Living

Notes:

Ben McLemore, age 86, of Cedar Hill, Texas, passed away September 16, 2014. He was born August 25, 1928 in Rose Hill, Virginia.

Ben was a vibrant man who adored his family. All his efforts were focused on the absolute success of his five elegant daughters who he was infatuated with on a daily basis. He was the ultimate role model for his 10 grandsons. His 6 granddaughters were amazed in his stature as a man of integrity.

His most impressive virtue was the love of his wife of 57 years. Ben dedicated his every thought and was driven to the ultimate quest of his dear wife's every desire. It was a wonderful love story played out in front of his family daily.

The only regret is 9 great-grandchildren will never understand as I do the contribution Ben made to the McLemore dynasty.

May his legacy live on!

Ben is survived by his wife Delfina; 5 daughters, Mary Sharp & husband Dr. Thomas Sharp, Delfina McLemore, Lois McLemore, Patricia Richardson & husband Gary D. Richardson, Theresa McLemore Everett; 16 grandchildren, Steven Cowsert & wife Halley, Kevin Cowsert & wife Sari, Kristi Cowsert, Mandi Hargrove & husband Kenneth, Michael Buckner, Joshua Brown, Marissa Brown, Robert Smith, Ashley McLemore-Simons & husband Collin, Jordan Goss, Gary D. Richardson II & wife Bayly, Lauren Richardson, Scott Everett & wife Jessica, Marc Everett, Jared Everett, & Ryan Everett; great-grandchildren, Colten, Arslan, Caden, Rayelle, Raley, Striker, Easton, Macklie, & Hudson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 Saturday, September 20, 2014 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1111 W. Danieldale in Duncanville.

Interment will follow at Holy Redeemer Cemetery in DeSoto.

Visitation with family and friends will be 6-8 pm Friday, September 19, with a Rosary beginning at 7:00 pm at Jaynes.

Ben married Delfina Allen on 17 Oct 1956 in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas. Delfina was born on 1 Oct 1933 in Monterey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; died on 22 Dec 2021 in Texas; was buried in Holy Redeemer Catholic Cemetery (DeSoto), DeSoto, Dallas County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Delfina Allen McLemore was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. She was 88 years old. The love of her life, Ben McLemore, preceded her in death September 16, 2014.

Delfina was born on October 1, 1933 in Monterrey, Mexico. She was raised and lived in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico until the age of 23 when she met the love of her life, Ben McLemore.
Ben and Delfina were married October 17, 1956 in El Paso, Texas. It was in El Paso where Ben and Delfina's five beautiful daughters were born. In 1968 they moved their family to the DFW metroplex where they planted their roots and called it home.

Delfina's life and energy revolved around her sweet husband, Ben, her five daughters, and her love for the Catholic church. She dedicated her time to being a housewife and a full-time mother at home.

Delfina is survived by her five daughters: Mary Sharp and husband, Dr. Thomas Sharp; Delfina Rhode and husband, Sam Rhode; Lois Gulrich and husband Jeffrey Gulrich; Patricia Richardson and husband, Gary Richardson; Theresa Richardson and husband, Alan Richardson.

She is also survived by her 16 grandchildren: Steven Cowsert and wife, Halley; Kevin Cowsert and wife, Sari; Kristy Millar and husband Ryder; Mandi Hargrove and husband Kenneth; Michael Buckner and wife, Heather; Joshua Brown; Marissa Brooks and husband, Jeff; Robert Smith and wife, Jamie; Ashley McLemore; Jordan Petrasic and her husband, Dr. Jason Petrasic; Gary Richardson II, and wife Bayly; Lauren White and husband, Harrison; Scott Everett and wife, Brittney; Marc Everett and wife, Nikki; Jared Everett and wife, Alina; Ryan Everett and wife, Baylee.
Further, she is survived by 28 great grandchildren (with one on the way): Colton, Raley, Rayelle, Harlow, Olivia, Devyn, Arslan, Striker, Easton, Braelyn, Madlynn, Barret, Landon, EllieMay, Macklie, Haiden, Harper, Lexi, Haddon, Sawyer, Sutton, Caden, Hudson, James, Preslee, Kace, Noah, and Eli.

Her surviving extended family includes: Lauren and husband, Patrick, Patrick, Jr., Mason, and Dylan Gulrich.

Delfina was one of seven children. She is preceded in death by four siblings: Alfonso Allen, Graciela Mendoza, Ysela Motta, and Humberto Allen. Her surviving siblings include: Maria del Roble Allen Becera and Mariano Allen.

Visitation will be held Thursday, January 6, 2022, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Jaynes Memorial Chapel, 811 S. Cockrell Hill Rd., Duncanville, TX 75137. Rosary will follow immediately beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The memorial service will be held Friday, January 7, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1111 W. Danieldale Rd., Duncanville, TX 75137. Delfina will be laid to rest at Holy Redeemer Cemetery in DeSoto, Texas with her beloved husband, Ben McLemore.

Following the service at the cemetery, friends and family are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at the home of Alan and Theresa Richardson, 4290 Pebble Creek Ct., Frisco, TX 75033.

Notes:

When he registered for the draft during World War I, his address was Appalachia, Wise County, VA. He was a Lawyer, and was described as tall and slender, with brown eyes and dark hair. He checked that he was White, and also that he was an an Indian and a Citizen.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
Virginia, Wise County, Gladeville District, Wise Town
Enumerated April 7, 1930
ED 98-5 SD 7 Sheet 9A Stamped 44
Norton Road
170-186
McLemore, J. Monroe Head R 25 R M W 46 M 39 Not in School, Can Read/Write Va Ky Va
McLemore, Mary F Wf F W 29 M 22 Not in School, Can Read/Wright Yes Tenn Tenn Va
McLemore, Bettie H Dtr F W 5 S Va Va Tn
McLemore, Barbara A Dtr F W 3 11/12 S Va Va Tn
McLemore, Ben D Son M W 1 8/12 S Va Va Tn


1940 Census
Virginia, Wise County, Wise Town
Enumerated April 12, 1940
SD 9 ED 98-4 Sheet 5A
Beginning Sprint Street
69-0-2000-No
McLemore, J. M. Head M W No C5 Va Same house Lawyer Private Practice
McLemore, Mary E Wf F W 39 M No C1 Tenn Same house
McLemore, Betty Helen Dtr F W 15 S Yes H-1 Va Same house
McLemore, Barbara Ann Dtr F W 13 S Va Yes 7 Same house
McLemore, Ben Dale Son M W 11 S Yes 4 Same House
McLemore, John J Son M W 9 S Yes 2 Va Same House
McLemore, Colby F Son M W 4 S Va

James married Mary Elizabeth Fugate on 21 Nov 1921 in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Mary was born on 16 Feb 1901 in Claiborne County, Tennessee; died on 11 Nov 1946 in Wise, Wise County, Virginia; was buried in Glencoe Cemetery (Big Stone Gap Cemetery), Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her Virginia Death Certificate shows her as being born in Claybournce County, Tennessee to Colby Fugate, born Tenn, and Virginia Bacon, born Virginia. Informant was J. M. McLemore of Wise. Burial was shown as at Glencoe Cemetery.

Notes:

Colby Fugate McLemore writes that Benjamin F. McLemore, son of Hiram, was born June 16, 1845 in Lee County, Virginia, where his parents lived a few months after his birth, moving into the mountains of Kentucky. The 1850 census instead shows his place of birth as Tennesse, and later records place it in Kentucky.

He notes that he was a Civil War veteran, and received a flesh wound to the temple during a battle. When he first placed his hand on his temple after the mini-ball creased it, he thought he had received a shot through the brains.

Colby McLemore also cites a manuscript of confederate records in the Archives Division of the Virginia State Library which state: "Benjamin Franklin McLemore was a private in Co. G, Third Regiment, Kempers's Brigade--The Rough and Ready Guards (Southhampton County) - commanded by Captains Richard P. Clements, Henry S. Howard, John W. Harrison, Nathaniel T. Francis, enlisting in 1861 and served four years." It appears that this record is being cited erroneously, as it more likely pertains to the Benjamin Franklin McLemore who was a resident of Southhampton County, Virginia...the son of James McLemore and Martha Barkley and husband of Rosa Westbrook. This other Benjamin Franklin McLemore was six years older than Benjamin, the son of Hiram.

Benjamin was said to have had the nicest team of black horses and surry in the county, keeping the harness highly polished and taking great pride and care of his team. Dressed in black with a tall black hat, neighbor Marshall Walker (Wrady) Vicars, Sr. said he "cut quite a figure."

(Research):
Census Listings:

1880 Census
Virginia, Wise County, Gladeville
FHL Film 1255394 NA Film Number T9-1394
Page Number 274B

Benjamin F. McSeamore Self M Male W 35 Va Farmer Ky Va
Caroline McSeamore Wife M Female W 37 Va Keeping House Va Va
William J. McSeamore Son S Male W 10 Va Va Va
Robert L. McSeamore Son S Male W Va Va Va
Sarah Jane McSeamore Dau Female W 2 Va Va Va

1900 Census
Virginia, Wise County, Gladeville Magisterial District
Enumerated 25 June 1900
SD 9 ED 123 Sheet 16B
276-290
McLemore, Benjamin F Hd W M Jun 1865 54 M 31 Va
McLemore, Caroline D Wife W F Oct 1843 56 M 31 8/6 Va
McLemore, Robert L Son W M Feb 1876 24 S Va Va Va Farmer
McLemore, Sarah J Dtr W F May 1878 22 S Va Va Va
McLemore, Martha E Dtr W F Oct 1880 19 S Va Va Va Teacher
McLemore, James M Son W M Sept 1883 16 S Va Va Va
McLemore, Litsy S Dtr W F Oct 1888 11 S Va Va Va
HH 277-291
Floyd and Ester DALE

Benjamin married Caroline Virginia Dale on 28 Jan 1869 in Wise County, Virginia. Caroline was born in Oct 1843 in Virginia; was buried in Wise County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Colby Fugate McLemore writes that a marriage license was issued in Wise County, Virginia, January 26, 1869, to Benjamin F. McLemore and Caroline Virginia Dale and signed by George W. Kilgore, Clerk. The age of husband was 25 years; age of wife 25 years, place of husband's birth-Lee County, Virginia; place of wife's birth--Russell County, Virginia, place of husband's residence-Perry County, Kentucky; place of wife's residence-Wise, Virginia; husband's parents-Hiram Y. and Margaret McLemore; wife's parents-Hardin and Anne E. Dale. Minister's Return of Marriage:" I certifiy that on the 28 of January 1869 at the home of Hardin Dale, I united the above named and described parties, under the authority of the annexed license--signed Ira Gilliam."