Living

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:

LaNorma Mae Cordray Easley was born on October 7, 1928 in the community of Time near Milam, Texas to Eula and Judge Cordray, Sr.

Mrs. Easley attended Hemphill High School where she graduated in 1946. She married the love of her life, Wilbern Easley on August 9, 1947. During their marriage of 73 years, LaNorma enjoyed the privilege of being a housewife and mother to their four children. She was known for her excellent cooking, including her chicken and dumplings, dressing, biscuits, cream corn, coconut cake and lots of other sweet treats. LaNorma loved gardening and found great joy in growing vegetables and her beautiful blooming flowers. Just like the gardening she enjoyed, she also loved watching her grandchildren grow and play. She was a member of New Hope Congregational Methodist Church. There she taught young children's Sunday School for years and was also a member of the Women's Missionary Society. She was in charge of the church telephone prayer chain for many years. LaNorma loved the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys and could be found rooting her teams along.

Her great joys were visiting with family and cooking for them. She could often be found reading her Bible and looking forward to the next church activity. Everyone knew they could always call on LaNorma to pray for them. She took care of her family and her loving husband right up till her final days. Mrs. Easley was the true epitome of the virtuous woman.

LaNorma is survived by her husband, Wilbern Easley; daughters, LaWanna Smith and husband, David of Nacogdoches, and Rebecca Wilson and husband, Gary of Angleton, Texas; sons, Price Easley and wife, Lucy of Tyler, Texas and Mark Easley of Nacogdoches; brothers, Judge Cordray, Jr. and wife, Linda of Logansport, Louisiana and Pete Cordray and wife, Shirley of Center, Texas; 9 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to all the caregivers at Texas Home Health Accent Care, especially Darian Herod, Teresa Rogers and our special caregiver, Eva Christopher.

The family strongly recommends the wearing of masks during the services for your protection and the protection of others.

The Sabine County Reporter, April 14, 2021, page 4

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.

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:

The SSDI shows that he final benefit payments were in Milam, Sabine County, Texas. McCary indicates that his gravestone had a Masonic Symbol.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1, Hemphill Town
Enumerated April 8, 1930
ED 202-21 SD 19 Sheet 2A Stamped 16
34-34
Cordray, Judge Head M W 28 M 23 Tx Tx Tx
Cordray, Eula Wf F W 21 m 17 Tx Tx Tx
Cordray, La Norma Dtr F W 1 6/12 Tx Tx Tx

Judge married Eula Mae Smith about 1926 in Texas. Eula (daughter of June Alvin Smith and Vessie Mae Brittain) was born on 19 Nov 1907 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 26 Jun 1985 in Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Springs Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"...now Mrs. Judge Cordray..." (Speights, Bio of June Smith, pg. 25).

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]

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 8
Enumerated 11 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 12B
162-162
Cordray, Judge D Head M W Apr 1862 38 m 2 Ga Ga Ga Farmer
Cordray, Emma R Wf W F Sept 1868 31 m 2 1/1 Ga Ga Ga
Cordray, Martha A Dtr W F Mar 1885 15 S Tx Ga Ga
Cordray, Clara B Dtr W F Jan 1888 12 S Tx Ga Ga
Cordray, Henry E Son W M Sept 1890 9 S Tx Ga Ga Farm Laborer
Cordray, Zilla E Dtr W F Oct 1899 7/12 S Tx Ga Ga
Layfield, Landy D Servant W M Nov 1872 27 S Ga Ga Ga Farm Laborer
Weatherred Mack B M Oct 1877 22 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
Enumerated 23 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 137 Sheet 8A
119-123
Cordray, Judge D Head M W 47 m1 11 Ga Ga Ala Farmer
Cordray, Emma Wf F W 41 m1 11 Ga Ga Ga
Cordray, Eugene Son M W 19 m1 1 Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
Cordray, Lillian Dtr-in-law F W 16 m1 1 0/0 Tx Tx Tx
Cordray, Zilla Dtr F W 10 S Tx Ga Ga
Cordray, Judge Jr Son M W 8 S Tx Ga Ga
Cordray, Aremel Son M W 5 S Tx Ga Ga

Judge married Emma Louise Layfield about 1898. Emma was born in Sep 1868 in Georgia; died in 1928. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):
The Sabine County Reporter
May 9, 2012

Myrtle Springs receives marker

An official Texas Historic Cemetery Marker was dedicated April 28, at Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery. The day was also the cemetery's annual homecoming......

The newly placed marker reads:
GENEVA MYRTLE SPRINGS CEMETERY

Situated North of the small, rural community of Geneva, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery serves as the primary resting place for pioneers, settlers of the area, and their descendants. Originally granted to Juan Ignatino Pifermo in 1794, the town of Geneva grew in the 1820s when pioneers began to settle there from the east. Geneva was first known as Shawnee village and later as Jimtown, after two early settlers of the are, Jim Halbert and Jim Willis. Originally surveyed for Daniel F. Renfro in 1838, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery is comprised of land granted by Levi T. ALLEN in 1879 for use as a church and cemetery. The Geneva Baptist Church was first located on the present day cemetery site, but later moved south of the area. In addition, a school was once located near the cemtery near Myrtle Springs, organized by William Thomas Arnold.

The general landscaping of the cemetery is traditional with brick, marble, sandstone, grantie, wood, and metal grave markers. The first marked grave is that of William J. JONE from 1888, but Bible records indicate that there were earlier unmarked graves, including that of Wiley William CROW (1845-1877). Among the many pioneer families interred at this cemetery, there are veterans of the Civil War, including Wiley CROW, Seth Marion LAYFIELD (1833-1906), and James T. MEADOR (1845-1933), as well as veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Iraq War. Burials for members of the fraternal organizations such as Woodmen of the World are present. Today, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery Association maintains and cares for the cemtery, while also serving the community of Geneva. Historic Texas Cemetery -2010.

Notes:

"Old Timers of Sabine County, Texas" by Virgie Speights
Page 23

June Smith October 3, 1963

June Smith sat on the porch of his home near Pineland and regaled more than 100 persons at his 80th birthday party with tales of early days in East Texas.

Born at Sabinetown, he was the son of Henry and Martha Ann Morris Smith, and grandson of Shadrach Morris, who gave 200 acres of land in the early 1830s to found Sabinetown. His great grandfather, Gideon Morris, had donated a like amount for the founding of Morristown, Tennessee in the 1700s.

His father Henry Smith who died before he was born, came from England to teach school at Milam and Sabinetown. As a boy, he grew up the hard way, but with lots of fun and frolicking. He recalls working hard, long hours on logging rafts, floating logs to Orange. He did the cooking before he was old enough to push logs.

Frank Davis, a mail contractor, hired him at the sum of $5.00 a month to carry the mail from Hemphill to Geneva, when he was just a boy.

At the age of 18, Mr. Smith helped to move his sister and family, the Ide Russells from Louisiana across the Sabine to Sabine County. There was a post office, a church, a school, a doctor, F.S. Love and 52 families. June Smith stayed there and farmed, first with his sister's family and then with his own until recently when he had to move nearer a doctor. His wife the former Miss Vessie Brittain, is an invalid since a fall a few years ago, which broke her hip. His was the last family to leave this now deserted community. He moved over to Pineland to live in a house owned by his son, Brittain Smith, who lives nearby. He does, however, still drive over regularly to care for his cattle, fix fences and dream of wonderful years when he was raising his family there.
Not long after he helped move the Russells in an ox-drawn wagon, he met and married Miss Vessie Brittain, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Brittain. There was a church wedding in 1904 with Burnis and Mattie Lou Honeycutt Vickers as attendants.

The Brittains gave the couple 67 acres on which Ide Rusell helped his brother in law build a two room house with cypress shingles, stick and dirt chimney, big rooms and wide porches. There they worked hard, were self-sustaining and gradually prospered, buying more land, clearing and raising cotton for money crop, sheep for clothing, and hogs and cattle.

Mr. Smith refused to shear the sheep, but accommodating neighbors Abb Vickers and Perkins Harvey were willing to help out. He liked to raise hogs and trained his to come when he called. There was the whole country for the cattle, sheep, goats, horses and hogs to roam in, even being taken across the river into Louisiana when grass or cane shoots were better there.
Nothing was wasted. When land needed clearing, the whole community came in to help. Cooking went on for days, with food being cooked in huge iron pots. It was a frolic for the young people, who were expected to help in the work, though. The logs were used for houses, barns, rail fences, stove wood, etc.

At butchering time, the same community spirit prevailed and the same thrift and utilization of everything. Cold weather was necessary, and the meat saved by curing the smoke. Everyone had a smokehouse, quite large with a fire of hickory wood, kept smoldering for weeks in the center of the dirt floor. Meat was hung from the rafters to absorb that hickory flavor.

"They don't make that kind of meat these days," says Mr. Smith. They made what they called souse, now known as hogshead cheese. Excessive fat was trimmed off, after the sausage meat was set aside, and rendered into lard. Big iron pots outdoors over a fire were filled with these bits of fat, which were slowly stirred until nothing was left but cracklings. From these cracklings came the family soap. Lye, leeched from hardwood ashes, mixed with the cracklings, water added and cooked until bubbly thick. When cool, this soap was stored in crocks and used at laundry time. Clothes were boiled, after being soaked in soapy water, placed on a block and battled. This was to removed embedded soil from work cloths. The Smiths owned a "crackling squeezer", a luxury in those days, which squeezed the last bit of grease from the fat. Cracklings were also delicious cooked in cornbread. They also had a fine sausage mill.

Once Mr. Smith's four year old daughter, Eula, caught her finger in the sausage mill. Afraid to turn the mill for fear it would cut off her ginger, they carried her to Dr. Love, sausage hanging by a bit of skin. The doctor splinted it up and Eula, now Mrs. Judge Cordray, has her finger just a bit scarred.

Mr. Smith was active in church and community affairs. When the Rev CA Perkins an outstanding evangelist in the area, established the Methodist Sabine Circuit with both sides of the river as his charge, he credited Mr. Smith with being a factor in its establishment. He also owned the second car in Sabine County, a beautiful Model T Ford.

Besides Mrs. Cordray of Isla community, his children are Mrs. Zelma Blasingame of Garland, Texas, Reece Smith of the Sexton community, Brittain Smith of Pineland, and Aldous Smith, a Methodist Minister, of Dayton, Bulah, who married Roy Allen, died in 1930 and Clarence died in 1928. There are 19 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

(Research):Census Information:

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine, JP 5
Enumerated 16 & 17 of January 1920 by Callin A. McDaniel
SD 326 ED 172 Sheet 10 A
184-185
Smith, J.A. Hd M W 36 M Tx England English Tx Farmer Own Fa
rm
Smith, Vessie Wife F W 34 M Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Beulah Dtr F W 14 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Eula Dtr F W 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Myrtis Dtr F W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Reece Son M W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Britton Son M W 5 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Clarence Son M W 10/12 Tx Tx Tx
Jones, Casey Servant M B 19 S Tx Ga Tx Farmhand

1930
Texas, Sabine County, JP 5
Enumerated April 14 & 15, 1930
ED 202-7, Sd 19 Sheet 4A Stamped 88
72-76
Smith, June A Hd Y M W 48 M 23 Tx England US Farmer
Smith, Docia M Wf F W 43 M 18 Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Reece T Son M W ? S Tx Tx Tx Laborer Farm
Smith, Britton L Son M W 12 S Tx Tx Tx Laborer Farm
Smith, Zelma Dtr F W 8 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Aldus Son W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
Britton, Margarett A Mother in law F W 68 Wd Tx Ga Al
Saupe?, Carme? Boarder F W 19? S Tx Tx Tx Teacher School

June married Vessie Mae Brittain about 1904. Vessie (daughter of Thomas Strouse "Bud" Brittain and Margaret "Peggy" A. Harvey) was born on 1 Oct 1886 in Time, Sabine County, Texas; died on 1 Oct 1968 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Springs Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It appears that Vissie's mother, Margarett E. Britton, a 68 year old widow, born in Texas, was living with them at the time of the 1930 Federal Census. Her father was born in Georgia, and her mother in Alabama. Her Texas Death Certificate indicates she was the daughter of Bud Brittian and Peggy Harvey. The informant was Mrs. Judge Cordray, a daughter.

Name: Vessie Mae Smith
Death Date: 01 Oct 1968
Death Place: Pineland, Precinct 2, Sabine, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: W
Death Age: 82 years
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 01 Oct 1886
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Bud Brittian
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Peggy Harvy
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation: Housewife
Place of Residence: Pineland, Precinct # 2, Sabine, Texas
Cemetery: Liberty Springs
Burial Place: Sabine County, Texas
Burial Date: 03 Oct 1968
Additional Relatives: X
Film Number: 2137188
Digital Film Number: 4188418
Image Number: 2673
Reference Number: cn 73705
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976


(Medical):Her death certificate also indicated she had been an invalid for about 40 years, with the cause unknown

Notes:

Married:
"There was a church wedding in 1904 with Burnis and Mattie Lou Honeycutt Vickers as attendants.