Some more Cass County Fants

ROBERT EDWARD LEE FANT Robert “Bob” Edward Lee Fant, 9th child of Edward Waldo and Sarah Caroline (Simmons) Fant, of South Carolina, was born in Cass County on Aug. 2, 1876 in the Lanier Community, d. Feb. 20, 1956, m/1 Jewell Hendricks, Divorced. m/2 Fannie Fort,, b. Jan. 4, 1886, d. 1966.

Bob was a farmer, merchant and operated a filling station in Lanier and Linden. As a child he was sickly and possessed a very high temper. Fannie was a very devout Christian. They were members of the Friendship Baptist Church, Lanier, Cass County, Texas where Fannie taught a Sunday School Class and served her church as pianist. Buried Friendship Cemetery, Lanier, Cass County, Texas.

I. George Edward Fant, b. March 6, 1905, d. Dec. 27, 1907.

2. Daughter - unnamed, b. 5 d. July 22, 1907. 3. Idabel Fant, b. July 4, 1914. Single. 4. Arthur Davis Fant, b. July 8, 1918, d. Oct. 13, 1953 in a car accident, m/1 Reba Maxwell, b. Oct. 4, 1920 - Divorced. m/2 Loraine Jones.

(1) Dennis Edward Fant b. Oct. 1, 1940, wife’s name unknown. Divorced. Sherri Lynn Fant, b. Dec. 31, 1958; Eddy Fant, b. March 28, 1960.

(2) David Harold Fant, b. Aug. 31, 1944. Arthur Davis Fant is buried in Friendship Cemetery, Cass County, Texas.

CARY BUCKNER FANT, SR. Cary Buckner Fant, SR. 11th child of Edward Waldo and Sarah Caroline (Simmons) Fant, of South Carolina, was b. Sept. 2, 1880 in Cass County, Texas, d. Nov. 28, 1958 of a heart attack. On Jan. 13, 1901, he married Mary Tallulah Burns of South Carolina, daughter of John Harris and Louisa Carruth (Harris) Burns. Mary was born” Dec. 13, 1876, d. July 10, 1959, buried in Friendship Cemetery, Cass County, Texas.

Cary was a large landowner, merchant and cotton ginner in Lanier-Linden area; deacon of the Baptist Church, trustee of Lanier school, Mason and an avid fox hunter. He was an influential member of the community.

Mary had an especially warm and loving nature. She was an excellent cook. She could make anything taste good.

Cary and Mary are buried in the Friendship Cemetery, Cass County, Texas.

I. Carl Fant, 1901 - 1903 II. James Morris Fant 1904 - 1926, killed in a car wreck. Single.

III. William Curtis Fant, April 14, 1906 - Jan. 14, 1976, married Mamie Lois Yates Dec. 24, 1935, b. Jan. 29, 1915, d. Oct. 5, 1973, buried Friendship Cemetery, Cass County, Texas.

1. Jan Curtis Fant, b. 1938, m. Brenda Wilson Nelson. Gina Leann Fant, b. 1971.

2. Cary Joe Fant, b. 1943, m/1 Kay Susan Nelson. Cary Craig Fant, b. 1969. m/2 Peggy Tyler Freeman. m/3 Kathryn Sue Green 1973. Joe Kyle Fant, b. 1974; Kevin Curtis Fant, b. 1980.

IV. Pearl Fant, b. Sept. 19, 1907, m. John Abner Wommack Oct. 10, 1925. Morris Alvin Wommack, b. July 23, 1926, m Virginia Joyce Shaw, b. Dec. 12, 1933. But Virginia had 2 children by her first marriage, Morris Alvin is retired from an army career, V. Unnamed daughter b, March 9, 1909, d, March 20, 1909, VI. Thomas Edward pant, b, Jan, 8, 1911, m. Lillian Oneida Hamilton Mar, 13, 1937, b. Dec. 11, 1914, d. April 8, 1979, buried Friendship Cemetery, Cass Co. Texas. Betty Elaine Fant, b. Nov. 25, 1939, m. Roy Dale “Bunkie” Law Aug. 19, 1960. Stacy Elaine Law 1962; Alvin Mark Law 1965; Nelda Dawn Law 1967; Lance Dale Law 1972.

VII. Mary Lou Fant, b. April 6, 1913, m. Alvie D. Fuller April 13, 1935. Don Atley Fuller b. Nov. 10, 1941. Single.

VIII. Alene Fant (twin) b. Dec. 26, 1914, d. March 17, 1970, m. Harry Harvey Hoyt July 4, 1935, b. 1906, d. 1982, buried Atlanta cemetery. Howard Fant Hoyt (twin) b. and d. July 10, 1942; Harrold Hix Hoyt (twin) b. July 10, 1942, d. July 10, 1974, m. Billy Jones, Tallulah Lee Hoyt, b. Dec. 10, 1951. IX. Lorene Fant (twin) b. Dec. 26, 1914, d. April 15, 1966, buried Friendship Cemetery Cass County, m. J. Cotter Eller. Mary Jo Eller, b. Dec. 28, 1949, m. Doyle Ellison. Namow Dawn Ellison 1974; Ashley Jo Ellison 1979; Peter Doyle Ellison 1980.

X. Cary Buckner “C. B.” Fant, Jr., First Lt. in Air Force, b. May 25, 1919, d. Nov. 11 1953 in a terrible air crash in El Paso, Tex. m. Mary Elizabeth McGilvray Feb. 28, 1948, b. July 23, 1926. Mary Angela 1949 - 1949; Cary Buckner III 1950; Rodney Odin 1951; Anita Jane 1954, killed in car wreck 1979.

EUNICE ADA FANT Eunice Ada Fant, 12th child of Edward Waldo and Sarah Caroline (Simmons) Fant of South Carolina, was born May 16, 1883 in Lanier, Cass County, Texas, d. Nov. 11, 1962, m. John Allen Dodd, son of Jesse Thomas and Thursey Emmaline (Hughes) Dodd, b. Aug. 8, 1882, d. Feb. 8, 1963, buried Friendship Cemetery, Cass County, Texas.

John and Eunice were land owners, operated a mercantile store in Lanier, school trustee, Baptist and for many years John was employed by the J. & N. W. Railroad as depot agent and supervisor of the railroad. They were assets to their community. Eunice was jovial with a keen sense of humor. She never criticized anyone but always gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. She was a wonderful mother and helpmate. Visitors to their home were given a warm cordial welcome.

I. Nellie Dodd, b. Jan. 8, 1906, Lanier, Cass County, Texas, m. Lee Lockett Smith, son of Lee C. and Clara (Lockett) Smith June 28, 1928.

1. John Dodd Smith b. Sept. 7, 1936, agriculture teacher, m. Mary Helen Fox, Aug. 29, 1959, b. Feb. 15, 1936. Bryan Fox Smith 1961; Cathy Leigh Smith 1963.

2. Betty Jane Smith, b. Aug. 25, 1943, m. Jerry Crossland July 11, 1970, son of I. C. and Euna (Prowse) Crossland.

II. Louise Dodd, P.V.N., m. Tom Bassett. 1. Eunice Nell Bassett, m. Bill Strother. 2. Martha Lou Bassett, m. J. A. Hickman. III. Johnny Dodd, R. N., b. Jan. 15, 1916, m. Robert Nelson.

1. Sandra Lane Nelson, teacher, b. March 16, 1946, m. William Lorenzo “Pete” Scholis April 13, 1973, b. July 13, 1943.

2. Sheilah Rose Nelson, b. Feb. 26, 1948. 3. Sharon June Nelson, b. Jan. 10, 1951 m. Arvil Manning Noel. David Arvil Noel.

4. Gary Lyn Nelson, b. Sept. 26, 1952. IV. Sarah Emmaline Dodd, b. March 31, 1920, d. Oct. 8, 1974, buried Friendship Cemetery, Cass County, Texas, m. Jesse Latham, b. Aug. 19, 1922.

1. Linda Claudine Latham, b. Jan. 30, 1942, m/1 James Harrison. Don Harrison, m/2 Bruce Sousser. Jon Sousser.

2. Larry Don Latham, b. Aug. 4, 1948, m. Kathy ? Name unknown.

-By Wilna Fant Fuller