Myrtis Burch

Notes:

Daughter of Michael Mathis BURCH and Mary Eloise NASH. Third of five girls in a family of eight. Moved with her family to Duncan, OK, at the age of one.

Homer Strong recounts a story about driving by her home one day, when she was about 90 years old. She was on the roof, removing shingles. He was worried about her, but knew that once she was determined to do something, there was no stopping her. So instead of chiding her for attempting a dangerous task on her own, he suggested they have a pot of coffee and visit. Myrtis dearly loved her coffee. While she was occupied making the coffee, Homer called her son James, and explained the situation. James knew his mothers temperament as well. Within just a few hours, James, his son, and a crew were at her home, and they finished the job. Both James and Homer knew that once Homer left, nothing but that would have stopped her from finishing the job on her own.

Newspaper cutting from 1995 relating to her 100th birthday celebrations in files of Lynell Gentry and Kenneth C. Harvey. At the age of one hundred years, her living relatives (descendants) were; Four (4) children Eleven (11) grandchildren Twenty Seven (27) great-grandchildren Three (3) great-great grandchildren

At that time she was living at the Ada Baptist Village, Ada, Oklahoma. This is a 50-unit apartment complex for adults more than 55 years of age, owned and operated by Baptist Retirement Centres of Oklahoma.

Myrtis married Arthur Lemoyne "Al" Gentry on 15 Apr 1913 in Velma, Stephens County, Oklahoma. Arthur (son of James Edwin Gentry and Elzada Trawick) was born on 3 Aug 1892 in Alma, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory; died on 2 Jan 1961 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. James Edwin Gentry was born on 3 Jun 1915 in Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 11 Jan 2006 in Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas; was buried in Crestview Memorial Park Mausoleum, Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas.
2. Myrtis Marie Gentry was born on 8 Dec 1917 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 3 Apr 2008 in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas; was buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma.
3. Mary Helen Gentry was born on 3 Jul 1920 in Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 17 Apr 2014 in Ada, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma.
4. Dorothy"Dot" Jeanne Gentry was born on 1 Oct 1923 in Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 4 May 2014 in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana; was buried on 6 May 2014 in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana.