The Lex Whatley Sr. Family
Lex Whatley Sr. was born on January 3, 1895 in Marion County, Texas. He was the oldest son of Martin Edward Whatley and Nancy Ellifair Ivey. His siblings were Lottie Mae, Elmer, Annie Pearl, Clyde, Cora, Hardy, Horace, and Agnes Marie.
Lex was raised in a farming family, and he continued to farm after his marriage to Emma Florence Moore on January 13, 1914 in Marion County, Texas. Lex and Florence lived in the Lewis Community and raised their family. Their children are Woodrow Wilson, Mary Louise, Carson, O.B., Lex Jr., Jean Avinell, Eunice Mae, and Glen Moore.
The family moved from the old house behind Lex’s father Martin Edward to a new house on Highway 125 in 1939. They continued to farm until World War II. Carson, O.B., and Lex Jr. fought in the war, and they came home without injury. Lex Sr. and Florence worked at the defense plant in Texarkana, Texas during this period.
Their eldest son Woodrow Wilson was born on December 10, 1915 in Cass County, Texas, and married Willadene Parker on December 20, 1936 in Cass County, Texas. Their children were Patricia, Carolyn, Ronnie, and Brenda. Woodrow worked as a welder in the Houston Texas area. Willadene died on December 18, 1994 in Austin, Travis, Texas and is buried in the Kingsland Cemetery at Kingsland, Texas.
Mary Louise was born March 3, 1918 in Cass County, Texas, and married Hugh Torrance Shelton on January 4, 1934 in Marion County, Texas. Louise and Torrance lived in Cass County, Texas and fanned until 1941, when they moved to Dennison, Grayson, Texas. Torrance went to work for the KATY Railroad and retired from this job. Louise and Torrance had two daughters, Norma Sue and Lexanne. Torrance died on April 30, 1981 in Dennison, Texas and is buried in the Fairview Cemetery at Dennison, Grayson, Texas. Louise lives in Dennison near her daughter, Norma Sue.
Carson was born on November 15, 1919 in Cass County, Texas, and married Rachel Warren on August 8, 1938 in Cass County, Texas. Carson is a sawmill owner and cattle rancher. Carson and Rachel’s children are Mary Lynn, Margaret Ann, Dewayne, and Manila Jan.
O.B. was born on January 3, 1922 and married Willie Mozelle Walls on April 27, 1940. Their children are Owen B. and Willie Keith. O.B. was a welder and owned an oil company. Mozelle died on November 2, 1999 in Shreveport, Louisiana and is buried in the Huffines Cemetery at Atlanta, Cass, Texas. O.B. died on May 23,2001 in Atlanta, Texas and is buried beside his wife Mozelle, in Huffines Cemetery. Lex Jr. was born on April 19,1924 in Cass County, Texas, and married 1st Evelyn Elizabeth Daniel on January 12, 1944 in Cass County, Texas. They had two children, Gary Lex and Sandra Beth. Lex worked in construction and is a cattle rancher. Evelyn died on June 21, 1995 in Shreveport, Louisiana and is buried in Savannah Cemetery at Jefferson, Marion, Texas. Lex married 2nd Frances Dooley Russell on July 17, 1999 in Marion County, Texas.
Jean Avanell was born on July 15, 1926 in Cass County, Texas, and married Ernie Clark on October 8, 1944 in Dennison, Grayson, Texas. Their children are John, Linda, and Tim. Ernie was a pilot in the Air Force and a Baptist minister. Avinell died on October 1, 1987 and is buried in Kechi Township Cemetery at Kechi, Kansas. Ernie married 2nd wife Berdie Nadine Jones on October 7, 1988.
Eunice Mae was born on August 11, 1930 in Cass County, Texas, and married Lewis Jordan on December 7, 1946 at Atlanta, Cass, Texas. Their children are Larry and Jeanne. Lewis was in the plumbing business until his death on March 2, 1070. He is buried in Rusk County Memorial Gardens Cemetery at Henderson Texas.
Glen Moore was born on February 9, 1936 in Cass County, Texas, and married Audrey Scott on June 13, 1959 in Cass County, Texas. Glen was a teacher at the Linden- Kildare School. Glen and Audrey ‘s children are Boise Lex, Brian, and Brandon. Glen retired from teaching and is now a full-time cattle rancher.
Emma Florence died on November 1, 1984 in Atlanta, Cass, Texas and is buried in the Huffines Cemetery near Atlanta, Texas. Lex lived in the old home place after Florence’s death for a while and then lived with his son Lex Jr. and his wife, Evelyn until his death on August 29, 1991. He is buried in Huffines Cemetery beside his wife, Florence.
A large number of Lex Whatley Sr and Emma Florence Moore’s descendants stayed in this area and raised families. Submitted by Frances Russell Whatley