Morris Wilbern Easley

Notes:

Funeral services for Morris Wilbern Easley will be at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at New Hope Church with Bro. Jerry Jones and Bro. Brian Tyre officiating. Visitation will be held from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at New Hope Congregational Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Yellowpine Cemetery, in Yellowpine, Texas.

Morris Wilbern Easley entered his heavenly home on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Nacogdoches, Texas. He was born on January 27, 1927, in Yellowpine, Texas, to Audrey Gay and Myrtle Easley. Wilbern grew up in Hemphill where he graduated from Hemphill High School in 1945.

Wilbern married the love of his life, LaNorma Cordray, on August 9, 1947, and shared 73 wonderful years together before her death earlier this year. For a couple of years, Wilbern courageously joined the United States Army where he was stationed in Germany for some time before returning home after the war. Wilbern was multifaceted in his professional life ? he worked with Taylor Exploration, Dee Exploration, DeWitt's Hatchery, owned his own company called Nacogdoches Vaccination Services, and spent years working with New Hope Congregational Methodist Church.

Wilbern was a very active member in his church. He spent many years as a church leader, member of the Board of Stewards, Deacon, and Sunday School Superintendent. He also served on the building committee for New Hope Methodist Church and Nacogdoches Community Church along with serving as a Gideon passing out New Testaments throughout East Texas. His daily walk with the Lord was important to him and he fearlessly shared God's Word every chance he had.

Wilbern would spend his free time working in his large vegetable garden that he was very proud of. He also grew sugar cane and would give cans of his Ribbon Cane syrup to family and friends. Wilbern was quite good at playing 42 and even won 4th place in a 42 tournament at the Nacogdoches Blueberry Festival once. While he usually let his wife handle the kitchen, he delighted in making his delicious peanut brittle for family gatherings. Wilbern loved and supported his children in all of their endeavors and was a perfect granddaddy and great granddaddy. Family was the most important thing of all to Wilbern, next to his faith in The Lord. He spent many fond times hunting with his family in the woods surrounding Six Mile Creek in Yellowpine, where he was raised.

Wilbern is survived by his daughters, LaWanna Smith and husband, David, and Rebecca Wilson and husband, Gary; sons, Price Easley and wife, Lucy, and Mark Easley; 9 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Wilbern is preceded in death by his beloved wife, LaNorma Easley; and parents, Audrey Gay Easley and Myrtle Lowery Easley.

Special thanks to all the caregivers, especially Eva Christopher, Tatonya Ross, Kimberly Blanton, Keleca Palmer, Nashi Wilcox, and Melanie Rojo, Kari Parker, and Ruby Tutt from Texas Home Health Accent Care.

Published in the Sabine County Reporter, August 4, 2021, page 4

Morris married LaNorma Mae Cordray on 9 Aug 1947. LaNorma (daughter of Judge Sidney Cordray, Sr. and Eula Mae Smith) was born on 7 Oct 1928 in Texas; died on 9 Apr 2021 in Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried on 13 Apr 2021 in Yellowpine Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
The Sabine County Reporter
August 17, 2011, Page 8

Anniversary

Wilbern and La Norma Cordray Easley of Nacogdoches celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on Aug. 9. They have four children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living
4. Living

Notes:

Name: Audrey Gay Easley
Death Date: 14 Jul 1964
Death Place: Houston, Harris, Texas
Gender: Male
Race: White
Death Age: 63 years
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 04 Apr 1901
Birthplace: Hemphill, Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Daniel Bush Easley
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Julia Travis
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation: Forest Employee
Place of Residence: Jasper, Jasper, Texas
Cemetery: Yellow Pine Cemetery
Burial Place: Hemphill, Texas
Burial Date: 14 Jul 1964
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2117594
Digital Film Number: 4028382
Image Number: 1361
Reference Number: cn43441
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP #1, Hemphill Town
ED 202-2 SD 17 Sheet 2B
Sixth Street
37-43
Easley, Audrey G Head M W 29 M W 19 Tx Tx Tx Logger Saw Mill
Easley, Myrtle Wf F W 27 m 17 Fl Ga Ga
Easley, Othel E Dtr F W 7 S Tx Tx Fl
Easley, Pauline Dtr F W 6 S Tx Tx Fl
Easley, Wilburn Son M W 3 3/12 S Tx Tx Fl
Clark, Ira F Boarder M W 25 S Tx Tx Tx Truck Driver State Highway

Audrey married Myrtle Lowery on 23 May 1920. Myrtle was born on 8 Jun 1903 in Florida; died on 27 Jul 1990; was buried in Yellowpine Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name: Daniel Bush Easley
Death Date: 12 May 1946
Death Place: Precinct #2, Yellow Pine, Sabine, Texas
Gender: Male
Race: White
Death Age: 86 years 10 months
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 12 Jul 1859
Birthplace: Sabine Co., Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: James Easley
Father's Birthplace: South Carolina
Mother's Name: Nancy Walkins
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation: Farmer
Place of Residence: Yellow Pine, Sabine, Texas
Cemetery: Tower Hill Cem.
Burial Place: Yellow Pine, Texas
Burial Date: 13 May 1946
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2218376
Digital Film Number: 4030558
Image Number: 1003
Reference Number: cn 24169
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976


(Research):Census Listings:

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 7
Enumerated 28 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 132 Sheet 8B
139-139
Easley, Bush Hd M W 50 m1 32 Tx SC Tx Farmer
Easley, Julia Wf F W 50 M1 31 12/8 Tx Miss Miss
Easley, Price Son M W 22 S Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Easley, James Son M W 21 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Easley, Dan Son M W 17 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Easley, Clem Son M W 16 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Easley, Dewey Son M W 11 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Easley, Gay Son M W 9 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Hyden, Lizzie Mrs. Dtr F W 26 Wd 3/3 Tx Tx Tx
Hyden, Melia Grddtr F W 8 S Tx Tx Tx
Hyden, Alma Grddtr F W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Hyden, Birtie Grddtr F W 2 S Tx Tx Tx

Daniel married Julia Ann Edward Travis on 18 Jan 1879 in Sabine County, Texas. Julia (daughter of James Cannon Travis and Sophronia Pauline White) was born on 2 Feb 1860 in Texas; died on 21 Jan 1949 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Yellowpine, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Nancy Watkins. Nancy (daughter of Green Berry Watkins and Elizabeth Smith) was born on 11 Dec 1827 in Louisiana; died on 16 Jan 1905 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was known by his middle name, Cannon. He may have been married previously to an Elizabeth, also from Mississippi.

According to the MINUTES 1858-1890 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HEMPHILL, TEXAS, (James) Cannon and Sophronia (White) Travis were among the 11 founding members of the church. Sophronia was admitted by voucher on September 7, 1857 from W. C. Southwell, Missionary East Texas, as was her husband, Cannon Travis. Fellowship was withdrawn from Cannon Travis on November 10, 1860, and restored September 24, 1864. In June 1884, "charges having been preferred against Bro. Cannon Travis for unchristian conduct & said charges as alleged being Sustained, it was ordered that the Church withdraw fellowship from him & it is further ordered that his name be erased from the Church Book."

Note: Children's names and birthdates are based on a transcription of the 1870 census. The actual 1870 and 1880 census microfilm's should be carefully checked. The 1880 extract seems to have several glaring discrencies in names and dates. Blanche Toole speculates that perhaps the census taker knew Cannon and his family, and completed the information from (faulty) memory instead of by actually interviewing the family. Also, Charlie White lists a child named Jann White, born ca 1868 per the 1870 census who is not listed on either transcription of the census. Perhaps this is Martha Jane White.

Military Service Co. D 1 Tex HV Arty CSA (Courtesy of Tony Pickett)

Was shown on the muster roll of Captain J.M. Burroughs Company of the Sabine County Volunteer Infantry, CSA, and was enlisted at Hemphill, Texas by Drury Field for 3 months duty on January 15, 1863.

Jules Hurst writes that "I understand that Cannon died in Texas of cancer of the eye."

James married Sophronia Pauline White on 5 Dec 1850 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Sophronia (daughter of Edward White and Elizabeth Strickland) was born in Nov 1833 in Amite County, Mississippi; died on 15 Jun 1915 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sophronia was born during an auspicious month. On November 13, 1833, between midnight and dawn, thousands of meteors showered the sky over North America. To the native peoples of the land, it appeared that the stars were falling out of the heavens. Some thought it was the judgment day. Others called it "The Night the Stars Fell".

A young girl who was a slave at the time of the event said "Somebody in the quarters started yellin' in the middle of the night to come out and to look up at the sky. We went outside and there they was a fallin' everywhere! Big stars coming down real close to the groun' and just before they hit the ground they would burn up! We was all scared. Some O'the folks was screamin' and some was prayin' we all made so much noise, the white folk came out to see what was happenin'. They looked up and then they got scared too."

The celestial phenomenon called "the most impressive and awesome display ever recorded" was, in fact, the Leonids meteor shower seen in one of its most impressive years. Viewers witnessed 50,000 to 150,000 meteors per hour, only equaled by the November 17, 1966 display, when the Leonid shower brought 150,000 meteors per hour. Debris from the comet Temple-Tuttle that orbits the sun every 33 years causes the shower.

She was born and raised in Amite County, Mississippi, and can be found on the 1850 census with her parents. Sometime after that, the family moved to Sabine County, Texas.

After her husband's death, she lived with her oldest son, William Hardy Travis. She can be found living with he and his wife, Grace Ener, at the time of the 1900 and 1910 Sabine County census.