The Lex Whatley Sr. Family

‘Our Grandfather’ PART 2 OF 4

Martin Edward Whatley was born on April 11, 1871 in Clay County, Alabama. His parents were Miles Jefferson Whatley and Sally Linton Whatley. He married Nancy Ivey on December 20, 1892 in Marion County, Texas. Nancy Ellifair Ivey was the daughter of Caroline Ivey. We do not know her father’s given name, but family story is that when they were on their way to Texas from Mississippi, they stopped for the night, and he went out to hunt for food and never returned. They searched for him, but he was never seen again.

Martin Edward and Nancy bought land in Cass County, Texas, farmed and raised their family. Their children were Lex Sr., Lottie, Elmer, Pearl, Clyde, Cora, Hardy, Horace, and Agnes Marie.

Martin Edward died on September 20, 1950 and is buried in Kildare Cemetery at Kildare, Cass, Texas. Nancy E. died on March 23, 1962 and is buried beside Martin Edward in Kildare Cemetery.

Their oldest child, Lex Sr., born January 3, 1895, married Emma Florence Moore. Their children are Woodrow Wilson, Emma Louise, Carson, O.B., Lex Jr., Jean Avanell, Eunice Mae, and Glen Moore. Lex died August 29, 1991 in Atlanta, Cass, Texas and Emma Florence, died November 1, 1984 in Atlanta, Cass, Texas, and they are buried in Huffines Cemetery at Atlanta, Cass, Texas.

Lottie, born September 24, 1897, married Louis Rufkin. Moore and had the following children: Lucille, Jessie Mae, R.L., and Mary Lois. Lottie and Louis Rufkin. are buried in Kildare Cemetery.

Elmer, born November 6, 1900, married Anna Lorraine Belote and their children are Opal Moline, Thomas Gaylon, Hubert, Harold M. Donald Lynn, Fadra Ann, and Glenda Sue. Elmer died on March 2, 1995 in Bossier City, Caddo, Louisiana and Anna Lorraine, died on April 20, 1992 in Bossier, Caddo, Louisiana and they are buried in Providence Cemetery, Ringgold, Bienville Parish, Louisiana.

Pearl, born Dec. 29, 1902, married 1st husband, Roland Rosser and had three children: Roland Jr., Marcelle, and Jeanette. Her 2nd marriage was to John Greene. Pearl died August 13, 1988 and is buried in Laws Chapel Cemetery, Atlanta, Cass, Texas beside her 2nd husband John Greene, Roland Rosser is buried in the Kildare Cemetery.

Clyde Edwin, born October 18, 1907, married 1st wife, Lois Livingston and had three children: Lozelle, Clydene, and Margaret Nevelle. Clyde’s 2nd wife was Evelyn G. Mixon, and their children were Bill, Bob, Mark, Angie, Judy, Loretta, and Lois. Clyde Edwin died August 9, 1977 and Evelyn G., died July 26, 1992. They are buried in Bethsaida “Y” Cemetery, Bivins, Cass, Texas.

Cora, born September 18, 1905, married James Harvey Belote on February 29, 1924 and their children are Billy Bob, Hazel Marie, James Allen, Joyce Lavern, and Syble Juanita. Cora died October 14, 1988 and James Harvey, died December 16, 1988, and they are buried in Kildare Cemetery.

Hardy, born February 28, 1910, married 1st wife Vera Williams on January 29, 1931 and they had four children: James Edward, Raymond, Joanne, and Judy Carol. Hardy, died on November 9, 1999 in Shreveport, Caddo, Louisiana, and Vera, died December 7, 1991 in Vivian, Caddo, Louisiana, and they are buried in Evan-Richie Memorial Gardens at Vivian, Caddo, Louisiana. Hardy’s 2nd wife was Rosalie Miles.

Horace, born August 10, 1912, married Annie Lee Jiitchens on August 28, 1931 and their children are Charles Ray and Janelle. Horace died July 10, 1995 and is buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, at Atlanta, Cass, Texas. His wife, Annie Lee, is still alive.

Agnes Marie, born August 28, 1916, married first husband, Alton Johnson on May 29, 1938 and had one son, Andrew Darwin. Agnes married second husband, Nick Andrew Wheeler Mobley and had one son, Larry. Agnes died on April 14, 1990 in Austin, Travis, Texas and is buried in Forest Park Cemetery Houston, Travis, Texas, beside her husband Nick Andrew Wheeler and son Andrew Darwin Johnson. A large number of the descendants of Martin Edward Whatley and Nancy Ellifair Ivey still live in the Marion County and Cass County area.

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 on 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 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 in 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