This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Willis, Hanks, Graham, Lawson, Stark, Stagg, Strother, Soileau, Rougeou, Deroussel, Slaughter, Story and Smith. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/WEB.2ACI/493 Message Board Post: Re: William Jackson Graham (1843-1925) and his wife Laura Dyer Graham (1849-1930). Both are buried at Butter Cemetery near Forest Hill, Louisiana. William Jackson Graham was the son of Robert Graham & Ruth Smith and a brother to my great-grandmother Julia Ann Graham Willis. Robert Graham, Ruth Smith Graham and Julia Ann Graham are all three buried in the Graham Cemetery in Forest Hill. My Uncle Howard Willis told me that William Graham's grave was the first he ever helped dig. He was only 10-years-old at the time. William Graham was his great-uncle. Julia Ann Graham Willis and three of her sisters married four Willis' brothers. Robert Graham's four daughters that married four of Rev. Daniel Hubbard Willis, Sr.'s sons were: Julia Ann Graham (1845-1936) married Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. (1839-1900), Demerius Graham (1849-1886) married Calvin Willis (1855-1911), Annie Graham (1855-1936) married Robert Willis (1858-1939) and Mary Ann "Maggie" Graham (1853-1940) married Dempsey Willis (1854-1919). Additional daughters of Robert and Ruth Graham were: Elizabeth "Lizzie" Graham who married Joel Merchant, Katherine Graham (b. circa 1842) who married D. Sermons, Emily Graham (1846-1933) who married William Butter (1850-1923), and Lucy "Ruth" Graham (b. 1851) who married James Moore (1849-1913). Robert and Ruth Graham also had two sons: William Graham (1843-1925) who married Laura Dyer (1849-1930) and Lorenzo Dow Graham (1848-1933) who married Victoria Pickren. I new Lorenzo Dow Graham before he died. He lived in Florida. He was named after the great Methodist preacher. Robert and Ruth Graham had a total of 10 children. Five of these marriages celebrated Golden wedding anniversaries. Robert Graham was born in Mississippi on August 20, 1818. He moved to Texas in about 1836. He then moved to Natchitoches, Louisiana, about 1841. Robert Graham married Ruth Smith (b. Dec. 5, 1813; d. Jun. 2, 1869) about 1843. Soon after marring Ruth Smith (a trapper's daughter) from Natchitoches, they moved to Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, Louisiana. He was a successful farmer and cattleman there. Ruth Smith Graham told her husband Robert Graham that she wished to be buried at the top of a hill on their land, near Forest Hill. She died of Typhoid fever and was buried atop that hill which is known today as the Graham Cemetery. Robert is buried next to her. William Jackson Graham's father, Robert Graham had two brothers: William Graham (who moved to Bell County, Texas) and Samuel Graham (who moved to Wisconsin). Robert Graham's father was yet another William Graham. This William Graham's father was Samuel Graham and Samuel's father was supposedly, yet another William Graham from Charlotte, North Carolina (circa 1765). Randy Willis http://www.randywillis.org randywillis@ev1.net

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Willis, Hanks, Graham, Lawson, Stark, Stagg, Strother, Soileau, Rougeou, Deroussel, Slaughter, Story and Smith Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/WEB.2ACI/288.1.1 Message Board Post: Re: William Jackson Graham (1843-1925) and his wife Laura Dyer Graham (1849-1930). Both are buried at Butter Cemetery near Forest Hill, Louisiana. William Jackson Graham was the son of Robert Graham & Ruth Smith and a brother to my great-grandmother Julia Ann Graham Willis. Robert Graham, Ruth Smith Graham and Julia Ann Graham are all three buried in the Graham Cemetery in Forest Hill. My Uncle Howard Willis told me that William Graham's grave was the first he ever helped dig. He was only 10-years-old at the time. William Graham was his great-uncle. Julia Ann Graham Willis and three of her sisters married four Willis' brothers. Robert Graham's four daughters that married four of Rev. Daniel Hubbard Willis, Sr.'s sons were: Julia Ann Graham (1845-1936) married Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. (1839-1900), Demerius Graham (1849-1886) married Calvin Willis (1855-1911), Annie Graham (1855-1936) married Robert Willis (1858-1939) and Mary Ann "Maggie" Graham (1853-1940) married Dempsey Willis (1854-1919). Additional daughters of Robert and Ruth Graham were: Elizabeth "Lizzie" Graham who married Joel Merchant, Katherine Graham (b. circa 1842) who married D. Sermons, Emily Graham (1846-1933) who married William Butter (1850-1923), and Lucy "Ruth" Graham (b. 1851) who married James Moore (1849-1913). Robert and Ruth Graham also had two sons: William Graham (1843-1925) who married Laura Dyer (1849-1930) and Lorenzo Dow Graham (1848-1933) who married Victoria Pickren. I new Lorenzo Dow Graham before he died. He lived in Florida. He was named after the great Methodist preacher. Robert and Ruth Graham had a total of 10 children. Five of these marriages celebrated Golden wedding anniversaries. Robert Graham was born in Mississippi on August 20, 1818. He moved to Texas in about 1836. He then moved to Natchitoches, Louisiana, about 1841. Robert Graham married Ruth Smith (b. Dec. 5, 1813; d. Jun. 2, 1869) about 1843. Soon after marring Ruth Smith (a trapper's daughter) from Natchitoches, they moved to Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, Louisiana. He was a successful farmer and cattleman there. Ruth Smith Graham told her husband Robert Graham that she wished to be buried at the top of a hill on their land, near Forest Hill. She died of Typhoid fever and was buried atop that hill which is known today as the Graham Cemetery. Robert is buried next to her. William Jackson Graham's father, Robert Graham had two brothers: William Graham (who moved to Bell County, Texas) and Samuel Graham (who moved to Wisconsin). Robert Graham's father was yet another William Graham. This William Graham's father was Samuel Graham and Samuel's father was supposedly, yet another William Graham from Charlotte, North Carolina (circa 1765). I'd like to see the picture of Ellis Graham. I have two pictures of William Jackson Graham and Laura Dyer Graham. Was Pearl Moore buried in the old The Brewer (Moore) Cemetery? Was she related to James Moore? Do you or Juanita have any old photos of the Grahams? Randy Willis http://www.randywillis.org randywillis@ev1.net

Recent uploads to the Louisiana USGenWeb Archives edited to include only the Rapides Parish data. -----Original Message----- From: Jo Branch [mailto:bjcb1967@earthlink.net] Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 10:43 PM To: LAGENWEB-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [LAGENWEB] 3 Jul 04 Uploads http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/rapides/census/slave01.txt http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/rapides/census/slave02.txt http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/rapides/census/slave03.txt http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/rapides/military/9thinf.txt http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/rapides/military/cob-names.txt http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/rapides/miscella/listphotos.txt --- Jo (Castleberry) Branch, LA State Asst. File Manager jojr@earthlink.net or bjcb1967@earthlink.net Home Page: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jojr/home.htm

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/WEB.2ACI/288.1 Message Board Post: Linda - If this is the same Ellis Graham, he must've had two families. I have Ellis Graham married to Pearl Moore. He was a barber, his mother was Laura Dyer and his father was William Jackson Graham. Ellis and Pearl had 4 children: Nicholas, born March 29, 1919 - died January 27, 1970; Juanita, born about 1923? I don't know the actual birthdate. She is still living in Winnfield. George W., born, February 15, 1925 - died November 18, 1968. Ellis Henry (my father) born, July 17, 1927 - died December 24, 1973. I don't have much info on grandad Ellis myself. I wish I did. I do have pictures of him if you'd like copies. Just email my home... Mamamaples@aol.com. Maybe between the two of us we can get some answers or at least fill in some gaps.

-----Original Message----- From: Melissa Mills [mailto:aintmissy@hotmail.com] Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 6:57 PM To: Morgan Edward Johnson Subject: Query: Rapides Parish DATE: Mon Jul 5 16:56:35 2004 NAME: Melissa Mills EMAIL: aintmissy@hotmail.com URL: QRYTEXT: I'm looking for reletives of these people Jesse (grandfather/deceased), Jerry (father/deceased), Luvenia (grandmother/deceased) Conswella. I'm unsure of the relationship between Conswella and my father but I know they were related, I have no info on any of these people except my father. And that Jesse was buried in Forrest Lawn.PLEASE HELP ME KNOW WHO I AM!!!!!!!!!!

-----Original Message----- From: John Wilson [mailto:wildthing50@webtv.net] Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 7:32 PM To: Morgan Edward Johnson Subject: Query: Rapides Parish DATE: Mon Jun 28 17:32:15 2004 NAME: John Wilson EMAIL: wildthing50@webtv.net URL: QRYTEXT: I'm looking for any information on the MCCRUMEN surname in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. Kenneth McCrummen b.abt.1793-6 in Cumberland Co.>NC. Kenneth McCrummen moved to Rapides Parish sometime around the early 1800's. All we know is that he was working The Red River Route. Kenneth had sent two Letters home in 1829 and 1830 to a brother Roderick McCrummen>NC. If anyone knows, are has any info on any early McCrummen's in the State of Louisiana, please e-mail. wildthing50@webtv.net Thank you very much, John

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: TAYLOR - ROLLINS Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/WEB.2ACI/492 Message Board Post: I am trying to find the relationship between Euseliea E. TAYLOR, the wife of Solomon Knapp and Annie TAYLOR. Annie and her son Guss were living in their household in the 1880 Calcasieu Rapides Census. (Knapp was misspelled NAP). Solomon was listed as a school teacher. He was still listed as a teacher in the Calcasieu Ward in 1884. Annie TAYLOR is my g grandmother. Any help with the TAYLOR - ROLLINS descendants will be appreciated. Gladys

There was a WELCH man who operated a small Farmer's Market between Cheneyville and Bunkie before WWII. He also sold garden produce to grocery stores in Bunkie. He was born about 1915 and married Annie Mae Gremillion, born c. 1915, from Bunkie, prior to or during WWII. Her parents ran a grocery store on Main Street, in Bunkie. Her father also had a drayage business. Her brother was called "Cotton" Gremillion, born c. 1912. Welch was a member of First Baptist Church, Bunkie, about 1940. Berthol Pearce, in Bunkie, may give further information on this Welch. Stanton H. Nash .

There was a WELCH man who operated a small Farmer's Market between Cheneyville and Bunkie before WWII. He also sold garden produce to grocery stores in Bunkie. He was born about 1915 and married Annie Mae Gremillion, born. c. 1915, from Bunkie, prior to or during WWII. Her parents ran a grocery store in Bunkie on Main Street and her father also had a drayage business. Her brother was called "Cotton" Gremillion, born c. 1910. Welch was a member of First Baptist Church, Bunkie c. 1940. Berthol Pearce, in Bunkie, may have further information on this Welch. Stanton H. Nash

Sorry, none of the names you mentioned are not in my database. Drouscella Halsey > > > > Message Board Post: > any info on these two families would be most appreciated. The Glass' are > said to come from Boyce, while the Turnages come from Elmer. Thank you > > > > I am researching the Welch family from around Cheneyville, La. One of the > daughters of A.C. Welch and Eliza Purser Welch married a Bishop. They had a > daughter named Gertrude Bishop, who married a Mr. Glass and they in turn had > a daughter named Irma. I have an old thank-you note from the family of > Gertrude Glass for flowers my Dad sent to her funeral. I am also seeking > more information about any members of the Glass family who connect. I don't > know Gertrude's husband's name, but do know that Gertrude and daughter were > living in Texas when she passed away. Please let me know if this connects > in any way to the Glass family that you are researching and I will try to > dig up more information. > > Sorry it isn't more. > > Teri Welch > schmooey@bellsouth.net > > > ==== LARAPIDE Mailing List ==== > Have you backed up your data lately? > > -- CoreComm Webmail. http://home.core.com

Message Board Post: any info on these two families would be most appreciated. The Glass' are said to come from Boyce, while the Turnages come from Elmer. Thank you I am researching the Welch family from around Cheneyville, La. One of the daughters of A.C. Welch and Eliza Purser Welch married a Bishop. They had a daughter named Gertrude Bishop, who married a Mr. Glass and they in turn had a daughter named Irma. I have an old thank-you note from the family of Gertrude Glass for flowers my Dad sent to her funeral. I am also seeking more information about any members of the Glass family who connect. I don't know Gertrude's husband's name, but do know that Gertrude and daughter were living in Texas when she passed away. Please let me know if this connects in any way to the Glass family that you are researching and I will try to dig up more information. Sorry it isn't more. Teri Welch schmooey@bellsouth.net

-----Original Message----- From: Christy Barrow [mailto:csunshin99@aol.com] Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 1:57 AM To: Morgan Edward Johnson Subject: Query: Rapides Parish DATE: Sat Jun 19 23:56:32 2004 NAME: Christy Barrow EMAIL: csunshin99@aol.com URL: QRYTEXT: I'm looking for any info on VICTOR VIDONNE, EVA SCIONEAUX HORACE BARROW. from 1915-to current

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/WEB.2ACI/453.1 Message Board Post: The folks in the research department of the Rapides Parish Library, downtown location have been very kind to look up several obits for me. The cost has been 15 cents and copy plus postage. You can try that and if you don't have any luck contact me at pcrcl@aol.com and the next time I am there I will look it up for you.

Thanks for your story. It really was great to read. I would love to hear more of your recollections about growing up. ----- Original Message ----- From: <randywillis@ev1.net> To: <LARAPIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2004 2:14 PM Subject: [LARAPIDE] Julian Everette Willis > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Surnames: Willis, Hanks, Graham, Lawson, Stark, Stagg, Strother, Soileau, Rougeou, Deroussel, Slaughter, Story and Smith > Classification: Query > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/WEB.2ACI/490 > > Message Board Post: > > My Dad > Julian Everette Willis > Born: October 5, 1919 Died: June 13, 1995 > > by Randy Willis > http://www.randywillis.org > randywillis@ev1.net > > > Julian Everette Willis was my father. He was the son of Randall Lee Willis (whom I was named after) and Lillie Gertrude Hanks Willis. He married my mother, Ruth Lawson Willis (b. Apr. 25, 1913; d. Oct. 13, 1994) on June 26, 1948, in Long Leaf, Louisiana. Both are buried at Butter Cemetery near Forest Hill, Louisiana. Daddy had two brothers: Howard and Herman Willis. My mother, Ruth Lawson Willis, was the daughter of Robert S. Lawson (b. Mar. 25, 1868; d. 1941) and Nina Ruth Hanks Lawson (b. Oct. 27, 1891; d. July 16, 1962). > > Daddy fought in W.W.II., in the Army Aircore, and was on Iwo Jima at he end of the war. He joined the Army Aircore after hearing of his first cousin and friend, Robert K. "Bobby" Willis Jr.'s death on the USS Arizona December 7, 1941. Daddy said he was the nicest person he ever knew. > > Robert K. "Bobby" Willis Jr. was the first casualty from Rapides Parish, Louisiana in World War II. The American Legion Post in Pineville, Louisiana (his last hometown) was named the Robert K. "Bobby" Willis Jr. Post in honor of his service and duty to his country. (This American Legion Post no longer exists). He is entombed in the USS Arizona at the bottom of Pearl Harbor. He was the first casualty from Rapides Parish, Louisiana in World War II. > > After the war daddy married my mother, drove a bus for Continental Trailways in Alexandria, Louisiana and played steel guitar. > > One day, my half-sister Johnnie Ruth (who is 16-years-older than me) brought her young beau to our home, located near Long Leaf, Louisiana to meet our parents. His name was Jimmy Day. He saw my dad practicing the steel and asked him to teach him how to play. Daddy taught Jimmy how to tune and play the steel guitar, and he and another local steel player, by the name of Harold Whatley, taught Jimmy his first licks on the steel. My dad and Jimmy both played in the local Happy McNichol's band. The first venue that they both played was The Wigwam. Jimmy later played for Web Pierce, Hank Williams, Sr., Elvis, Pasty Cline, Ray Price, Willie Nelson and others. After moving to Alabama, Jimmy talked his new best friend, Floyd Cramer, into learning the piano (Jimmy told him he needed to choose an instrument other than the steel). > > Daddy and mother moved to Clute, Texas, from Long Leaf, in 1954, so daddy could work at Dow Chemical. He also raised horses, mules, and cows. We then moved to Angleton, Texas in 1960. We lived in the middle of several rice fields between Angleton and Danbury on the Old Danbury Road. > > Daddy had a very strong work ethic. He always rose before sunrise and worked late. He wasn't much on going to church, but had strong values and beliefs. He believed in God but he wasn't much for people that used that belief as some type of banner for political or personal gain. He was a staunch Democrat and extremely opinionated in politics. (As a conservative, I avoided political discussions with him at all cost). He was a champion of equals rights for both minorities and women way before those beliefs were in vogue. > > He was also, Trail Boss for many years of the Brazoria County Trail Ride and was a board member of the Brazoria County Fair and Rodeo Association. He was a major union leader at Dow Chemical and later Business Agent for the Operating Engineers. He was a leader and many people said he reminded them of a real life John Wayne. He was very patriotic and loved to hunt and fish. He loved football and would call me after the Dallas Cowboys games too discuss the game. He taught manners to his kids and respect for their elders and despised off-color language, especially around women. He had a lot of friends and was respected by most that knew him. He was the real deal; a man's man. > > > > ==== LARAPIDE Mailing List ==== > Have you backed up your data lately? > >

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Keary, Sullivan, Cheney Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/WEB.2ACI/182.2.3.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Hmmmm . . . I think I did read information about the sharpshooters. I'll dig through my papers. If I come upon more information, I'll definitely pass it on to you.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/WEB.2ACI/182.2.3.1.1 Message Board Post: Thank you for the prompt reply. I have done some research on a little known aspect of his Civil War career and have been hoping to find new information. While at home on detached service from his regiment in Virginia, Keary tried to raise a battalion of sharpshooters to take back with him. This effort only partially succeeded. He recruited some men but was unable to get the battalion organized and to Virginia.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Keary, Sullivan, Cheney Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/WEB.2ACI/182.2.3.1 Message Board Post: Captain Patrick Keary was later promoted to a Major and was the brother of Hugh Mack Keary & William Vousden Keary. I'm a direct descendant of William. My grandfather's name is Patrick Foley Keary, who eventually moved here to California and died from injuries in a car accident in 1955. Unfortunately, we have no Civil War papers on the "original" Patrick Keary.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/WEB.2ACI/182.2.3 Message Board Post: Denise, are you a descendant of Captain Patrick Keary? Do you know if there are any of his Civil War papers still in existence?

My Dad Julian Everette Willis Born: October 5, 1919 Died: June 13, 1995 by Randy Willis http://www.randywillis.org randywillis@ev1.net Julian Everette Willis was my father. He was the son of Randall Lee Willis (whom I was named after) and Lillie Gertrude Hanks Willis. He married my mother, Ruth Lawson Willis (b. Apr. 25, 1913; d. Oct. 13, 1994) on June 26, 1948, in Long Leaf, Louisiana. Both are buried at Butter Cemetery near Forest Hill, Louisiana. Daddy had two brothers: Howard and Herman Willis. My mother, Ruth Lawson Willis, was the daughter of Robert S. Lawson (b. Mar. 25, 1868; d. 1941) and Nina Ruth Hanks Lawson (b. Oct. 27, 1891; d. July 16, 1962). Daddy fought in W.W.II., in the Army Aircore, and was on Iwo Jima at he end of the war. He joined the Army Aircore after hearing of his first cousin and friend, Robert K. "Bobby" Willis Jr.'s death on the USS Arizona December 7, 1941. Daddy said he was the nicest person he ever knew. Robert K. "Bobby" Willis Jr. was the first casualty from Rapides Parish, Louisiana in World War II. The American Legion Post in Pineville, Louisiana (his last hometown) was named the Robert K. "Bobby" Willis Jr. Post in honor of his service and duty to his country. (This American Legion Post no longer exists). He is entombed in the USS Arizona at the bottom of Pearl Harbor. He was the first casualty from Rapides Parish, Louisiana in World War II. After the war daddy married my mother, drove a bus for Continental Trailways in Alexandria, Louisiana and played steel guitar. One day, my half-sister Johnnie Ruth (who is 16-years-older than me) brought her young beau to our home, located near Long Leaf, Louisiana to meet our parents. His name was Jimmy Day. He saw my dad practicing the steel and asked him to teach him how to play. Daddy taught Jimmy how to tune and play the steel guitar, and he and another local steel player, by the name of Harold Whatley, taught Jimmy his first licks on the steel. My dad and Jimmy both played in the local Happy McNichol's band. The first venue that they both played was The Wigwam. Jimmy later played for Web Pierce, Hank Williams, Sr., Elvis, Pasty Cline, Ray Price, Willie Nelson and others. After moving to Alabama, Jimmy talked his new best friend, Floyd Cramer, into learning the piano (Jimmy told him he needed to choose an instrument other than the steel). Daddy and mother moved to Clute, Texas, from Long Leaf, in 1954, so daddy could work at Dow Chemical. He also raised horses, mules, and cows. We then moved to Angleton, Texas in 1960. We lived in the middle of several rice fields between Angleton and Danbury on the Old Danbury Road. Daddy had a very strong work ethic. He always rose before sunrise and worked late. He wasn't much on going to church, but had strong values and beliefs. He believed in God but he wasn't much for people that used that belief as some type of banner for political or personal gain. He was a staunch Democrat and extremely opinionated in politics. (As a conservative, I avoided political discussions with him at all cost). He was a champion of equals rights for both minorities and women way before those beliefs were in vogue. He was also, Trail Boss for many years of the Brazoria County Trail Ride (see photo below) and was a board member of the Brazoria County Fair and Rodeo Association. He was a major union leader at Dow Chemical and later Business Agent for the Operating Engineers. He was a leader and many people said he reminded them of a real life John Wayne. He was very patriotic and loved to hunt and fish. He loved football and would call me after the Dallas Cowboys games too discuss the game. He taught manners to his kids and respect for their elders and despised off-color language, especially around women. He had a lot of friends and was respected by most that knew him. He was the real deal; a man's man.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Willis, Hanks, Graham, Lawson, Stark, Stagg, Strother, Soileau, Rougeou, Deroussel, Slaughter, Story and Smith Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/WEB.2ACI/490 Message Board Post: My Dad Julian Everette Willis Born: October 5, 1919 Died: June 13, 1995 by Randy Willis http://www.randywillis.org randywillis@ev1.net Julian Everette Willis was my father. He was the son of Randall Lee Willis (whom I was named after) and Lillie Gertrude Hanks Willis. He married my mother, Ruth Lawson Willis (b. Apr. 25, 1913; d. Oct. 13, 1994) on June 26, 1948, in Long Leaf, Louisiana. Both are buried at Butter Cemetery near Forest Hill, Louisiana. Daddy had two brothers: Howard and Herman Willis. My mother, Ruth Lawson Willis, was the daughter of Robert S. Lawson (b. Mar. 25, 1868; d. 1941) and Nina Ruth Hanks Lawson (b. Oct. 27, 1891; d. July 16, 1962). Daddy fought in W.W.II., in the Army Aircore, and was on Iwo Jima at he end of the war. He joined the Army Aircore after hearing of his first cousin and friend, Robert K. "Bobby" Willis Jr.'s death on the USS Arizona December 7, 1941. Daddy said he was the nicest person he ever knew. Robert K. "Bobby" Willis Jr. was the first casualty from Rapides Parish, Louisiana in World War II. The American Legion Post in Pineville, Louisiana (his last hometown) was named the Robert K. "Bobby" Willis Jr. Post in honor of his service and duty to his country. (This American Legion Post no longer exists). He is entombed in the USS Arizona at the bottom of Pearl Harbor. He was the first casualty from Rapides Parish, Louisiana in World War II. After the war daddy married my mother, drove a bus for Continental Trailways in Alexandria, Louisiana and played steel guitar. One day, my half-sister Johnnie Ruth (who is 16-years-older than me) brought her young beau to our home, located near Long Leaf, Louisiana to meet our parents. His name was Jimmy Day. He saw my dad practicing the steel and asked him to teach him how to play. Daddy taught Jimmy how to tune and play the steel guitar, and he and another local steel player, by the name of Harold Whatley, taught Jimmy his first licks on the steel. My dad and Jimmy both played in the local Happy McNichol's band. The first venue that they both played was The Wigwam. Jimmy later played for Web Pierce, Hank Williams, Sr., Elvis, Pasty Cline, Ray Price, Willie Nelson and others. After moving to Alabama, Jimmy talked his new best friend, Floyd Cramer, into learning the piano (Jimmy told him he needed to choose an instrument other than the steel). Daddy and mother moved to Clute, Texas, from Long Leaf, in 1954, so daddy could work at Dow Chemical. He also raised horses, mules, and cows. We then moved to Angleton, Texas in 1960. We lived in the middle of several rice fields between Angleton and Danbury on the Old Danbury Road. Daddy had a very strong work ethic. He always rose before sunrise and worked late. He wasn't much on going to church, but had strong values and beliefs. He believed in God but he wasn't much for people that used that belief as some type of banner for political or personal gain. He was a staunch Democrat and extremely opinionated in politics. (As a conservative, I avoided political discussions with him at all cost). He was a champion of equals rights for both minorities and women way before those beliefs were in vogue. He was also, Trail Boss for many years of the Brazoria County Trail Ride and was a board member of the Brazoria County Fair and Rodeo Association. He was a major union leader at Dow Chemical and later Business Agent for the Operating Engineers. He was a leader and many people said he reminded them of a real life John Wayne. He was very patriotic and loved to hunt and fish. He loved football and would call me after the Dallas Cowboys games too discuss the game. He taught manners to his kids and respect for their elders and despised off-color language, especially around women. He had a lot of friends and was respected by most that knew him. He was the real deal; a man's man.