Tombstone engravings can be incorrect. Family Bible entries can be illegible, misread, miscopied and reflect mistaken memories. Experts may have gotten it wrong even though a few of our kin paid researchers to get it right. Thankfully, cousin Reverend Jack Warren persisted when he couldn't locate Isaiah Warren Sr's grave where it was purported to…
Colleen “Laverne” Hanks (1922 – 2014)
Aunt Laverne knew a girl's heart. At least she did mine. She brought me an exotic pretty doll from Puerto Rico when I was about ten. Mother wanted to put it away and save it for Christmas. I felt like having a crying fit but Aunt Laverne convinced her to let me have it without…
Fred Farrar Hanks (1920 – 1955)
Most of us bask in the glory of our family heroes. Truth be told, our family wished, instead, that Uncle Fred could had lived a long fruitful life rather than dying at age 35 and being posthumously recognized as a hero over four decades later. Regardless, if anyone in the Hanks family was to be…
Aubrey “Earl” Hanks (1915 – 1953)
Uncle Aubrey "Earl" Hanks was born to Mattie Mae Meador and Aubrey E Hanks in Lockney, Texas, on June 22, 1915. He was a fair haired, blue eyed, handsome boy and was the first grandchild of his paternal grandparents. Sadly, his charmed beginning ended unhappily. He died at the young age of 37 estranged from…
Homer “Bud” Warren (1902 – 2001)
Homer "Bud" Warren is my 1st cousin once removed. His nephew, Reverend Jack Warren, told me Bud was interested in family history and made a few trips to Fort Worth for research. A different kind of kinship exists between genealogists and I truly wish I had known him. Bud was a twin to his sister,…
Nettie “Alice” Warren (1895 – 1970)
Nettie "Alice" Warren, third born child of Russell and Laura (Parrish) Warren, was born in Wolfe City, Hunt County, Texas, on April 29, 1895. She was my first cousin once removed. Alice met her future husband in Hunt County, Texas. Wylie and Alvie (Durrett) Payne, mother and father of Reggie "Vernon" Payne, moved in 1914…
James “Oscar” Warren (1892 – 1968)
My first cousin once removed, James "Oscar" Warren, was born in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas, on January 22, 1982. He was the second-born child of Great Uncle Russell Ewing and Great Aunt Laura (Parrish) Warren. His older sister, Mellie Pearl, died as an infant a year before he was born. In 1900, at the age…
Russell Ewing Warren (1867 – 1942)
Why was the second generation of Warrens stemming from two brothers, Russell and Tom Warren, mostly unknown to one another? The two brothers had to be close. Together, they lived through losing their mother, two brothers, and a baby sister from Typhoid Fever. In 1914, they both moved their families from Hunt County to Floyd…
Clifford Isaiah Warren (1920 – 1997)
I don't need to tell you that addiction is heart breaking. Most families are touched by it and I suspect tragedies have happened in our Warren family because of it. Those things were not discussed with children so it took me a while to understand. As I grew older I began to see first hand…
Thelma “Ernestine” Warren (1918 – 1952)
Thanksgiving 1952 was tragic. Except for my brother, Bobby Dale, our family was at Mother's Aunt Amy's for Thanksgiving dinner. Bobby Dale hadn't yet left for Aunt Amy's and was alone at home when he received the call from Uncle TV that Aunt Tina died in a car accident. He ran as hard as he…
Generations 