John Edward McLemore

Notes:

Obituary, copied from his FindAGrave memorial page, created by Beanie Ragan Adams:


JOHN MCLEMORE, 67, of Talihina, Okla. went home to be with Jesus on February 13, 2011. Son of Arthur Clinton and Mae Coble McLemore, he began his journey on this earth in Alvin, Texas on October 10, 1943. John grew up in Alvin and told countless stories of playing with his cousins and friends, fishing in the Gulf, hunting with his dad, and working in his parents five and dime variety stores. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at a young age. He began using his God-given gift of singing in church as a minister. He was the music minister at the First Baptist Church in Talihina for over 35 years. He loved the Lord, and loved his church family. John graduated high school from Allan Military Academy. He bought his first street rod during his freshman year of college at Sam Houston State University, in Huntsville, Texas. Street rodding would become his life long passion. For a short time after college he managed several A & W Root Beer Franchises. He moved to Tuskahoma, Oklahoma in 1970. He partnered with his father, built and developed the Kiamichi Fish Farm. John married the love of his life Martha Ann Boston, on October 2, 1971. They had three children together and his commitment and love for all of them was beyond measure. Rare was the day that he didn't say "I love you" multiple times. He owned and operated the Western Auto in Talihina until 1986. Soon thereafter, he began teaching art at Talihina Public School. He would often say, "teaching is what I should have been doing all my life." Mr. Mac absolutely adored his students. No doubt about it, he was an avid Tiger fan. He could be found Friday nights, 2nd row from the top, on the fifty yard line, cow bells in hand. To many of his street rod buddies he was known as "Talihina John", or just "TJ". He was a founding member of the "No Name Gang", and would spend countless hours talking about, and building hot rods with this brotherhood of friends. He established the "Talihina Fun Run" in 1998, and has hosted it for the last 12 years. The Talihina Fun Run always ended with a meal at John's home and a stroll through his "Field of Dreams." He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents John Edward and Dena McLemore, and maternal grandparents Omar Shaw and Alice Coble, and his parents. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Martha Ann McLemore, of the home; daughter Rebecca McLemore of Talihina; son Clinton and Kim McLemore of Ardmore; daughter Stephanie McLemore of Ardmore; and three grandchildren, Kadie, Jonathan, and Rachael McLemore of Ardmore; and "adopted" son Alex Barron, of Spiro. He was the brother-in-law of Donna and the late Bill Baggett, Janice and Paul Lawson, and JD Boston all of Talihina. He leaved numerous other cherished relatives, and friends. While he will be greatly missed by his family and friends, we rejoice in knowing he has completed his journey here, and is at home with his Lord. John was a member of the Talihina Lions Club for 24 years.

Services will be held on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at the Talihina High School Gym, with Reverend Mark Cook and Reverend Carrol Redwine officiating. Interment will follow at the Old Talihina Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Talihina Funeral Home, Talihina, Oklahoma.

Notes:

At the time of the 1930 census, he was a lodger in a boarding home in Oklahoma City, listed as Arthur C. McLemore, Male, White, 18, Single, born Ala, parents born Miss and Ala, and occupation: Laborer, Odd Jobs. Year: 1930; Census Place: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma; Roll: 1920; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0117; Image: 730.0; FHL microfilm: 2341654

Obituary, copied from his FindAGrave memorial page, created by MillieBelle:

One of 13 children born to John and Dena McLemore, my grandparents. In the 30's he and Mae moved to Alvin, Texas, a bustling oilfield town on the Gulf Coast south of Houston. He opened a variety store there and A.C. and Mae would keep the store open all hours so the oilfield workers would stop for coffee and to buy something. He and Mae built a business that had stores in several towns of S.E. Texas and employed mostly family members as store managers. A.C. had a head for business and saw the coming of Gibson's and what was to be WalMart so he sold to Wacker's in the mid-60s and retired to build a catfish farm at Albion, Oklahoma on the Kiamichi River. He died from an instantly fatal heart attack there in the cabin with Mae. John Edward McLemore of Talihina, Oklahoma was the only child and he is the namesake of his Grandfather.
(From Contributor #48336476)

Arthur married Mae Coble. Mae was born on 4 Jan 1913 in Figure Five, Crawford County, Arkansas; died on 24 Jul 1996 in Talihina, Le Flore County, Oklahoma; was buried in Oak Hill Memorial Park, McAlester, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary, copied from her FindAGrave memorial page, created by MillieBelle:

Mae was the daughter of Omar S. and Alice (Harris) Coble. She had been a resident of Talihina, OK since 1974. Before moving to Talihina, she had lived in McAlester for a number of years. She and her husband, A.C. McLemore owned and operated a chain of variety stores in McAlester. She is survived by a son, John McLemore of Talihina; a sister, Jewel Tinker of McAlester; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; six brothers, William Doyle Coble, Leonard Coble, John Henry Coble, Omar Franklin Coble, George Washington Coble an Paul Coble; and three sisters, Beulah, Florence and Evalee.

Notes:

Thought, but not proven, to be the brother of William McLemore, the husband of Leona Bridges? They lived near each other at the time of the 1900 census, and were listed as adjacent families as of the 1910 census. Both census enumerations were in Walker County, Alabama.

On the "Weddle Family Tree" on Ancestry.com, he is shown as John Edward McLemore, a son of Frank M. McLemore and Mary Anne Hussey, and grandson of Calvin and Martha McLemore, and great grandson of Wilson McLemore. John's siblings are shown as Martha, William Newton McLemore (b. 1873), and Mary Elizabeth.

Not proven, so more research should be done.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1900 Census
Alabama, Walker County, Twp 12 R 9 Beat 6 Carbon Hill
Enumerated 11 June 1900
SD 6 ED 141 Sheet 18B
248-252
McLemore, William N Hd W M May 1876 24 M 0 Ala Ala Miss Coal Miner
McLemore, Leona P Wf W F Jan 1877 23 M 0 0.0 Ala Ga NC

Alabama, Walker, Carbon Hill, Twp 13 R 9 Beat 5 Carbon Hill
Enumerated 13 June 1900
SD 6 ED 141 Sheet 16B
319-325
McLemore, Arthur Boarder W M Aug 1872 27 S Miss Irland? Irland? Engineer Coal Mine

Alabama, Walker, Pr 7 (Beach Grove)
Enumerated 2 June 1900
SD 6 ED 142 Sheet 1B
11-11 A.C. and Nancy Swindle
13-13
McLemore, John Hd W M May 1878 22 M 0 Ala Ala Ala Farmer
McLemore, Susan E Wf W F May 1885 15 M 0 Ala Ala Ala

1910 Census
Alabama, Walker County, Pr. 5
Enumerated 29 April 1910
SD ? ED 175 Sheet 25A
513-526
McLemore, John Hd M W 34 m1 10 Miss Miss Miss Miner Coal Mines
McLemore, Dina Wif F W 25 M1 10 4/4 Ala Ala Ala
McLemore, Ruby Dtr F W 9 S Ala Ala Ala
McLemore, Gussie S. Dtr F W 7 S Ala Ala Ala
McLemore, Nellie Dtr F W 4 S Ala Ala Ala
McLemore, Johnnie Dtr F W 2 S Ala Ala Ala
514-527
McLemore, William Hd M W 34 M1 10 Ala Ala Miss Farmer
McLemore, Leona Wf F W 22 M1 10 5/3 Ala Ga SC
McLemore, Carl Son m W 8 S Ala Ala Ala
McLemore, William F. Son M W 5 S Ala Ala Ala
McLemore, Carrie Son M W 2 S Ala Ala Ala

1920 Census
Texas, Mills County, JP and Voting Box 28
Enumerated 10 and 11 March 1920
SD 17 ED 168 Sheet 3B
Hamilton and Goldtwaite Road
Indexed on Ancestry.com as Mcle
J. E. Mclemore age 47 Miss Miss Miss Farmer
Dena Mclemore age 35 Ala Ala Ala
Ruby Mclemore age 18 Ala Miss Ala
Lois Mclemore age 16 Ala Miss Ala
Nellie Mclemore age 14 Ala Miss Ala
Jennie Mclemore age 12 Ala Miss Ala
Arthur Mclemore age 9 Ala Miss Ala
Christine Mclemore age 4 Ala Miss Ala
Harry Mclemore age 2 Ala Miss Ala

John married Medina "Dena" Lou Swindle on 28 Feb 1900 in Jasper, Walker County, Alabama. Medina was born on 31 Dec 1886 in Walker County, Alabama; died on 10 Dec 1960 in McAlester, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma; was buried in Oak Hill Memorial Park, McAlester, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Carl Lawson shows her as the daughter of Adam Crane Swindel and Nancy Elizabeth "Meta" Brannan. He noted that Dina S. Swindle is enumerated with A. C. and Nancy E. Swindle in the 1900 Beach Grove, Precinct 7, Walker County, Alabama Census. Her date of birth was given as September 1885, age as 14 years and born in Alabama.

John C. and Dena McLemon are enumerated in the 1910 Precinct 5, Carbon Hill, Walker County, Alabama Census. Her age is given as 25 years, married once for 10 years, 4 children all living and born in Alabama.

Notes:

Thought to be the same Frank McLemore that was the father of William N. McLemore (b. 1873 Alabama) who lived in Carbon Hill, Walker County, Alabama at the time of the 1900 census through 1940 census (though listing not found for 1920). The Alabama, Deaths and Burial Index, 1881-1974 shows that Willie N. McLemore, born ca 1873 and died 17 Dec 1947 in Carbon Hill, Fayette (sic), Alabama was the son of Frank and Martha McLemore. It also appears that William McLemore of Carbon Hill was a brother of John Edward McLemore of Carbon Hill, Alabama.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1870 Census
Mississippi, Chickasaw County, Post Office Buena Vista
Enumerated 2 July 1870
Page 39, stamped 145

322-310
McLemore, Frank 25 M W Farmer $500 $375 Alabama
McLemore, Mary A 26 F Keeping House $--- $100 Alabama
McLemore, Martha 2 F Miss
Hu???, Samuel 11 M W Domestic Servant Miss

Also living in Chickasaw County, Mississippi at the time o
f the 1870 census were Sterling P. McLemore (born ca 1826) and William McLemore (born bet 1821-1835), both thought to be sons of Abner McLemore of Lawrence County, Alabama. Could Frank be related to them?

Frank married Mary ???. Mary was born about 1844 in Alabama; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
On the "Weddle Family Tree" on Ancestry.com, he is shown as Frank M. McLemorem husband of Mary Anne Hussey, grandson of Calvin and Martha McLemore, and great grandson of Wilson McLemore. John's siblings are shown as Martha, William Newton McLemore (b. 1873), and Mary Elizabeth. Not proven, so more research should be done.