Ira Ray McLemore

Notes:

As with his older brother, Ray was simply called Baby after he was born. Eventually, his siblings began calling him "Baby Ray" after their primers, and the name stuck.


San Augustine Tribune
Thursday, May 26, 1932, Vol. XXIV, Number 9

School Term Brought to Successful Close

May, 1932: The San Augustine Grammar School had 36 students graduate: Johnny Alford, Jesse Gene Fussell, Carmen Fussell, Billy Partin, Kenneth Woods, Vernon Mills, Cade Downs, Ray McLEMORE, Clifton Mathews, Charles Allredge, R.E. Epps, J.B. Miler, Carl Fussell, Charles Haley, Thomas Ramsey, Herman Bates, Phil Greer, Raymond McEachern, Allen Coon, Nina Sheffield, Catherine Childers, Frances Stripling, Bernice Stevenson, Odelle Moore, Vera Helen Westbrook, Louise Miller, Dorothy Adams, Ruby Taylor, Maxine Cox, Virginia Greer, Fay Renfroe, Elouise Sossaman, Helen Harris, Alice Joy Ellington, Nell Greer and Maxine Hays (San Augustine Tribune, Thursday, April 27, 2006 "Decade of the Great Depression 1932" by Harry P. Noble)

Ray served in the Phillipines during World War II. His gravesite has a military marker, embossed with a cross and with the inscription Pvt US Army World War II

He made his living as a rancher, and he also owned and operated laundrymats in and around Sabine and San Augustine Counties. He retired to Nacogdoches.

His obituary, dated February 21, 1991 from an unreferenced newspaper reads as follows:

SERVICES FOR RAY McLEMORE

Ira Ray McLemore, 72, of Nacogdoches died Thursday at Memorial Medical Center in Lufkin.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at San Augustine Church of Christ with burial at Liberty Hill Memorial Garden in San Augustine under the direction of Wyman Robert Funeral Home in San Augustine.

Services were conducted by Bro. Don Skipper and Bro. Mark White.

A native of Sabine County, he lived in Nacogdoches a number of years. He lived in San Augustine until a few years ago. He was retired owner of McLemore Laundries in San Augustine and Nacogdoches and was a U.S. Army veteren.

Survivors include his wife, Opal McLemore of Nacogdoches; a son Vernon McLemore of Nacogdoches, as sister, Evon Tisdale of Lufkin, brothers Percy McLemore and Earl McLemore, both of San Augustine, Tommy McLemore of Houston and Lynn McLemore of San Augustine; three grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Dr. Henry McLemore, Dutch Murray, James Roland Fuller, Gilbert Garrett, Arley Hensarling, and Tom Smith.

Honorary Pallbearers were Charles Bryan, Travis Price, Dr. Sam Gandy and Jessie Millard.

Ira married Bernice Opal Hensarling on 9 May 1937 in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas. Bernice (daughter of Joseph Abram Hensarling and Vivian Garrett) was born on 10 Jan 1918 in Denning Community, San Augustine County, Texas; died on 23 Jan 2012 in Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried on 27 Jan 2012 in Liberty Hill Memorial Garden, San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Served in the Armed Forces. Operated and expanded the laundry business started by his father. As is a McLemore tradition, he involved his children in the business with him.

Obituary

Vernon Earl McLemore, 79, went to be with the Lord on May 19, 2018, after a brief illness. This was exactly one month short of his 80th birthday. He was surrounded by family. Vernon was born on June 19, 1938, in San Augustine, Texas to the late Ira "Ray" McLemore and Opal Hensarling McLemore. Vernon was a staff sergeant on active duty in the US Air Force from 1961 to 1962. He was then in the US Air Force Reserves from 1961-1966. After his years of service, Vernon worked in the family Locker Plant alongside his father Ray. During this time they also opened the first McLemore Laundry in San Augustine. He treasured the community of San Augustine and wanted the people to have a nice laundry in town. McLemore Laundry has grown to four locations and continues to be a family business.

Mr. McLemore was married to his loving wife Brenda on June 19th, 1984. Vernon was a Christian man with deeply embedded Christian values and had a passion for studying the bible and sharing the word. In his younger years, Vernon enjoyed his only hunting love; that of quail hunting. He had a zeal for training and working his quail dogs. He was also an avid beekeeper. Vernon had a farm and cattle in the Chireno area where he spent much time up until his stroke in 2010. His years of working with cattle led him to enjoy attending the cattle auction each week even up until the past couple of weeks. He also had numerous friends in the community who he enjoyed playing dominoes with weekly. Most recently, Vernon also enjoyed spending time with his sweet little great-grandchildren Hailey, Caden, Kash, Hurley, Abby and Calvin.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Linda Ann McLemore Jackson; and a great-grandson, Kase. He is survived by his wife of 34 years Brenda McLemore of Nacogdoches, Texas; his children, Varron McLemore and wife Rae Janette of Nacogdoches, Texas; Sarah McLemore Hudgins and husband Todd of Athens, Alabama; Angela Strong and husband Curtis of Bryan, Texas; Michelle Strong and husband Barry of Flower Mound, Texas; Melissa Crabtree of Bryan, Texas; 12 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.

His funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 25, 2018, at Cason Monk-Metcalf Sunset Chapel officiated by Alton Shaw. Interment will follow at Liberty Hill Memorial Garden in San Augustine, Texas. There will be a time of visitation for family and friends from 6:00 '96 8:00 Thursday, May 24, 2018, at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Home. [Song Leader was his son, Vincent Eric McLemore. The hymns chosen were "The Old Rugged Cross", "Trust and Obey" and "It is Well With My Soul."].

Pallbearers will be Vincent Eric McLemore, Elliott Jackson, Nicholas Jackson, Christopher Strong, Garrett Hudgins, James Gaines, Bradley Lusk, and Ryan McAllister. Honorary Pallbearers will be Lenvelle Stanaland, Truman Hudgins, Larry Jackson, Jamie Santoyo Flores, Lud Davis, and Mike Fussell.

Please visit www.CasonMonk-Metcalf.com to leave your online condolences and memories.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, Nacogdoches.

FAMILY
Brenda McLemore, Wife
Varron McLemore and wife Rae Janette, Son
Sarah McLemore Hudgins and husband Todd, Daughter
Angela Strong and husband Curtis, Daughter
Michelle Strong and husband Barry, Daughter
Melissa Crabtree, Daughter
1 2, Grandchildren
0 6, Great-Grandchildren
Ira "Ray" McLemore, Father
Opal Hensarling McLemore, Mother
Linda Ann McLemore Jackson, Sister
Kase ., Great Grandson
PALLBEARERS
Vincent Eric McLemore , Active Pallbearer
Elliott Jackson , Active Pallbearer
Nicholas Jackson , Active Pallbearer
Christopher Strong , Active Pallbearer
Garrett Hudgins, Active Pallbearer
James Gaines , Active Pallbearer
Bradley Lusk , Active Pallbearer
Ryan McAllister , Active Pallbearer
Lenvelle Stanaland , Honorary Pallbearer
Truman Hudgins , Honorary Pallbearer
Larry Jackson , Honorary Pallbearer
Jamie Santoyo Flores, Honorary Pallbearer
Mike Fussel, Honorary Pallbearer
Lud Davis , Honorary Pallbearer

Vernon married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Vernon married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lynda was a gracious and beautiful woman, and a caring mother. She loved antiques, and showcased them in her home. She also was interested in family and genealogy. She died after a valiant struggle with cancer.

Linda married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Linda married William Androus "Willie" Page, Jr on 16 Mar 1979 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas. William was born on 30 Oct 1935 in Huntington, Angelina County, Texas; died on 20 Dec 1983 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in Magnolia Cemetery, Woodville, Tyler County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]