Sentimental Sunday :: Our Wedding

Forty years ago
on the evening of

the 8th day of February

in the year 1975

we were presented

to family and friends

as

Mr. and Mrs. Everhart

. . .

sunrise, sunset

sunrise, sunset

swiftly fly the years

one season following another

laden with happiness

and tears

. . .

1906 :: Birth of Ima

Sentimental Sunday :: The Voices of my Grandmas

Remembering the Grandmas . . .
for Mother's Day . . . 

I hear the voices of my grandmas
Calling out from a distant past
"Please do not let us be forgot.
Record our stories that we may last."

Tell the children of our wanderings
Let the kinfolk hear the tales
How we braved the new horizons
How we blazed the olden trails.

How we buried too many babies
How we struggled to keep them fed
How we caressed the hands of our loved ones
As they lay dying on their beds.

How we endured many a hardship
With an eye to the future goal
To create a more promising future
And to keep our family whole.

They were as different from each other
As the scraps in a crazy quilt
Yet once the pieces were sewn together
Another generation they had built

I can sense them calling out to me
From the gloaming of my past
"Please do not let us be forgot.
Record our stories that we may last."

Begotten . . .
and may they never be forgotten . . .
Remembering my Grandmas . . .

• Berta Mary Sharp, and her mother, Nellie Lemaire
• Elizabeth Marilla Smith, and her mother, Eva May Brackett
• Ima Lois Muston, and her mother, Emma Patience Nettles
• Jerusha Marilla Barker, and her mother, Jerusha Lakin Hobbs
• Josephine Wingfield Davis, and her mother, America James Fears
• Mahala Lee Roberts, and her mother, Patsy Gill
• Mary Alexandrien Lemaire, and her mother, Elizabeth Waring
• Mary Annie West, and her mother, Sarah Mildred Carter
• Mollie Olive, and her mother, Clementine Jordan
• Nancy Virilla Quinn, and her mother, Sushannah
• Phoebe Merrill, and her mother, Olive Jane Goodwin

The above family poem was composed by benotforgot back in 2009 in response to a challenge posted at Genea-Musings: Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Poetry and Genealogy . . . and the Wordle (name cloud) was created at wordle.net . . .

In loving memory . . .

We have this moment to hold in our hands
and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today.



Remembering . . .
Bennie Everhart
20 March 1948 ~ 07 April 2010


Hold tight to the sound of the music of living,
Happy songs from the laughter of children at play;
Hold my hand as we run through the sweet fragrant meadows,
Making mem'ries of what was today.

Tender words, gentle touch and a good cup of coffee,
And someone who loves me and wants me to stay;
Hold them near while they're here and don't wait for tomorrow,
To look back and wish for today.

Take the blue of the sky and the green of the forest,
And the gold and the brown of the freshly mown hay;
Add the pale shades of spring and the circus of autumn,
And weave you a lovely today.

For we have this moment to hold in our hands
and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today.


Lyrics by Gloria Gaither
Music by William J. Gaither
© 1975 William J. Gaither

When the flowers bloom in Spring

Wordless Wednesday :: Could I have this dance . . .

  On this date . . . the 8th day of February . . .
in the year nineteen hundred and seventy-five . . .
I married my favorite dancing partner . . .

Sunday's Obituary :: 1939 Mollie Nettles

Rockdale Reporter
Rockdale, Texas
May 4, 1939


Monday, May 1 at 1:10 p.m. marked the passing of one of earth's dearest and sweetest little mothers, Mrs. M.A. Nettles. She was born near Starkville, Mississippi, October 24, 1852, daughter of Richard and Sarah Mildred (Carter) West, and christened Mary Annie, but known practically all her life as Mollie. She was nine years old when the Civil War began and many were the interesting tales she told concerning it. In 1869 her family, together with several other families, came to Texas in wagons drawn by oxen and settled in and near Lexington.

The following year she married Joseph H. Nettles who had a woodworking shop in connection with the Hester Blacksmith Shop. They soon moved to Williamson County, but a few years later moved back to Lee County and bought a home in the Cole Springs community, near Tanglewood, where a son, Will, still lives. On May 1, 1890, her husband passed to his reward, preceding her by forty-nine years to the day. Of the ten children born to this union, six survive her, two boys and two girls dying in infancy. The surviving children are --

• Mrs. Nona Moore of Cole Springs
• Will Nettles of Cole Springs
• Mrs. Beulah Bryant of Houston
• Mrs. Emma Muston of Lexington
• Mrs. Velma Peebles of Houston
• Joe Nettles of Lott

She had lived on the home place with her eldest son, Will, until February of this year, when she went to Lott to make her home with her youngest child, Joe, and family. It was here, following an illness of bronchial pneumonia, that she passed to her reward. The last six or eight months of her life was spent mainly in bed, but she was given loving and careful attention and was a sweet and patient sufferer. From the wisdom of her years she gave counsel, advice and help to all who sought it, and truly will she be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

All of her children, all but five of her twenty-seven grandchildren, and many of her forty-four great-grandchildren were present for the last rites, besides a great host of other relatives and friends. Services were conducted at the Baptist Church in Tanglewood Tuesday afternoon, May 2, 1939, by the Rev. O.J. Morgan, a former pastor of hers. She was a member of the Baptist church, joining in her early girlhood. Interment was in the family plat at the Tanglewood cemetery with Phillips & Luckey of Rockdale in charge. Those coming from Lott for the funeral were --

• Mr. and Mrs. Ed Phillips
• Dr. and Mrs. Patton
• Mr. and Mrs. Luther Reaves and daughter, Dorothy
• Mrs. Claud Day
• Mrs. Grover Stucky
• D. Watkins
• Judge Smith
• Pat Carter and son, Pat Jr.
• Dewey Wright
• Miss Annie Lou Gibbs

The last named was her constant attendant after moving to Lott, and truly a grand-daughter could have been no sweeter to her own grandmother than Annie Lou was to Grandma, who lovingly called her my girl. Present also was Mrs. Richard Mundine Sr. of Taylor, an old friend of the family.

The Heart Remembers

Remembering . . .
Bennie Everhart
20 March 1948 ~ 07 April 2010

1912 :: Death of Wm. P. Henry

On this date in our family history . . . the 10th day of February . . . in the year 1912 . . . William Paschal Henry, Sr. died in Milam County, Texas . . . it was a Saturday, and he was laid to rest that same day beside his Josephine . . . in a small country cemetery that is now known as the Murray Cemetery . . . this Wm. P. Henry is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . he was remembered in the local newspaper in the following manner . . .

How uncertain and inscrutable are the ways of providence; how our hearts are made to grieve at the "unlooked for" blow of that terrible monster death. When it strikes our loved ones, when it takes from us that one whom we feel that we can the least spare.

Such is the affliction that has befallen the children, grandchildren and friends of the late W. P. Henry, who died at his home February 10, 1912, after a few day's illness of pneumonia. Grandpa was sick only a few days, and all that medical skill and tender nursing could do was done, but to no avail.

From the first the death angel hovered nigh, and though at times the star in the crown of hope would brighten, it was apparent all along that his pure and perfect life would have to pay the forfeit. So early Saturday morning about four o'clock all pain ceased; the battle was over and his pure spirit returned to the god who gave it.

Yes, Grandpa is gone for a little while only, and no words can portray, no mortal can realize the depths of despair into which those who loved him have been plunged. No words can console them, but listening loved ones will hear the fluttering of a wing and an angel softly whisper, "I am better now, safe in the arms of Jesus, where suffering is no more."

Funeral services were conducted at five o'clock Saturday evening by Rev. J.D. Shelton, his beloved pastor, after which the remains were laid to rest in Pleasant Grove cemetery beside his dear wife, who had preceded him to that great beyond some twelve years.

Peace to his ashes.

The Rockdale Reporter, February 1912

Cemetery Rural Delivery

On this date in our family history . . . the 17th day of January . . . in the year 1996 . . . following a brief battle with kidney cancer . . . my Dad, Forrest Lee Pounders, died in Rockdale, Texas . . . he was laid to rest in a little country cemetery in central Texas . . . and this mailbox actually stood in that cemetery at that time . . . as if awaiting a letter addressed to one of the residents . . . Dad had delivered mail in Rockdale for many years (go take a look at his grave marker) . . . I snapped this photo shortly after his death . . . the flowers were for his grave. . . .

Wordless Wednesday :: High on That Mountain

Sympathy Saturday :: Milford Henry

On this date in our family history . . . the 13th day of November . . . in the year 2010 . . . Milford Barton Henry was laid to rest at the Forest Grove Cemetery in Milam County, Texas.

Milford was my 1st cousin once removed, and was born 14th June 1924 in Norton, Runnels County, Texas to Milton E. Henry (1902-1975) and Edna Gladys Henry nee Caswell (1902-1973). They left Norton around 1939, and Milford had made his home in Rockdale, Milam County, Texas since that time. He was a 1942 graduate of Rockdale High School.


On June 2, 1946, he and Dorris Spence were married in Rockdale. To this union two children were born. Milford worked as a Shop Foreman with Texas Utilities. He retired from I.G.C. after 30+ years. He was a Veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was a founder and charter member of Rockdale Christian Church where he was a former board member and Elder Emeritus.


Milford passed away Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at his home with his family. The date of his passing was the anniversary of the birth of his paternal grandma, Berta Mary Henry nee Sharp (1873-1955) . . . and it was also Forget-Me-Not Day. Milford had reached the age of 86, and was preceded in death by his parents and two adult brothers, Marlyn Edward Henry (1930-1995) and Charles Eugene Henry (1940-1973) as well as three infant siblings.




For we have this moment to hold in our hands,
And to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone, and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment, today.

Treasure Chest Thursday :: Precious Memories

As I travel on life's pathway . . . know not what the years may hold . . . as I ponder, hope grows fonder . . . precious memories flood my soul . . .

Most of the images in this collage arrived in my rural mailbox on this date . . . the 7th day of October 2010 . . . my favorite Longfellow verse on the front of a greeting card . . . the two heartfelt handwritten messages on the inside of the card . . . and the photo of my dear Hubbie and his Riley-dog . . .

The sender of this treasure? . . . my precious Mom . . . she always knows just the right thing to say and do . . . she picks the best greeting cards . . . and the photo . . . it is cropped from a larger image showing an assortment of my kith 'n kin at a family gathering at my sister's place in the Hill Country of Texas . . . it was Thanksgiving two years ago . . . that's when I met my first-born grand-nephew for the very first time . . . one of my other nieces was pregnant at the time . . . that grand-nephew would arrive the following January . . . we had all been at the Idle Spur just a little over a year before . . . in October of 2007 . . . for the wedding of the now pregnant niece . . .


Precious mem'ries, how they linger
How they ever flood my soul
In the stillness of the midnight
Precious, sacred scenes unfold.


Bennie Everhart
20 March 1948 ~ 07 April 2010
I sure miss you . . .
life will never be the same with you not here . . .



Precious mem'ries, unseen angels
Sent from somewhere to my soul
How they linger, ever near me
And the sacred past unfold.

J.B.F. Wright (1923)


P.S. . . . FYI . . . the lined notepaper on the scrapbook page is from a ca. 19th century journal containing a collection of lyrics and poems, apparently thought worthy of recording by my great-grandpa . . . mayhaps I inherited that fondness for collecting my favorite word arrangements from him . . .

Wordless Wednesday :: waiting for his Master ...

A sky with no blue . . .

Wordless Wednesday . . .

Wordless Wednesday :: In a twinkling of an eye

Wordless Wednesday :: Two Old Friends

Bennie Lee Everhart 1948-2010

  Bennie Lee Everhart, Sr.
born 20th March 1948 in Austin, Texas
died 7th April 2010 in Plano, Texas
father
Willie Albert Everhart
1918-1969
mother
Dorothy Ophelia Everhart Long nee Hutson
1927-1999

Sentimental Sunday :: Reunion

Left to right, these gentleman of the 1950s are --

• Jim Aaron Robbins (1927-2010)
• Forrest Lee Pounders (1927-1996)
• Weldon Lee Henry (1927-1998)
• Robert E. Henry (1930-1997)

Jim is a family friend . . . Fuzzy is my Dad . . . Weldon is a 1st cousin once removed (but always referred to as Uncle Weldon) . . . and Robert is Uncle Bob (Mom's brother) . . . Jim died this week, on the 3rd of February . . . as this photo from the 1950s demonstrates, he is a part of our childhood memories . . . but I did not realize until just this week that Jim is actually a 1st cousin once removed to some of my Dad's 1st cousins (i.e., the Quinneys) . . . his funeral is being held today, the 7th day of February, in Rockdale . . . Jim will be buried beside his 1st wife, Bettie Jane Robbins nee Bartlett (1933-1964), the mother of his only child . . . RIP, Jim . . . give Dad and Uncle Weldon and Uncle Bob a hug for me when you see them . . . see y'all next time . . .

Remembering Wendy

Wendy Jo Wager LeGault nee Trecartin
04 June 1963 ~ 19 November 2007
Leave flowers at findagrave
LYNN, MA - Wendy Jo LeGault (Trecartin), age 44, of Lynn died of lung cancer at the Kaplan Family Hospice in Danvers, November 19, 2007. She was the wife of Richard LeGault.


Born and raised in Lynn, MA; she was the daughter of the late John H. Trecartin, Sr. and Marjorie V. Smith of Lynn. Wendy graduated from Lynn English High School and the North Shore Community College where she was on the Dean's List. She was employed as an accountant at Tech Pak in Peabody for several years, and most recently at the North Atlantic Lobster Company in Danvers.


In her youth, Wendy was an active member of the Girl's Club in Lynn. She loved riding her Harley throughout New England and she enjoyed watching scary movies. Her hobbies were gardening, crocheting and collecting figurines of ladybugs and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.


In addition to her husband and mother, Wendy is survived by five children, Amanda Wager of Baltimore, MD, Christopher Wager of Ft. Lewis, WA, Eric Wager and Richard LeGault, Jr. both of Lynn and Tiffany LeGault of Tennessee. She is also survived by three sisters, Kathy Weiskel of Adams, Susan Janice of Lynn and Tammy Culliver of Troy, AL: a brother John Trecartin, Jr. of Canyon Country, CA; her aunt Eileen Trecartin of Lynn and several nieces and nephews.