davis Memorial Chapel. His body will be cremated and inurned at Pajaro Valley Memorial Park.
   The family prefers contributions to the American Heart Association.    (Information and corrections added by John E. Lawrence Jr.:   John E. Lawrence Sr. AKA Frank Gilliam. Frank changed his name in either 1921 or 1922 for unknown reasons. He was born 15 October 1899 near Ely, Fannin County, Texas. He died 9 July 1991 in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California. He was cremated. His ashes are inurned in the mausoleum at the Pajaro Valley Memorial Park, which is located east of Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California. Mr. Michael Jordan officiated at his memorial service.)
    (Information added by Ruth Hasten Walsh, Blanton family researcher. Frank Gilliam aka John E. Lawrence Sr. was the grandson of Washington Holt Gilliam and Sarah Ann Jane Catherine Blanton and the great-grandson of Fannin County, TX pioneers Josiah Blanton and Lucy Westbrook.)

The Bonham News, Friday September 5, 1902, (under) County News-Newsy Note Gathered by Our Correspondents Porters Church
   We are sorry to report the death of Mr. Robert Gilliam, who was buried at Porter's graveyard Aug. 30. A large crowd of sorrowing friends followed the remains to its last resting place. He has many friends who will be sorry to hear of his death. This community sympathizes with his family in their sad bereavement.
The Bonham News Friday September 12, 1902
Died of Damp
Trenton News
     Robert Gilliam, a man about 36 years of age, died Friday night at his home on the Jake Long farm near Ely Thursday evening while digging a well he was overcome by foul gasses and fell unconscious. Attendants tied a rope around the body of Mr. Ike Welch, Gilliam's father-in-law, and let him down to put a rope around the body of Gilliam, but Mr. Welch was overcome with the gas and did not succeed in getting the rope around the body. Mr. Welch was drawn out of the well and soon revived.
     A heroic young man named Scroggs then volunteered to go down in the well. He succeeded in tying the rope around Gilliam's body but fell just as the work was completed. He was drawn out of the well and in a short time revived.
     The body of Gilliam was then drawn out, having lain in the well about thirty minutes. He lingered until Friday night, having partly regained consciousness for a short time Friday morning.
   (Research Note: Isaac Merrill Walsh is incorrectly shown as Ike Welch. His nickname was Ike. Robert Lincoln Gilliam was the son of Washington Holt Gilliam and Sarah Ann Jane Catherine Blanton and the grandson of Fannin County, TX pioneers Josiah Blanton and Lucy Westbrook.)

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