Viola Mae Smith

Notes:

Kathi Freistat emailed that "I have a Viola Smith born 1900 to Giles Edward and Rosa Lee Rebecca Morris. I do not have the place of birth but there could be a possibility that she was born in Victoria. Some of my Smiths moved to that area after 1850 from Sabine County, Texas."

In the obituary of her son, Gene Philip Russell, she is referred to as Viola Jane WHITE. Did she remarry after the death of Rand in 1960? She was listed as Viola Mae Russell Smith on the birth index listing for Gene.

Viola married Randell "Rand" Levie Russell about 1917. Randell (son of A. B. Russell and Anna Dixie McGown) was born on 10 Jan 1897 in Texas; died on 22 Oct 1960 in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas; was buried in Halbert Cemetery (Joel Halbert Cemetery / Fox Hill Cemetery), Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her parents names are not shown on her birth index listing. She married a McGOWN.

Family/Spouse: Jack S. McGown. Jack (son of Richard Green McGown and Mary Lousia Vickers) was born on 21 Dec 1918 in Texas; died on 16 Jan 1998; was buried in Halbert Cemetery (Joel Halbert Cemetery / Fox Hill Cemetery), Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Sabine County Reporter
September 12, 2012, Page 9

Gene Philip Russell, 84, passed away on September 4, 2012 in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was born January 30, 1928 in Milam, Texas to Viola and Rand Russell. He was a long-time resident of Hemphill until his retirement.

Gene could accomplish anything he set his mind to do. When he was young, he served in the Merchant Marines. While raising his daughter Phyllis and son Randy, he worked as a welder in the oil industry. Learning from his experience there, he formed Metals Lab Welding School in New Orleans which he owned and operated for many years. From there he formed Toledo Inspection Company, a very successful and respected company in the oil industry. Upon his retirement, he moved to Pass Christian, Mississippi and then relocated to Broussard, Louisiana.

He is survived by his daughter Phyllis Dreis and her husband William, his son Randell "Randy" Russell and his wife Tina, his three granddaughters, Cherie Burlet and husband Robert, Melissa Bellaci and her husband Ryan, and Jennifer Russell, one grandson Edward Lestrade III and his wife Sheila, and ten great grandchildren, Robert, Emma, Abigail, William, Timmy, Megan, Taylor, Anna, Alaina, and Maya.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jean Russell, his parents Viola Jane White and Randell Russell, and his two sisters, Anna Dixie Russell and Nona Faye McGown.
Visitation will begin at 9:00 on September 11, 2012, in the Starr Funeral Home, 510 Starr St., Hemphill, Texas, followed by a memorial service beginning at 2:00 PM in the Starr Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Joel Halbert Cemetery, Milam, Texas.

Gene was a life-long member of Bethany Baptist Church in Milam, Texas. Brother Robert Shaddock pastor of Bethany Baptist Church will be officiating the services. Pallbearers include William Dreis, Jr., Randell Russell, Edward Lestrade III, Robert Burlet III, Robert Burlet IV, and William Burlet.

From
www.sabinecountyreporterlive.com
Posted Tuesday, Sep 11, 2012

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]