SPUR — Services for Woodrow W. McArthur, 82, of Spur were at 11 a.m. Friday, April 27, 2001 at the Highway 70 Church of Christ with Eric Swenson and Rev. Richard Harbison officiating. Burial was in Spur Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Campbell Funeral Home of Spur.
McArthur died Tuesday, April 24, 2001 at Crosbyton Hospital. He was born April 22, 1919, in Kent County, Texas. He married Mary Lee Smith on May 31, 1941 in Kent County, Texas. She preceded him death January 15, 1996. He was a longtime farmer and rancher in Garza, Kent and Dickens counties. He lived most of his life on his Garza County ranch and was a member of Highway 70 Church of Christ.
Survivors include two sons, Woodie McArthur Jr. of Spur and Charles McArthur of Spur; two daughters, Karen Day of Shallowater and Christi Blackwell of Lubbock; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials to Spur Memorial Cemetery, P.O. Box 111, Spur, TX 79370, Lubbock Children's Home, 4510 Idalou Road, Lubbock, TX 79403, or to a favorite charity.
The Texas Spur, Thursday, May 3, 2001.
Services for Mollie Smith, 95, Littlefield, formerly of Spur, were at 2 p.m. March 2, 1991 in the First Baptist Church, Spur. Rev. Billie S. Smith, Lubbock, officiated. Burial was in Spur Memorial Cemetery under direction of Campbell Funeral Home.
Mrs. Smith died about 5:50 p.m. in the Lamb Health Care Center in Littlefield on February 28, 1991. She was born December 30, 1895 in Indian Territory, Oklahoma. She had made her home in Dickens County since 1912, mving to Littlefield in September of 1985. She married Jeff Smith on December 15, 1912 in Dickens County. He died September 9, 1973.
She was a member of the Baptist Church and the Dry Lake Home Demonstration Club. She was preceded in death by a son, Bernard Smith in 1974 and two daughters, Lois Baker in 1949 and Cleo Delisle in 1990.
Survivors include a daughter, Iva Martin, Littlefield; seven grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; 18 great great grandchildren.
The Texas Spur, March 7, 1991.
In Memoriam:
Eunice Smith, daughter of Mrs. M.E. [Minnie Ellen Pruit] McBroom, was born in Oklahoma in 1898, and was married to S.L. Smith November 10, 1913. She professed faith in Christ August 6, 1917, and was baptized into the fellowship of the Dry Lake Baptist Church.
At the time of her death she was 19 years and 6 months old. She leaves to mourn her departure a young husband, two children, a girl and a boy, a widowed mother, brothers and sisters, and a host of friends.
The Texas Spur, August 24, 1917.
[Daughter of George McBroom, sister of Mary Elizabeth "Mollie" and Nell McBroom.]
Hicks McCormick, one of the early settlers and pioneers of Dickens County, was born in Kaufman County in 1895. Rumors of the advantages of West Texas led him to travel to Dickens County in the year 1910. He made the 350 mile trip by covered wagon, during the entire trip the only bridge he crossed was tho swinging bridge across the Brazos River. All other streams and rivers were foarded. After reaching the point "where the west really began" there were few fences and not many roads. He traveled fourteen days and nights to reach Spur, which was at that time one year old.
In 1911 he started to work at Spur's first lumber yard. It was operated by his brother, J. V. McCormick. The town, as he remembers it consisted of Bryant-Link Co., Love Dry Goods, railroad depot and the Spur Inn. There were a few board sidewalks and a hitching post in front of Bryant-Link.
With the railroad having its beginning in 1909, there was a great demand for building supplies and ranches were growing and bringing in many new people.
McCormick drove one of the first freight wagons which carried supplies such as fence posts, barbed wire, staves, cotton seed, etc., that was shipped into Spur then from Roaring Springs, Afton, Dickens and surrounding ranches and towns. He helped carry the first boiler that was shipped to the gin at Afton.
One freighting trip he remembered being stopped by the Pease River about where the Roaring Springs swimming pool is now located, by high water. On the other side he could see a man in a new model T Ford, waiting to cross. He unhitched the team, crossed the swollen river and hooked on the car, he asked the man where he was headed and the man promptly uncovered two brief cases of whiskey bound for the Pitchfork Ranch, due there for the Spring round up.
When asked the man's identity, he replied, "I have never squealed on a bootlegger yet, and after all, we got a good drink of corn likker."
He was married to Miss Jodie Spencer in June 1913. The wedding was performed in front of the minister's house in a buggy. They made their home in the Afton Community where he continued in the freighting business. The McCormicks had six children.
Source: "A History of Dickens County - Ranches and Rolling Plains, by Fred Arrington. Copyright 1971, "Hicks McCormick," pages 300-301.
In December, 1911, John W. McCormick shipped his household goods and moved his family from Kaufman County to the new town of Spur, Texas.
In 1912 they farmed in the Steel Hill community. The antelope, coyotes, prairie dogs. jackrabbits and rattlesnakes were quite a curiosity to the new comers and the gyp water was terrible.
The children attended the one teacher school taught by a young man about nineteen years of age whose name, as remembered, was Bridges, followed the next year by a Mr. Cherry.
All church services were held in the small school building. The Church of Christ service, called "Church Meeting" in those days, was in the afternoon. Visiting ministers Mike Young, Joe Day and others preached. The McCormick family became members of the Church of Christ.
After one year at Steel Hill they moved to the Afton community where they farmed until the father's death in 1917. John W. McCormick was trustee of the Afton school when the new school building was built just west of the Methodist Church.
Mrs. McCormick and the children in 1924 moved to Littlefield, Texas, where she passed away in 1948.
The children are Lydia, who taught in the rural schools of Dickens County for awhile, married Warren C. Squires, and a few years after his return from service in World War I moved to Littlefield, Texas, where they were in General Mercantile business until his death in 1942. She now resides in Lubbock.
William (Bill) who also taught school and married Leta Parsons. Together with Jack they have owned and operated an Auto Parts and Hardware business in Littlefield through the years.
Elizabeth married Bud Cox of Afton and after his death became the wife of Joy Hoover. Their home is in Littlefield.
Jack's wife was Mary Cook. He was a Church of Christ minister and also a partner with Bill in the Hardware and Auto Parts store.
Kathryne lives in the family home in Littlefield, and has been employed by Paul as Bookkeeper for a number of years.
Leonard married Tennie Mullins from Eden, Texas. They have a carpet, drapery and upholstery shop in Muleshoe, Texas, where they have lived for some time.
Paul was born at Afton and married Willie Hukel in Littlefield. He owns and operates a wholesale and retail oil and gas business in Littlefield.
June, the youngest, also born at Afton, lives with her husband, H.C. Chandler and children in Amarillo.
Four brothers of John W, McCormick, all formerly of Kaufman County, also moved to Dickens County. They are now deceased, but their companions are still living.
J. V. (Jim) whose wife, Mary, lives at Banquete, Texas, moved to Spur in 1909 as manager of Panhandle Lumber Company. He later owned a gin at Afton for a number of years.
R.A. (Bob) whose wife, Delia lives in Houston.
Hicks, whose wife, Jodie, lives at Spur.
Mack, whose wife lives at Slaton.
Source: "A History of Dickens County - Ranches and Rolling Plains," by Fred Arrington. Copyright 1971, "John W. McCormick" pages 300-301.
Funeral services for Robbie Jo Hoover, 62, were held Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Church of Christ, Highway 70 in Spur. George Calvert, Dallas and Jack McCormick, Littlefield, officiated.
Mrs. Hoover died February 28 in Methodist Hospital, Lubbock. She served as bookkeeper and City Secretary for the City of Spur for 15 years. She was a member of the Church of Christ.
Born in Afton in 1916, Mrs. Hoover had been a resident of Dickens County all of her life. She married A.V. (Buddy) Hoover in Dickens in 1932.
She is survived by her husband, two sons, Billy Hoover, Spur and Wayne Hoover, Mahopac, NY; two daughters, Patsy Karr, Albuquerque, NM and Judy Morgan, Copperas Cove; two sisters, Nina Kidd, Spur and Fern Hawley, Dickens; two brothers, Walter McCormick, Dickens and Joe McCormick, Keller; eleven grandchildren.
Pallbearers included W.P. Foster, Bill Bell, Ransom Gallaway, Al O'Brien, Dewey Dement, Carl Grantham, JuDon Rickels and Jim Wyatt.
Burial was in Spur Cemetery.
Source: The Texas Spur, March 8, 1979.
Graveside services for Donald Ray McKay, 70, of Odessa will be at 2 p.m. today in Spur Memorial Cemetery with Richard Stewart officiating.
Burial will be under direction of Campbell Funeral Home.
McKay died Thursday, May 15, 1997, at his residence.
He was born March 1, 1927, in Spur. He married Geraldene Duncan on April 29, 1979, in Odessa. She died May 13, 1997. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He moved to Odessa in 1962. He was a member of the Church of Christ.
He was an oil well pumper.
Survivors include two sons, Gary Don of Austin and Clinton Ray of Houston; two stepsons, Barry Badger of Waco and Gary Gerhardt of Emporia, Kan.; two stepdaughters, Beverly Phelps of Austin and Mary Foos of Topeka, Kan.; and five brothers, Bill of Channing, Joe and Jack, both of Spur, Merle of Lewisville and Berle of Commerce.
Source: The Texas Spur, May 22, 1997.
The spirit of W.A. McKay took flight to its eternal home from his residence, Tuesday night, September 26, 1911. The funeral was conducted the following afternoon at 2 o'clock at Tap [Red Mud] Cemetery and all that was mortal of the long afflicted father, was tenderly given back to the clasp and kiss of earth.
The sorrow on the faces of the crowd that stood around his grave told more plainly than words can, how his friends felt the loss of one of their characters.
He was the son of J. F. [John Fitzgerald] McKay and was born in Robertson county, Texas Oct. 21, 1879, but had lived in Dickens county several years before his death. He was married to Miss Alice Smith December 31, 1899.
He leaves her and three children, Walter, Paul and Burton, four brothers and two sisters to mourn his loss.
He was ever cheerful and considered life real and earnest. He loved his friends and was true to them. He held on the hope of life and the restoration of health until the last, but when he realized that death was inevitable he held on to the brittle thread as it were and said "that death had no sting" and " that he was willing and ready to go." The sunshine of love could not warm his life, nor the affections of friends and loved ones beguile him from drooping. His breath went out like exhalation of a sweet fragrant mission of the woodland, and in his stead was left a holy and beautiful memory, a memory that will last and sanctify as long as acquaintances are in existence.
May God's purest angel guard his slumbers and may his friends remember that he is with Jesus and ever beckoning for them to follow on.
The Texas Spur, October 27, 1911.
Provided by Linda Fox Hughes, Dickens County RootsWeb Webmaster, 25 Nov 2002.
Walter McKay
Walter Vernon "Son" McKay, born August 23, 1900, died Tuesday morning at 1:45 in Crosbyton Hospital.
"Son" was born in the Red Mud community and as a small boy watched the town of Spur being built. He lived in Dickens County and as a young cowboy worked for the 6666, Swenson and Matador and Pitchfork Ranches. He was a model cowboy in his time.
In December 1923 he married Era Vay Hoover and had 6 sons. In 1939 they moved to far West Texas where he ranched. In 1945 "Son" became deputy sheriff of Cochran County. He retired in the mid 60's.
In December 1971 he suffered a stroke and was moved back to Spur where he has resided in the Spur Care Center up until the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife, Era Vay of Spur; sons, Bill, Channing; Don, Odessa; Joe, San Pablo, CA; Jack, Spur; Berle, Greenville; and Merle, Lewisville; 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
Services were held at 2 p.m. May 9 in the Church of Christ.
Source: The Texas Spur, May 10, 1979, via the Dickens, Texas GenWeb.
Walter Vernon "Son" McKay was born at Red Mud August 23, 1900, to W. A. and Alice McKay, pioneers to Red Mud. His father was a farmer-rancher. Son grew up fast. He learned to ride horses and work cattle at a very young age. When the town of Spur was being built, he would ride his horse to Spur to see how the builders were progressing.
When Son was eleven years old, his father died and Son went to work that year on a ranch at Clairemont. In 1914 Son left Clairemont, and drifted into New Mexico and Arizona. In 1919 he came back to Texas, got back in time for the Dickens County Fair, which was held at Spur every year. He went to work on the Pitchfork Ranch, later worked on the Swenson and 6666 Ranches. He rode wild broncos to entertain guests at the 6666's. He was a model cowboy, who was never seen in anything but western clothes, which he wore with a great deal of pride. Young cowboys patterned his way of dressing and envied his rough, tough life style.
Son was an athletic young man, besides wild bronc riding, he loved to wrestle, played horse polo with a mallet made from mesquite limbs, and he also loved music and played a guitar, fiddle, French harp and loved to dance.
Son met and married Era Vay Hoover in Dickens County. Era was born October 3, 1904 in Dublin, Texas, the daughter of A. M. and Ada Belle Hoover.
Era started to school at Red Mud and finished high school at Spur. She attended Arlington State College where she received a teaching certificate in 1922, but chose to be a housewife and raise six boys. Their first boy was born September 17, 1925. Billy Vernon, Donald Ray, Joe Dell and Jack Alton were born about two years apart. These four oldest boys were born at the W. A. Smith place at Red Mud, south of Spur.
Son and Era moved to Belen, New Mexico in 1938. In 1941 they moved to the Sheratt Ranch, 25 miles from Sudan, Texas and on January 26, 1942, they had twin boys, Berle B. and Merle M. In 1944, they moved to Whiteface, Texas in Cochran County where they leased several sections of land and bought cattle.
In 1945 son became Deputy Sheriff of Cochran County where he served until his retirement in 1968. In 1971 Son suffered a stroke and he and Era moved back to Spur and he was in the Spur Care Center until his death on May 8, 1979.
Era bought her home at 415 West Harris and lived there until 1981 when she entered the Spur Care Center. Era passed from this life January 6, 1988.
Written by: Jack McKay, son. Submitted by Ron Brantner to the Dickens County, Texas GenWeb.
Funeral Home Service Program
Joe Dell McKay
Joe was borm November 3,1929 in Spur to Walter and Era Vay Hoover McKay. He graduated from Whiteface High School in 1948. He was a US Army veteran. He served in Korea from 1950 to 1952, where he received a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Following his discharge, he lived in San Pablo, CA where he worked for C-H Sugar Co. until his retirement in 1988. Upon his retirement, Joe moved back to Spur where he visited the local Dairy Queen every day for 17 years. He made many friends and enjoyed making conversation with travellers.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Donald Ray McKay.
Joe is survived by his wife. Grace McKay of Pleasant Hill, CA; one daughter, Laura Sue Brooks of Pleasant Hill, CA; one son, Leslie Joe McKay of Kelseyville, CA; four brothers, Billy Vemon McKay of Dumas, Jack McKay of Spur, Berle B. McKay of Dumas and Merle M. McKay of Gainesville. He is also survived by one grandson, Christopher Brooks of Pleasant Hill, CA.
Directed by Campbell Funeral Home [Spur, Dickens, Texas].
Obituary
Joe McKay
Graveside services for Joe McKay, 75, of Spur, were held Saturday, October 8, 2005 at Spur Memorial Cemetery with Richard Stewart officiating. Burial was under the direction of Campbell Funeral Home. He died Tuesday. October 4, 2005.
Joe was born November 3, 1929 in Spur to Walter and Era Vay Hoover McKay. He graduated from Whiteface High School in 1948. He was a US Army veteran. He served in Korea from 1950 to 1952, where he received a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Following his discharge, he lived in San Pablo, CA where he worked for C-H Sugar Co. until his retirement in 1988. Upon his retirement, Joe moved back to Spur where he visited the local Dairy Queen every day for 17 years. He made many friends and enjoyed making conversation with travelers.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Donald Ray McKay. Joe is survived by his wife, Grace McKay of Pleasant Hill, CA, one daughter, Laura Sue Brooks of Pleasant Hill, CA, one son, Leslie Joe McKay of Kelseyville, CA, four brothers, Billy Vernon McKay of Dumas, Jack McKay of Spur, Berle B. McKay of Dumas and Merle M. McKay ofGainesville. He is also survived by one grandson, Christopher Brooks of Pleasant Hill, CA.
The family suggests memorials to American Cancer Society, 3411 73rd Street, Lubbock, TX 7942 or a charity of your choice.
Source: The Texas Spur, October 13, 2005, page 7. Transcribed by Ron Brantner.
Funeral Services Held Tuesday For Mrs. L. Rankin, Came to Spur As Bride in 1913
Mrs. Clyde Mae Rankin, age 52,who had been a resident of Spur since 1913, was buried Tuesday in the Spur Cemetery, following funeral services for her at the Baptist Church with the Rev. Gilbert and Rev. Arnold officiating. Mrs. Rankin was the wife of L. L. Rankin.
Services were at 3:30 p.m. arranged by the Chandler Funeral Home.
Clyde Mae was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S.A. McCraken and was born in Hill County, Texas on April 19, 1893. She was married to L.L. Rankin at Archer City, Texas on October 12, 1913 and moved to Spur as a bride.
Early in life, Mrs. Rankin was united with the Methodist Episcopal church, but in 1944 she became a member of the First Baptist Church of Spur.
She is survived by her husband and children: Leland, Vivian, Wayne and Royce [Boyce] Everett of Spur; Hendrix of Knox City; Jack, overseas; and Hoard [Howard] of Post, Texas; sisters, Mrs. Fannie Wylie, Palestine; Mrs. J.D. Whitaker, Henrietta; brothers, Jack and Jim McCraken of Gainesville; half-brothers, Toll Wilson of Archer City and Claude Wilson of Hub City, Texas; mother, Mrs. S.A. McCraken of Gainesville.
Source: The Texas Spur, December 6, 1945. From the records of Lillian Grace Nay.
Note: No death day given here or on the Dickens County, Texas cemetery alpha listing.
Services for Berle McKay, 66, of Gainesville are set for 2 p.m. Thursday at Clement-Keel Funeral Home Chapel with David Gibson of Coulvert Street Church of Christ in Commerce officiating. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery under the direction of the Clement-Keel Funeral Home of Gainesville.
Mr. McKay died Monday, March 24, 2008, at his residence.
He was born Jan. 26, 1942, in Littlefield to Walter and Era (Hoover) McKay. On March 7, 1979, he married Ayne Quisenberry in Greenville. He was a member of the First Street Church of Christ in Dumas. He was a retired police officer with Texas A&M in Commerce.
Survivors include his wife, Ayne McKay of Gainesville; daughters and sons-in-law, Angela and Steve San Miguel of Crawfordville, Fla., and Starla and Bret San Miguel of Dumas; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Tina Brown of Garland; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill and Leola McKay of Dumas, Jack and Mary Lou McKay of Spur, and Merle and Mary Nell McKay of Gainesville.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Don McKay and Joe McKay.
Pallbearers are family members.
Visitation will be at the Clement-Keel Funeral Home from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Source: Gainesville Daily Register, March 25, 2008 (online).
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