|
| Birth: 4-3-1881 | Birth: 12-12-1877 |
| Death: 12-12-1968 | Death: 8-30-1940 |
Charles Jonas WHITENER was born in North Carolina. His family moved to Oklahoma Territory where he met Hester BRADSHAW. They were married in Duncan, Oklahoma December 19, 1897. Charles filed on a quarter section of farming land and the family lived in a mud lean-to house. Their first two children, Jesse and Burton John, were born there. Charles gave up farming as a way of life and began constructing bridges in and about Oklahoma. The Whiteners moved to Vernon, Texas in 1904. Burton remembered well the hard journey over rough bumpy dirt roads and fields by horse and wagon. Charles became a City Engineer and three more children were born to this family, Leroy, Joe Bailey and Juanetta. Tragedy struck Charles and Hester while living in Vernon. In 1908, their eldest son, Jessie, was drowned in a local swimming hole, their only girl, Juanetta, died from the elements in 1909, only a year and half after her birth. Leroy, the third eldest son, was killed in 1913, when he fell from a large tree. Charles and Hester adopted another little girl, Uda Mae Brannen as an infant and this completed their family.Charles and the remaining family moved to Dickens County in 1914, Charles was a contractor and builder, specializing in cement work. His Obituary written in 1940, in the "Texas Spur" read in part, "He was a progressive citizen and always wanted to do all he could to make Spur the most beautiful town in Texas. It was through his energy and influence that so many beautiful trees are in our town today. He was largely responsible for the present parks being set apart and he assumed the responsibility of beautifying them, today, they are places of enjoyment for all to use. He was a member of the Methodist Church and was always loyal, willing and ready to cooperate with his Pastor in carrying out any good program of the Church. His life was a benefactor to all who knew him and generations to come...." Hester Adline Bradshaw was born in Montague County, TX in 1881. Her family moved to Oklahoma when she was a very young lady. When she was about six, her family went into Fort Sill. She and her father walked to an enclosure where Geronimo and his family band was being held. Her father pointed out Geronimo, she remembered that he was half naked and dirty. One of the Indians, in his anger of being captive, opened his cloak and exposed his naked body to her. She was so embarrassed, she ran, in tears, to her mother.
She had a scar which followed her hairline across her forehead. She always told her grandchildren this was a scar where she was almost scalped by an Indian. Considering the times, that is doubtful. But the grandchildren loved to listen to her.
Hester showered her grandchildren unselfishly with candy, cookies, cakes, pies and most of all, love. When she was telling stories, more than likely, one of the children would be in her lap snuggled into her large bosom. She was hard of hearing so the children talked to her through an elk horn.
Lillian Grace Nay related to granddaughter Jean, "I remember Mrs Whitener as having such a cute sense of humor. One of the funniest stories I can remember was the one Mrs Whitener told about Mr. Whitener. He was sick in the bed with the flu and had ask for some soup. In the meantime Mrs Whitener got busy doing other things so he got up and went in and dished himself up what he thought was the soup. When she came back in he said, 'My God! That is the worst stuff I ever tried to eat!' Mrs Whitener had put the dirty dish water on the stove to heat!" This was typical of Hester Bradshaw Whitener's Irish humor. She loved telling stories and always had a glimmer in her eye as she told them.
Burton went to Galveston, TX in 1917 as part of the Texas National Guard. During this period, he helped keep order during the great tidal wave that struck Galveston. Being honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1920, he returned to Spur where he worked with his father in the construction business. Burton married Margaret Johnson in July 1925. They had three children, Vera Bell, Burton J. Jr., and Mable. Joe Bailey worked with his father in the construction business for a while then went to work for Coca Cola. He delivered Coke to all the towns around the Spur area. He also worked for the Spur Creamery, picking up cans of cream from the farmers in the area. He wooed and wed Lafara Shockley in 1929. To this couple two children were born, Joe Bailey, Jr. and Bertha Jean.
Funeral services for Charles J. Whitener, 62, long-time resident of Dickens County were held Saturday afternoon at the Spur Methodist Church.Mr. Whitener died Friday at his home in Spur after an illness extending over a period of several months. He had been bedfast for some time.
Survivors include his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Ernest Russell, Hendrson, Texas and two sons, Burton and Joe Bailey Whitener of Spur.
Officiating were Reverends E. E. White, J. E. Harrell, and W. B. Vaughn. Burial was in Spur cemetery with Campbell Funeral Home in charge.
"In the Garden" was sung by Faust Collier and the choir sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere".
Mr. Whitener was born in North Carolina. He came to Spur in 1916, and with the exception of a few years, had lived in Spur since that time.
He was a member of the Methodist church of Spur.
Pall bearers were John King, Ned Hogan, F. W. Jennings, Roy Stovall, Bill Simpson and George S. Link.
Honorary pall bearers were R. L. Castlebury, Vernon, R. C. Forbis, Afton, Austin Rose, McAdoo, J. A. Marsh, E. W. Mars, Walter Jimison, Lawis Lee, Dr. P. C. Nichols, W. S. Campbell, Dr. B. F. Hale, W. P. Nugent, J. W. Meadows, L. N. Riter, W. D. Starcher, Claude Groves, R. E. Dickson, Johnnie Koonsman, Olen Arthur, George Gabriel and W. A. Bell.
Flower bearers were Mrs. Ferrell Albin, Mrs. Dudley Wooten, Mrs. Truett Hutto, Mrs. Murl Foreman, Mrs. Bill Walton, and Misses Isabell and Bonnie Campbell.
Out-of-town relatives and friends who attended were Mr and Mrs Marl Holder, Duncan, Okla.; Mr. And Mrs. I. J. Wilson, Santa Fe; Ed Whitener and daughter, Duncan, Okla.; Mrs. Margaret Bradshaw and Earl Bradshaw of Slaton; Mrs. Margaret Hart, Mr. and Mr. Arthur Evans and Ted Evans, all of Gruver, Texas; Mrs. R. L. Castlebury, Miss Robbie Castlebury and Mrs. A. Allison of Vernon; Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Crowder, Sweetwater; Mr and Mrs Ervin Darby, Altus, Okla.
©The Texas Spur, September 5, 1940
Submitted by Jean Lingg
Funeral services were held Dec. 13 at 2:30 p.m. in Campbell's Funeral Home Chapel for Mrs. Hester Adline Whitener, 87.Rev. Howard Marcom officiated.
Mrs. Whitener died Dec. 12 in Kent County Nursing Home. She came to Dickens County in 1916 and has been a resident of the nursing home since 1962.
She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Ernest Russell, Eunice, LA; two sons, Burton Whitener, Catu (Penngrove - jl) Calif. Joe Bailey Whitener, Spur; and six grandchildren.
Pallbearers included R. J. Bell, Bill Barrett, Jack Rector, D. J. Dyess and Bill Caraway.
Interment was in Spur Cemetery.
© The Texas Spur, December 1968
Submitted by Jean Lingg
 |
|
This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without consent.
The information on these pages is meant for personal genealogical research only
and is not for commercial use of ANY type.
