The Ancestors and Cousins of Tracy Lynn DeVault

Jessie Ruth Reagan^1,2,3

F, #29951, b. 19 September 1911, d. 26 September 1972

Parents

Father	Monroe Irvin "Minna" Reagan (b. 1 March 1881, d. 22 September 1948)
Mother	Ruby Ethel Young (b. 11 November 1887, d. 21 October 1970)

Pedigree Link

Family: Flint O. DuPre

Son	Daniel Flint DuPre+

BASIC FACTS

Jessie Ruth Reagan was born on 19 September 1911 in Hopkins Co., Texas.¹ She and Flint O. DuPre were married about 1937.¹ She and Joe H. Norman were married after 1939 in Dallas Co., Texas.¹ She and Jack Kelly were married after 1940.¹ She and George Estus Durden were married after 1942 in Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas.¹ She died on 26 September 1972, at age 61, in Dallas Co., Texas.⁴ She died on 28 September 1972, at age 61.¹

Jessie Ruth Reagan had reference number 30243. She was enumerated on the census in Hopkins County, Texas (1920); Hunt County, Texas (1930.) Aunt Ruth (Jessie Ruth Reagan Durden) was the coolest person I knew when I was growing up, and I’m sure all of us cousins feel the same about that. She seemed so ‘in tune’ with us kids and just knew what we would like, and let us DO it. She let us EXPERIENCE life which was one of HER loves. Boy! Did she experience life! We weren’t allowed to endanger ourselves, but to just be kids and have as much fun as we could squeeze into the time she spent with us. Like the time she let Danny and me play all day (it seemed like) in her in her big front yard, pulling us behind her car on a sled. She and Dan had moved to Vickery to enjoy the country life for a while, and they had an enormous front yard, all fenced in. She had every bit as much fun as we did. I can just hear her giggling at us as I write this. I miss her every day and always will. She was our “Aunt Ruth” and my ‘other Mom’ and we ALL loved her dearly.
Growing up in the same house with my Mom and Mammy with Aunt Ruth upstairs gave me the advantage of feeling as if I had three Mommas. My Mom was my “little Mom”. I loved to watch my Mom get all fixed up to go out (but didn’t really want her to go). She always looked so pretty in her sundresses and watching her put on her makeup was a fascination for all of us little girls, Cheryl, Jeannie, Pam and me.
Mammy was my “Big Momma” and the disciplinarian but also the one who sewed most of my clothes when I was little, and gave me a good solid foundation with all her wonderful home cooking and tender, loving care. I knew I had to be good or she’d make me go out to the side of the house and pull a “switch” so she could “switch” my legs. That was punishment enough, just having to go out and get it ready for her. She had us strip all of the leaves off except for a few at the top, which made it sting more. She never hurt us really, but it was just the thought of her being mad that scared me the most.
Then there was Aunt Ruth - my fairy godmother, no kidding, it’s the closest I’ll ever get to having one. I loved to go upstairs to play her piano. There were many other reasons, too. There was usually an open box of Whitman’s chocolates on her coffee table or some little pink, green, and yellow after dinner mints in a candy jar somewhere in the living room. I felt like an entirely different person as soon as I’d open the door up there. It “smelled” like Aunt Ruth. She always wore “Shocking” perfume and her car, her house and all her clothes had that wonderful sweet smell.
Here are some of my thoughts and memories of her that will always be with me and “take me back” to those happy times with my Aunt Ruth.
- the smell of a baked ham with all the trimmings, cherries, pineapple, brown sugar – it must have been one of her favorites
- the blue mirror in her dining room with the pretty tray on the buffet filled with beautiful and shiny things.
- being invited upstairs for one of her special meals with the lights turned down low
- presents from Neiman Marcus always packed in some special kind of wrapping
- her philosophy for life which she sometimes shared with Danny and me. It all boiled down to FUN, FUN/ FUN! She wanted to grow old, she said, and sit out on the front porch and “spit at people”. I guess that was her way of saying she didn’t want to have to depend on anybody for anything. Don’t know why that has stuck with me all the years, but I can just hear her saying it.
- her little black and white Nash Rambler looked like a kiddy car, it was so cute. She usually had much larger cars so I guess that’s the reason this one sticks out in my mind
- her refrigerator where you would sometimes find caviar and raw oysters. Never will forget the first time I opened up this innocent little round white cardboard container to discover my first raw oyster looking back at me. I don’t know what I thought it was. I just knew I didn’t want any of it. She always had a bottle of cold water in there, too, but I wouldn’t touch that because I knew Danny drank out of the bottle. Of course, I did the same thing downstairs, but that was different.
- her dresser out in the hallway covered with powders, her little eyewash cup, eyelash curlers, and always a coffee cup with her lipstick on the rim
- her chest of drawers in her bedroom with at least 50 different perfume bottles, all of which I opened at one time or another to smell or try on.
- the smell of cigars - no, not hers - but Joe Norman’s. When he came to pick her up for dates, I usually was upstairs and even though I knew he was special to Aunt Ruth, even I knew he was nice. He always drove a Cadillac and sometimes took Danny and me out with them to a special restaurant. I always felt “on top of the world” sitting in the back seat of his big car.
- the name “Betsy Doll” which she gave me
- the parties she let Danny and me have
- going on vacation with her, Danny, Inez Hillpot and her daughter, Diane once to Galveston and once to a dude ranch and then on to Colorado
- her lack of modesty which I think a couple of us inherited from her
- watching her circle the dinner table down at Mammy’s, picking up a little tidbit from each bowl but never sitting down to eat with us – always in a hurry to go somewhere or something or maybe she just wanted to sample her Momma’s home cooking. I have a daughter like that.
- Her way of making me feel so special and spreading her love all around to everyone
- Last, but not least, her laughter. I loved to hear her laugh. She knew how to get the most out of life and she squeezed every last drop from it.
If I had three wishes, one would certainly be to have let her live to a ripe, old age so that more of the future generations could have known her, and that she could “sit on her front porch and spit at people” I have a feeling though, that she would have been out there just making everyone’s life happier, and maybe keeping a little bowl of mints or chocolates handy for visitors that might drop by.

Aunt Ruth’s New Year’s Eve Slumber Party
By Barbara Jeanne (“Jeannie”) Campbell Slusher

For those of us who, at one time or another, lived at Mammy’s (Ruby Ethel Young Reagan) house, one of our fondest memories is going to one of Aunt Ruth’s New Year Eve’s Slumber Parties. She did her best to recreate one of her regular (very adult) parties which included drinking, singing and playing the piano. Ruth knew how to party! She filled up cocktail glasses (with non-alcoholic drinks), dropped olives (or cherries) in, and all the kids pretended they were her regular rowdy, adult New Year’s Eve crew. She never forgot us kids, and we’ll never forget her!
We called Aunt Ruth “Squeaky Aunt Jessie” (Jessie being her first name – Jessie Ruth Reagan) because she lived in the house above Mammy’s, and in that old house, when someone walked upstairs, those downstairs knew it by its creaky sounds.
All us kids also remember taking rides with Aunt Ruth in one of her Cadillacs during which she would convince us that she could put her car into “squat gear” and leap over the car in front of her. We were always trying to talk her into actually doing it!

My Grandmother Ruth
By Andrew DuPre

As a child of about 10 years old, I remember going to my Father’s work at Lasco. One of the salesmen, Tommy Allen, used to start and me and say, “You look so much like your Grandmother, Ruth. Same eyes, cheeks, mouth!”
Being just a child, I did not know how much of a compliment that was. You see, Ruth, Ruby and Billie all seemed like they were born of the same mold. They all looked very similar to me. So much, they could have been triplets.

Aunt Ruth (and Mammy) as Fashion Inspiration
By Barbara Jeanne (“Jeannie”) Campbell Slusher

One of my favorite things as a kid living at Mammy’s (Ruby Ethel Young Reagan) house was going into the hall closet into a chest of drawers that held Aunt Ruth’s wild flapper clothes, hats and high heels. She had such tiny feet that her doll-like heels would almost stay on me! All the bright colors and flamboyant styles must have remained in my subconscious, because years later I would have a career in the fashion industry.
My mother, Billie Louise Reagan Royer, reminded me when I was learning pattern-making for my fashion design degree that Mammy had been a self-taught master pattern maker. She made patterns out of newspaper for each of her children. Mother said whenever she wanted a new dress, she would go dig out her pattern and take it to Mammy. Mammy’s ability to sew had provided cash (or barter credits) for her family during the Depression.
As a young kid, I had spent many an hour sitting next to Mammy at her treadle sewing machine, talking to her as she sewed. Guess it soaked in!

Memories of Aunt Ruth
By Kathleen Royer Hale

I remember visiting Aunt Ruth (Jessie Ruth Reagan Durden) and Uncle George’s (George E. Durden) house – now Prestonwood Bank? I recall Aunt Ruth’s Chest of Presents. If you were a visiting kid, you could always pick one toy out of the chest to take home. And who wouldn’t be fascinated by the backward clock! Many of Aunt Ruth’s glory days were past by the time I came along – although I enjoyed hearing all the stories of the “crazy sisters”.

Auntie Mame
By Barbara Jeanne (“Jeannie”) Campbell Slusher

Famous Quote by Auntie Mame: “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.”
For those of us who grew up at Mammy’s house with Aunt Ruth and Danny above us, Aunt Ruth WAS “Auntie Mame” personified. This was the lead character in a Broadway play eventually made into a movie starring Rosaline Russell (who incidentally, also had short, dark hair like Ruth’s).
Ruth had the bigger picture of life – the fact that life was to ENJOY and boy, did she. We were always trying to hop on her bandwagon, but she could tire out those half her age. One of her special gifts was her zest for life.
Had a craxy scheme? Aunt Ruth was who you took it to. Want to go somewhere fun? Some adults didn’t have the time. But Aunt Ruth would TAKE the time to be with kids. Judging from how often she laughed while she was with us, she must have been having as good a time as we were.
She had us all believing she could put her Cadillac in “squat gear” and could go under the cars in front of her – or “leap gear” and jump over. Life with Aunt Ruth was always fun!

My Mama’s Got a Gun, by Daniel Flint DuPre

My mother, Ruth, and I were traveling to California, and were approaching a vegetable/plant inspection station in Arizona. She told me to keep quiet about the gun she was carrying for protection, but as we were leaving the station I leaned out the car window and shouted “My Mama’s got a gun! (ha, ha).” Also, when we traveled across the Mojave Desert (always at night) we would rent one of those wind-driven, water-filled turbines that mounted outside a car window, and then you turned it in on the other side of the desert. She had a trick in that she filled it with shaved ice from our motel first, and then poured the water in, making for crude air conditioning on a hot desert night (pure luxury, I thought).

My Big-Hearted Mother, by Daniel Flint DuPre

In early January 1943, Mom and I headed back to Texas from Laguna Beach, California after having spent several months there. Prior to leaving California for the long, hard car trip back to Texas, my Mother made enough food for the 3 days it would take us. I remember particularly a huge suite box from a department store being full of homemade fried chicken and other assorted goodies.
Somewhere near Yuma, Arizona, we stopped to help a man stranded in an old black pickup truck with several little ragamuffins in the back and wizened, weathered old looking wife in the front. Apparently, they had no money, no ration card for gasoline (their truck was on empty) and had not eaten for some time. My Mom gave them all the food she had so carefully prepared for us, about half of our money and enough gasoline rations to have their tank filled up. I recall the man standing there with tears in his eyes, begging her for our address so he could repay us later. Mom would have non of that, and just happily continued on our way. I remember most is her singing to herself as we drove down the road; I don't think I've ever seen her happier.
Everyone in the family who knew my mother, Ruth as Aunt Ruth, might like to know that my nickname from hre was "R.T." Only Billie and my Mom (who gave me that moniker) knows that it stood for "rat turd", an endearing term, I'm certain, for a little stinker.
When we lived "out in the country" in the 1949-51 era, my Mom of necessity had to go into Dallas quite often. You may recall she had the 1948 Buick convertible (black) and really liked to zoom along. Well, I was the official "lookout" for the cops, hanging over the backseat looking rearward; in those days, a policeman had to "clock" you for a quarter mile to make a speeding ticket stick, so my eagle-eye lookout duties prevented that from ever happening, and she sped along happily at whatever pace she deemed appropriate, usually "flat out fast".

Mother, by Daniel Flint DuPre

Jessie Ruth Reagan - My mother. She hated the name Jessie. Purchased our home on Willis Ave. in 1936 from the Mrs. Baird of Baird's Bread fame. She married Flint DePre, sports editor of the Dallas Morning News, in 1936, in Phoenix, AZ, where sister Faye & KC Tanis lived at the time. I was born in January, 1938 and my Mom and Dad divorced 2 years later. I lived on Willis Ave. until 1966 when my wife Liz and I moved to Richardson. Moved to McKinney in 1973 & still live there.
Ruth was neither a smoker nor a drinker, but would do both occasionally. Kept a pack of Kools menthol cigarettes in her dressing table, only times I ever saw her smoke was when she was applying her makeup getting ready to go out - - just one cigarette and she never inhaled. Drinking was pretty much capped at one drink per occasion; only time I ever saw her get out of control was when she had more than one, and just once (in California) do I recall.
She was the female badminton champion of Highland Park sometime in the mid 1930's. Attended & graduated from Draughon's Business College in Dallas and immediately went to work for Magnolia Oil Co. as executive secretary for Ben Stephens, President of that Standard Oil of New Jersey affiliate. Her first cousin, Virginia Byrd, came to Dallas soon thereafter and they roomed together in a a small apartment near the Sears Roebuck store on Ross Avenue. @ Greenville Avenue in East Dallas. "Ginny", as Ruth called her, was a "man magnet" being statuesque and abundantly endowed in the chest area. So, they double-dated a lot and my mom said she often got Ginny's castoffs, which was just fine with Ruth. They had a private pact in that each was sworn to order the largest entrée on the menu when dating and bring home the other half of the entrée in a "doggie bag" to the other. In their little apartment, Ruth would keep a large Hershey's chocolate bar on her nightstand--not to eat, but just to know it was there in case she wanted it. It was something she couldn't afford in her previous hometown of Commerce.
Ruth married Joe Norman in 1950 in California; it lasted 2 years. In 1953, back in Dallas, she married Jack Kelly, a former boxer and then current insurance adjuster; it lasted a year. In 1954 she almost married Jerry Vodhenal in Houston, but he died of a sudden brain tumor before they could set a marriage date. Around 1960 she married George Durden, with whom she lived until his death in 1968. Ruth died as a direct cause of scleroderma in September 1972 after fighting that autoimmune disease for over 14 years.

The Young Family History - My sister, Ruth

Jessie Ruth Reagan was born September 19, 1911 in Como, TX (Hopkins County). She was a beautiful child as well as an adult. Her weakness were hats and shoes. She had most of her hats made by Edna Earle in Dallas for many years. They were adorable on her, but on anyone else they would have been ridiculous. She had the cutest little feet, therefore, always had the most beautiful shoes you ever saw. Her closets looked like a department store. There were boxes and boxes of hats, all labeled with what kind of hats they had in them. There were many, many boxes of shoes all labeled as well. When she died she had numerous pairs of shoes that she had never worn.
Ruth went to East Texas State Teachers College. She only needed a few hours to complete her degree, but it was during the depression years, and it was such a struggle for her to even have enough clothes to go to school that she came to Dallas, Texas and went to work as a governess. While she was working as a governess, Ruth took a business course at Stephens, who was then Vice President of Magnolia Petroleum Company.
Ruth was always helping Mom and Dad financially. It wasn't long after she went to work for Mr. Stephens as his secretary until she sent for me to come live with her, and to go to school in Dallas. The family was living in Commerce, Texas at that time. Ruth gave me a home, dressed me and sent me to school. She supported me completely. Ruth was only twenty-two years old when she brought me to live with her. I was fifteen years old. It was in September 1933, and she enrolled me in Woodrow WIlson High School in Dallas. Ruth was very strict on me. All she ever had to say to me was that if i didn't do what she said, she would send me back to Commerce. Therefore she kept me in line really well, because I never did like Commerce. There aren't many 22 year old sisters who would take that much responsibility and who would put up with rearing a 15 year old younger sister, but she did, and she was very good to me. I could never have repaid her for all she did for me, but then, she didn't want to be repaid, she only wanted us to love her.
When I was 17 year old, Ruth bought a two story duplex on the corner of Willis Avenue and Glencoe streets, 5356 and 5358 Willis Avenue in Dallas. That was home to all of us including all of our children. This place was not sold until after Ruth's death in 1972. It will always hold a very warm place in my heart.
I loved Ruth dearly, and she was always there to give me a shoulder to cry on. I must admit I used it quite a bit, too. She gave me tap dancing lessons and she was always there when we had recitals or put on programs. She was also there when I graduated from high school. I was so very grateful to her for all she had done for me and I strived to make her proud of me. She will always be loved dearly by me, and I truly miss her more than I could ever say.

GRAVE MARKER

RUTH R. GEORGE E.
1911 - 1972 1901 - 1969
DURDEN.

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)
[S1959] 1930 Census, Texas, Hunt County
[S4057] Death Records, Texas, Texas Death Index (1964-1998) (Family Search)

Family Explorer

Flint O. DuPre^1,2

M, #29952

Pedigree Link

Family: Jessie Ruth Reagan (b. 19 September 1911, d. 26 September 1972)

Son	Daniel Flint DuPre+

BASIC FACTS

Flint O. DuPre and Jessie Ruth Reagan were married about 1937.¹

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

Joe H. Norman^1,2

M, #29953

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

Joe H. Norman and Jessie Ruth Reagan were married after 1939 in Dallas Co., Texas.¹

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

Jack Kelly^1,2

M, #29954

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

Jack Kelly and Jessie Ruth Reagan were married after 1940.¹

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

George Estus Durden^1,2,3

M, #29955, b. 1901, d. 5 May 1969

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

George Estus Durden was born in 1901.¹ He and Jessie Ruth Reagan were married after 1942 in Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas.¹ He died on 5 May 1969, at age ~68, in Dallas Co., Texas.^1,2 He was buried in Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas.¹

George Estus Durden had reference number 30247. GRAVE MARKER

RUTH R. GEORGE E.
1911 - 1972 1901 - 1969
DURDEN.

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S4057] Death Records, Texas, Texas Death Index (1964-1998) (Family Search)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

Daniel Flint DuPre^1,2

M, #29956

Parents

Father	Flint O. DuPre
Mother	Jessie Ruth Reagan (b. 19 September 1911, d. 26 September 1972)

Pedigree Link

Family: Elizabeth May

Son	Andrew Daniel DuPre
Son	Matthew Blake DuPre
Son	Daniel Luke DuPre

BASIC FACTS

Daniel Flint DuPre and Elizabeth May were married on 7 January 1963.¹

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

Elizabeth May^1,2

F, #29957

Pedigree Link

Family: Daniel Flint DuPre

Son	Andrew Daniel DuPre
Son	Matthew Blake DuPre
Son	Daniel Luke DuPre

BASIC FACTS

Elizabeth May and Daniel Flint DuPre were married on 7 January 1963.¹

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

Francis Marion Reagan^1,2

M, #29958, b. 23 February 1914, d. 28 June 1926

Parents

Father	Monroe Irvin "Minna" Reagan (b. 1 March 1881, d. 22 September 1948)
Mother	Ruby Ethel Young (b. 11 November 1887, d. 21 October 1970)

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

Francis Marion Reagan was born on 23 February 1914 in Como, Hopkins Co., Texas.^1,3 He died on 28 June 1926, at age 12, in Hopkins Co., Texas.¹ He was buried in Como Cemetery, Como, Hopkins Co., Texas.⁴

Francis Marion Reagan had reference number 30250. He was enumerated on the census in Hopkins County, Texas (1920.) GRAVE MARKER

FRANCIS M. REAGAN
FEB. 23, 1914
JUN. 28, 1926.

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)
[S6758] Genealogy prepared by meborsheim (Ancestry.com)
[S4980] Find A Grave (Internet), Source Medium: Book

Family Explorer

Ruby Ethel Reagan^1,2,3,4

F, #29959, b. 16 February 1918, d. 11 June 2006

Parents

Father	Monroe Irvin "Minna" Reagan (b. 1 March 1881, d. 22 September 1948)
Mother	Ruby Ethel Young (b. 11 November 1887, d. 21 October 1970)

Pedigree Link

Family: William Eugene Harmon (b. 9 May 1909, d. 20 May 1951)

Daughter

Betsy Jean Sherwood+

BASIC FACTS

Ruby Ethel Reagan was born on 16 February 1918 in Como, Hopkins Co., Texas.^2,3,1,5 She and William Eugene Harmon were married on 16 May 1936 in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas.¹ She and William Edward Sherwood were married after 1951 in Dallas Co., Texas.¹ She and William Marvin Lord were married on 29 July 1961 in Dallas Co., Texas.¹ She died on 11 June 2006, at age 88, in Garland, Dallas Co., Texas.⁵

Ruby Ethel Reagan had reference number 30251. She was enumerated on the census in Hopkins County, Texas (1920); Hunt County, Texas (1930.) My Life - Excerpt from The Young Family History by Ruby Ethel Reagan

Ruby Ethel Reagan, the fifth child of Mammy and Paw Paw was born February 15, 1918 at Como, Texas. Mom said that I was real dark skinned, and the doctor told them I was a Blue Baby, and would not live past nine months of age. I feel sure they lived in constant fear that each breath would be my last, but instead I just became terribly spoiled, and got fatter all the time. Mom said that I was the only one of her seven children that spoiling affected. I must have been a real terror because I can remember telling Dad that “I had no eggs” (meaning legs) therefore I couldn’t walk, and he carried me about everywhere we went.
I shall never forget the morning I was told I was coming to Dallas to live. My sister, Lorena, came to school to get me. I was in study hall, and it frightened me when I saw her coming in the door. Lorena told me that Ruth had called and asked Mom to let me come live with her. It was the depression years, and we were in terrible financial circumstances. Therefore, I am sure it was easier for Mom and Dad to let me leave home at such an early age, than it normally would have been. I feel sure it did ease the burden some for them. Mom made me a red and white checkered gingham dress that night and I wore it on the train the next day coming to Dallas. Dad walked with me to the train terminal, (we had no car), and he carried my suitcase for me. When the train came Dad started crying, and I boarded the train crying my eyes out, and waved to Dad for as long as I could see him. I shall always remember him standing there by the train waving and crying. I cried all the way from Commerce to Dallas.
I had never been away from home and had never been to Dallas, so it was a complete new experience for me. Ruth met me at the Union Terminal in Dallas. She said all she could see were two big black eyes, big as a saucer and scared to death, looking for her. We left the train terminal and she took me shopping for some clothes. I had never had clothes bought from a store because Mom had always made everything I had ever worn. Ruth bought me a beautiful two piece beige skirt and blouse and brown suede oxfords and purse to match. I am sure she bought other things but I very vividly remember these things. I had never had that much spent on me at one time.
I started modeling at Higginbothan, Bailey & Logan’s when I was sixteen years old. I worked nights after school and on Saturday. During the summer months I worked six days a week from 8:30 am until 9:00 pm. Then, I would go out and catch a streetcar and go home carrying my shoes in my hand, because we had to model in high heeled shoes. I would be so tired and my feet would hurt so bad I would be nearly in tears when I got home.
I had never dated before moving to Dallas. Therefore, I hadn’t been here long before I met the most handsome man I had ever seen, (I thought), William Eugene Harmon. When Ruth would let me, I had a date with him, and I never dated another boy. I must admit that I told him I was older than I really was. I told him I would be seventeen my next birthday, and Mom came to visit, and she told him different.
Ruth and I moved from apartment to apartment. We never stayed in one place long at a time. If she got mad at the boy she was dating, we would move so he wouldn’t know where we lived. It was fun I thought. It seems as though I was a kid one day, and the next day I was a full grown adult, who had assumed the cleaning of the apartment where Ruth and I lived, and doing all the washing and ironing. I knew I had to get all of the chores done before I could ask if I could have a date. Ruth was very strict but also was very good to me.
Ruth told me if I got married before I was eighteen years old, she would have it annulled. “Gene” Harmon and I were married at the Court House in Fort Worth, Texas by a Justice of the Peace on May 16, 1936.
I had been one of the girls chosen to model for the Texas Centennial in 1936. It was a lot of fun. We got to meet several movie stars, and name band leaders. I shall never forget William Langley, the head photographer in charge of all the publicity when I came in and told him I had gotten married. He said a few unkind words, and said “you have ruined your career. I was getting all your pictures ready to take to Hollywood to get you in the movies.” It wasn’t long until he took Linda Darnell to Hollywood and got her in the movies instead.
I must say, I was never disappointed in my choice because on December 28, 1937, the dearest, most precious little girl anyone every saw was born to me and Gene. When I told Ruth that I had named her Betsy, one of Ruth’s first words after that was she is “Betsy Doll”, and she called her that as long as she lived. Ruth loved Betsy as much as she could have if she had been her own child. Three weeks after Betsy was born Ruth gave birth to her son, Daniel Flint DuPre. Betsy and Danny grew up almost like brother and sister because by then we lived in the downstairs duplex and Ruth and Dan lived in the upstairs one.
Gene and I divorced in 1941, and he died in 1951 from a heart attack. Betsy was only thirteen years old, and she suffered a terrible loss.
In 1951, I married Bill Sherwood, and we moved to Greenville, South Carolina. He was stationed at Donaldson Air Force Base. This was a new kind of life for Betsy and me, and we really enjoyed it. Bill, as he was known, was a very sweet, kind and gentle person, and he loved Betsy very much. He would become very angry if someone questioned him as to whether Betsy was his daughter or not. Bill got his order to go overseas, and in 1953, Betsy and I followed him. It was a wonderful three year tour in Japan, but Bill was drinking heavily. I finally left Bill, and Betsy and I moved back to Dallas. Bill died from alcoholism in 1958.
I dated several very nice men but there was nothing serious between us until I met Bill Lord. Bill was a widower with three children. When I told my family that I was going to marry Bill, they all tried to discourage me, saying I surely didn’t realize what I was taking on. We married in 1961.

Note: This is essentially where the narrative ended, as the Young Family History was written many years ago. Aunt Ruby later divorced Bill Lord, and was on her own the remaining years of her life.

Ruby as a Texas Rangerette
By Barbara Jeanne (“Jeannie”) Campbell Slusher

Pretty Aunt Ruby (Ruby Ethel Reagan) was one of Texas’ first Rangerettes (before they became the Kilgore Rangerettes). At the tender age of 17, she was chosen to be a Rangerette especially for the Texas Centennial in 1936. Additionally, they must have thought she was the best looking, long stemmed Texas beauty because they put her in the front car of the Texas Centennial Parade.
William Langley, photographer for the Texas Centennial, shot several publicity shots of Aunt Ruby that could have landed her in the movies. Mr. Langley told her (when she had just gotten married) “You have ruined your career, I was getting all your pictures ready to take to Hollywood to get you in the movies.” Does that sound like idle talk to you? Mr. Langley later did just what he said he would, but for another of Ruby’s fellow Rangerettes – Linda Darnell - who went on to become a major movie star. Who knows what could have happened for Ruby?

Aunt Ruby By Cheryl Ann Campbell Thornburg

I want to wish Aunt Ruby a very Happy Birthday and say that it has always been fun to be related to her, and to know we come from the same gene pool. We could have gotten an old fuddy, duddy Aunt.
For those of you too young to know, Aunt Ruby was even more beautiful as a young girl. I always thought it was “cool” that everyone thought I was more like her and Bets than my Mom. Mother was my Mom, but Aunt Ruby (and Ruth, too) were mystical creatures that floated around the globe. I’m sure that Mother kept that mystery alive because Ruby was her “big sister” and something special to her as well.
Anyway, Happy Birthday, Miss Reagan.

Tribute to Ruby on Her 79th Birthday
By Barbara Jeanne (“Jeannie”) Campbell Slusher

Speaking as one of your nieces, Aunt Ruby, I congratulate you on your upcoming 79th birthday on February 16.
You have been an inspiration to me over the years. Among the traits that I admire in you are:
Your unrelenting positive attitude, that famous Texas “Can Do” attitude.
Your discipline when attacking one of your goals (whether it be a healthy body or recovering from a heartbreak).
Your fierce determination that you will not take any GUFF from anyone.
Your self respect and perserverance.
Your encouragement and support of a positive self image in those you love.
We all love YOU, an wish you many happy, healthy years to come.

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S1461] 1920 Census, Texas, Hopkins County
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)
[S1959] 1930 Census, Texas, Hunt County
[S6758] Genealogy prepared by meborsheim (Ancestry.com)

Family Explorer

William Eugene Harmon^1,2

M, #29960, b. 9 May 1909, d. 20 May 1951

Pedigree Link

Family: Ruby Ethel Reagan (b. 16 February 1918, d. 11 June 2006)

Daughter

Betsy Jean Sherwood+

BASIC FACTS

William Eugene Harmon was born on 9 May 1909 in Tarrant Co., Texas.^1,3 He and Ruby Ethel Reagan were married on 16 May 1936 in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas.¹ He died on 20 May 1951, at age 42.¹

William Eugene Harmon had reference number 30252.

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)
[S6758] Genealogy prepared by meborsheim (Ancestry.com)

Family Explorer

William Edward Sherwood^1,2

M, #29961, b. 24 April 1921, d. 30 June 1958

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

William Edward Sherwood was born on 24 April 1921.¹ He and Ruby Ethel Reagan were married after 1951 in Dallas Co., Texas.¹ He died on 30 June 1958, at age 37.¹

William Edward Sherwood had reference number 30253.

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

William Marvin Lord^1,2

M, #29962, b. 3 November 1920

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

William Marvin Lord was born on 3 November 1920.^2,1 He and Ruby Ethel Reagan were married on 29 July 1961 in Dallas Co., Texas.¹

William Marvin Lord had reference number 30254.

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

Betsy Jean Sherwood^1,2

F, #29963

Parents

Father	William Eugene Harmon (b. 9 May 1909, d. 20 May 1951)
Mother	Ruby Ethel Reagan (b. 16 February 1918, d. 11 June 2006)

Pedigree Link

Family: Ronald Gordon Beckwith

Daughter	Paige Leigh Beckwith
Daughter	Sheila Gay Beckwith
Son	Ronald Gordon Beckwith

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

Ronald Gordon Beckwith^1,2

M, #29964

Pedigree Link

Family: Betsy Jean Sherwood

Daughter	Paige Leigh Beckwith
Daughter	Sheila Gay Beckwith
Son	Ronald Gordon Beckwith

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

Dorothy Edith Reagan^1,2,3

F, #29965, b. 3 December 1920, d. 10 May 1960

Parents

Father	Monroe Irvin "Minna" Reagan (b. 1 March 1881, d. 22 September 1948)
Mother	Ruby Ethel Young (b. 11 November 1887, d. 21 October 1970)

Pedigree Link

Family: Bertrand Elwood "Eddie" Burnett

Daughter	Pamela Kay Burnett+
Son	Gary Elwood Burnett+
Son	Frank Monroe Burnett (b. 1956, d. 1956)

BASIC FACTS

Dorothy Edith Reagan was born on 3 December 1920 in Como, Hopkins Co., Texas.^1,4 She and Bertrand Elwood "Eddie" Burnett were married on 4 July 1941 in Durant, Oklahoma.¹ She died on 10 May 1960, at age 39, in Dallas Co., Texas.¹ She was buried in Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas.¹

Dorothy Edith Reagan had reference number 30257. She was enumerated on the census in Hunt County, Texas (1930.) Excerpt from The Young Family History by Ruby Ethel Reagan

Dorothy Edith Reagan, daughter of Ruby Ethel Young Reagan and Monroe (Minna)Irvin Reagan, was born on December 3, 1920 at Como, Texas. Edith was a beautiful little red headed girl. When she was about two years old, I well remember them dressing her up and calling her their "cupie doll". She was so cute. When they called her "cupie doll", she would pose for them, and really did look like a doll.
Edith had beautiful auburn hair, and we often said her eyes were the same color as her hair, and she had the type of skin to freckle. She used to say she was the "ugly ducking" of the family, which of course was not true. Edith was very pretty and always kept a beautiful figure. She would not let herself gain weight, and usually weighed around 105 pounds. She was a beautiful seamstress, and made practically all their clothes. Edith was a good wife, wonderful Mother, good cook, an immaculate housekeeper, and her husband and children came first at all times. Edith was the only child of Ethel and Monroe Reagan who got her degree from college. Her degree was from East Texas State Teachers College at Commerce, Texas (later called East Texas State University}.
Edith married Bertrand Elwood Burnett on July 4, 1941 at Durant, Oklahoma. Bertrand Elwood Burnett was known as "Eddie", and everyone called Edith "Edie". They had a good marriage. Eddie was in the military service when they first married, but Edie was always with him at every station he was assigned to. They made their home in Dallas, Texas and that is where they lived their entire married life. There were members of the First Community Church.
Edie and Eddie had their first child, Pamela Kay Burnett, while they were stationed at Newport News, Virginia on August 27, 1944. Pam was a beautiful child, and they were so proud of her. Their second child, Gary Elwood Burnett, was born May 1, 1947 at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas. He was an adorable little boy who had his mother's coloring, with red hair and fair skin. Gary adored his Mother very much. Edie and Eddie were so happy, and said their family was complete now that they had both a beautiful daughter and a very handsome son.
Their third child, also born at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas only lived 24 hours. He was another little boy, who they named Frank Monroe Burnett. He was a seven-month baby, and his lungs were not fully developed. Edie died from cancer on May 10, 1961 at age 40 years and she is buried beside little Frank at Restland memorial Park, Dallas, Texas.

Remembering Aunt Edie, by Barbara Jeanne Campbell Slusher

Her neat as a pin grooming and way of dressing.
Her beautiful hair, with the grey that came in as if it had been professionally streaked.
Her sweet disposition.
Her always eating salads while the rest of us were chowing down.
How much my Mother, Billie, absolutely adored her. She loved each of her sisters and her brother, but Edie held a special place in her heart. I know that Momma grieved Edie's early death every day of her life.

GRAVE MARKER

EDITH R. FRANK M.
1920 - 1961 1956
BURNETT

Note: Edith shares a marker with her son, Frank.

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)
[S1959] 1930 Census, Texas, Hunt County
[S6758] Genealogy prepared by meborsheim (Ancestry.com)

Family Explorer

Billie Louise Reagan^1,2,3

F, #29966, b. 15 June 1924, d. 14 December 1993

Parents

Father	Monroe Irvin "Minna" Reagan (b. 1 March 1881, d. 22 September 1948)
Mother	Ruby Ethel Young (b. 11 November 1887, d. 21 October 1970)

Pedigree Link

Family 1: Jack Campbell (b. 13 April 1921, d. February 1971)

Daughter	Cheryl Ann Campbell
Daughter	Barbara Jean Campbell+

Family 2: Roy Wilson Taylor

Son	Roy Lee Taylor+

Family 3: James Lee Royer

Daughter

Kathleen Royer

BASIC FACTS

Billie Louise Reagan was born on 15 June 1924 in Hopkins Co., Texas.^2,4,1 She and Jack Campbell were married on 11 April 1942 in Waurika, Jefferson Co., Oklahoma.¹ She and Roy Wilson Taylor were married on 2 September 1951 in Dallas Co., Texas.¹ She and James Lee Royer were married on 4 May 1959 in Dallas Co., Texas.¹ She died on 14 December 1993, at age 69, in Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas.^2,4,5

Billie Louise Reagan had reference number 30258. Her Social Security Number was 465-20-5084, issued: Texas, last residence: Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas.⁴ She was enumerated on the census in Hunt County, Texas (1930.) Billie’s Second Job By Barbara Jeanne (“Jeannie”) Campbell Slusher

At Christmas time when Cheryl (Cheryl Ann Campbell Thornburg) and Lee (Roy Lee Taylor) and I were growing up living at Mammy’s house with Mother (Billie Louise Reagan Royer) times were definitely lean money wise. During the holidays Momma worked her regular full time secretarial job at General American Oil Company plus nights at the local Sears store so that she could give us a big Christmas. Looking back, she made sure that we had lots of (inexpensive) presents to open, and wrapped everything individually so that it seemed like a lot.
Also, a couple of days before Christmas, our dolls would mysteriously disappear (“for Santa”), then reappear on Christmas morning with new hairdos and new dresses. (Looking back, this event was always preceded by Momma burning the midnight oil at Mammy’s treadle sewing machine.)
I remember Momma coming home one day after her secretarial job and saying she was tired. I actually remember asking her WHY she was tired, HADN’T SHE BEEN SITTING DOWN ALL DAY? The look I got back from her was as close to hatred as I would ever get from my Mother.
All these years later, I realize how close I must have come to my own demise.

Billie By Andrew DuPre

I do miss Billie so very much. My fondest memories are from the (holiday) time of year. Thanksgiving and Christmas will never be the same without Billie. Her house was the meeting place of all our family. Betsy and her kids (Paige, Sheila and Ronnie) were there, Jim (James Lee Royer) (always tinkering at his desk or in a back bedroom) and Billie spending endless hours the day before, and the day of, in the kitchen. And, of course, the most welcome of all, THE COWBOYS (Dallas’ football team). How many times did Roger Staubach wait until the 4th quarter to come from behind and win. Billie respected and loved many of the former Cowboys. She had autographs from Tom Landry and Randy White, to mention a few.
In essence, Billie’s heart and love for ALL her family made her the host and toast of all time.

Snapshots of Billie
By Barbara Jeanne (“Jeannie”) Campbell Slusher

These “snapshot” memories will be forever etched in my mind of my Mom, Billie:
Her hearty singing of Little Richard sons around Mammy’s (Ruby Ethel Reagan)’s house. (She was partial to “Jenny, Jenny, Jenny” and “Long Tall Sally” as I recall.) NO ONE can do justice to describing this scene, you just had to have been there!
Demonstrating (with Aunt Edie and Aunt Ruth) to us kids how to do “Truckin” dancing from THEIR day.
Those thin, little white socks she used to wear, folded down.
Her prize-winning collection of “holey” underwear. We teased her she would continue to wear her old worn-out underwear until it was just an elastic band around her waist.
Her perennial glass of ice water.
The day she crawled on her knees to answer the front door (because she thought it was her grandchild ringing the bell). The surprised Postman answered her question, “Who IS that at my door?” with as straight a face as possible.
The poignancy of her telling of that awful story about her Dad’s, (Paw Paw’s Monroe (Minna) Irvin Reagan)’s, last day on earth, and how she got to ride in the ambulance with him to the hospital. She ADORED Paw Paw.

Billie by Betsy Jean Harmon Sherwood Beckwith

Billie played a major role in my life, a very important and essential role. Billie, (Billie Louise Reagan Royer) was the closest thing I had to a sister. My earliest memory of her is in Commerce when I was about three or four. I lived with Mammy (Ruby Ethel Young Reagan), Paw Paw (Monroe (Minna) Irvin Reagan), Edie (Dorothy Edith Reagan), Billie and the college girls that roomed there. It amazes me how much of that time I remember (being so young), but I do recall a lot of it. Billie used to stand in front of me and put me on HER feet, and she would dance with me all over the living room, and I remember just loving it. I’m sure she is responsible for my love of music. Like Dan (Daniel Flint DuPre) has said, Billie would take us to all the latest movie musicals (June Allyson, Van Johnson, Jane Powell, Gene Kelly, etc.). Nurturing was second nature to her, as well as always making us feel very special.
I’m sure there were a lot of dirty dishes to wash after one of Mammy’s big meals but I don’t remember that being a dreaded chore, maybe because when it was Billie’s turn, she would let me stand up in a chair next to her and help, all the while singing “You Are My Sunshine” as loud as we wanted. That is my very favorite early memory of my Aunt Billie, but there are so many others because she took the time to love and to care.
There is an enormous void in all of our lives with her gone, but she’ll never be gone…she left so much of herself with everyone she touched.

Billie’s Special Gift
By Barbara Jeanne (“Jeannie”) Campbell Slusher

In the close to five years since Mother died, I’ve given a lot of thought as to what specifically made her so loved by so many. I know it sounds corny, but I think her special gift was that she genuinely loved people.
I asked her about that one time and she said she just found each person so interesting – what made people make the choices they did, how they came to where they were at that moment. I remember watching her face when she had a group of friends and family in her home. She was truly in her element. Also, what made her unusual is that she enjoyed all ages – she made little distinction between young and old. She seemed able to relate to all ages, but as we all know, she particularly appreciated babies and children.
For me, she represented what, at least in my corner of the world, has apparently been lost – people who take the time to socialize. I can’t speak for the way Texas is today as I’ve been in California since age 19, but the environment I live in is very career-oriented and competitive, and the majority of people’s energy is spent on attaining some measure of success in their careers, rather than spending their time in unproductive visiting. THAT doesn’t produce wealth, if you know what I mean.
Mother’s attitude about people wasn’t an affectation. As one of Dan’s articles said so well, she was about the most fun person to be around that ANY of us knew. She was always ready to have a good time, and to invite us along if we were so inclined. This enthusiasm for life may have developed in response to having had some substantial heartbreaks along the way, but I don’t think so. I think she was simply born with this gift.
I sound like I’m talking about a saint. Au contraire! Actually, I think what most of us loved about her was her rascal side. She was the one who always carried candy in her purse. SHE would let the kids have it even if their Mothers would not. She would spoil us by buying things when it was perfectly apparent to everyone else that we were already spoiled enough. But nooooo, WE were special, or so she made us feel.
You know the old saying “I learned everything I ever needed to know about life from… (____)”. Reflecting on what I learned from Momma, I realize I learned a lot:
The importance of laughter. I reflect back on the men in my life, but especially my sweet husband, Rich, and realized that I am attracted to men who make me laugh.
Spending time with children is never wasted time. Although this one is admittedly strained during the tumultuous adolescent years, I agree that giving my time, my love and my energy to my children has never been wasted. This is also my small way, as a former 60’s hippie, to change the world incrementally.
Love of singing comes from hearing Mother’s unselfconscious renditions of 40’s big band music, early rock ‘n roll, and the Beatles. She had a nice singing voice, could carry a tune, but she was no Barbra Streisand. She just loved to sing. Now, me too.
Love of the movies. Recently, Cheryl and I talked about this. I was trying to analyze exactly where this behavior came from. Cheryl pointed out that Momma used to drop all of off at the “Kid’s Show” on Saturdays at the Arcadia or the Granada Theaters on Greenville Avenue. These were the old double features (family entertainment) plus cartoons plus “serials” like Flash Gordon.
There, we experienced a wide range of entertainment, some good, and some bad. But those Saturdays were filled with fun. We went back and forth between the theater and the lobby all day, visiting friends, eating candy, and sitting mesmerized in our seats soaking up the popular culture. To this day, I doubt there are few humanoids on the planet who are more full-blown videophiles than we are.
We all thirst for someone to hang on our every word. If this one need is met, many others can remain unmet in relative comfort. When Mother talked to you about a problem you were struggling with, she could make you feel that you were the most important person in the world to her. At that moment, you were. She was there for you as long as you needed her. As the years went on, she gave less and less advice, and just listened instead. This must have been hard for her, as it is for all Mothers!
At any rate, I think we all learned a lot from her about the importance of taking the time to make our family feel loved.

“ Bibbie”
By Ronnie Beckwith

My Mother’s letter about Billie, (Betsy Jean Harmon Beckwith), made me cry when I read it because I also would stand in a chair and watch Bibbie (Billie) do the dishes after big dinners. I also know that those Christmases are what I wish all my Christmases were like. I have always wanted everyone together like we were then. We have a picture of Billie (Bibbie) and Ruby (Gammy) next to our computer. And I look at it all the time and wish I could have just one more Christmas with her. How she could make you feel when you were around her! I miss her very much.

Billie Buys Lee Thornburg a Skirt
By Cheryl Ann Campbell Thornburg

We’ll never forget the year that Mom, according to her usual custom, had bought Christmas presents ahead of time all through the year and wrapped the gifts, but had not labeled them. This particular year, my husband, Lee (Lee Thornburg) opened his present from Billie – a cute little skirt - and appeared appropriately pleased until Anna and I broke out in giggles. It was meant to go with another gift she had bought for Kathy (Kathleen Royer Hale). When we called Mom to tell here, Jim (James Lee Royer) was in the background reminding her that she bought out the stores for Christmas anyway. Which she did!

Shopping at the Billie Store
By Barbara Jeanne (“Jeannie”) Campbell Slusher

One thing we all got a kick out of about my Mom, Billie, (Billie Louise Reagan Royer) was her “Billie Store”. We all marveled that no matter how new the acquaintance, she was always able to quickly appear with a gift to welcome her guest into her home.
It didn’t matter how impromptu the situation, Billie was able to disappear into one of her bedrooms for two minutes, then reappear with a present, wrapped and tagged with the guest’s name on it, and ready for giving.
We believe that this practice, although it definitely predated her “Avon Lady” days certainly DEVELOPED during that time. Avon must have loved her, and thought she was management material because of her volume of sales. Meanwhile husband Jim must have kept waiting for the money to roll in. It never did.
Instead, Momma, who could never resist a sale, would buy in quantity and in all colors whenever ANY bargain presented itself – Avon or not.
This practice gave us some good belly laughs during a time that could have been very sad, when her daughters and friends sorted through her things after her death. To our amazement, we found 18 pairs of black pants, at least a dozen white blouses, stuffed animals in every size and color, as well as a multitude of other items worthy of opening a small boutique. We were howling at all the places where she squirreled away these items.
In any case, Momma’s “Billie Store” provided more than one of us with a feeling that we were welcomed into a warm place to be.

Billie On The Warpath
By Barbara Jeanne (“Jeannie”) Campbell Slusher

One thing I always admired about my Mother, Billie, was her grim-eyed fierce determination as to someone she loved, to stand up for one of her own. Heaven help YOU if you were in her path!
When I was a teenager and attended Bryan Adams High School in Dallas, times were a bit different. In those days, schools had a pretty narrowly-prescribed definition of what constituted roper appearance for their young ladies. I did not fit their mold. Wild and crazy (this was the 60’s), I had my OWN ideas of appropriate female appearance which included false eyelashes and perfume. (There were those critics, like my stepfather, Jim, who felt I wore “excessive” perfume – I felt he just didn’t understand me!)
In any case, the Principal’s Office called me in and informed me that if it was my intention to continue in their esteemed institution, I must nix the eyelashes and perfume immediately.
That night at home, I pleaded my case to my Mom. (I felt I had a shot because this WAS the Mom who had defended my right to wear an evening dress cut down to THERE to a school dance.) In any case, the next morning, Billie had a full head of steam going and headed up to Bryan Adams.
I’m sure they still remember her to this day – probably have a picture of her on the wall with a red line drawn through it – they most certainly HEARD her. She marched into the Principal’s Office, explained in some detail her daughter’s civil rights and pointed out that she could be really effective on the 6 o’clock News and in a courtroom.
I’ll never forget how she stood up for me. She did not agree with me on my appearance, (I was a sore disappointment to her on the “lady” front), but she was for ME all the way, and she let me know it when it really counted.

Billie
By Dan DuPre’

Billie oversaw some of the major turning points in my life. She and Edie forced me to fight a bully in the old neighborhood once, and when they pulled me off him I was banging his head on Ruby’s car bumper.
Billie also dispelled the belief that Betsy had placed in me that a watermelon would grow inside me if I swallowed its seeds (which I had).
When Billie took Betsy and me to the Arcadia movie theater on Greenville Avenue, we always begged for popcorn, drinks, candy and anything else we could think of asking for; Billie fooled us when she pulled a very large brown grocery bag full of home-popped popcorn out of her purse, and then proceeded to do the same with bottled Coca-Cola and candy bars purchased earlier at a place much cheaper than the concession stand. She even had a “church key” to open the Coke bottles.
My former business partner, Jack Hawkins, thought the world of Billie and has stated that she was more fun to be around than almost anyone he ever knew.

Mom
By Cheryl Campbell Thornburg

I have thought about a bunch of stuff that I remember about Mom but most of it we have all talked about or know of first hand. I am still in awe of how lucky I was to get her for a Mom.
I think a memory I have of her that might be one I have alone is when we were living with mammy, and she was dating our dentist, Van Boone. She worked at the Meadows Building and his office was on the first floor there. I think they dated for a while before any of us kids knew it. I remember that she was always going water skiing at White Rock Lake. That was when you could swim, fish, etc. out there. Maybe you can again, I don’t know. Mammy was always there to take care of us, and so I don’t ever remember going out in the boat when they went.
She always had a good time but one day when she came home, she was particularly in a good mood. She always talked to me about stuff but this time she had gotten a new bathing suit, and she said that she had been told how good she looked in it. She didn’t use the word “sexy”. I don’t remember what exactly she said but that was the connotation. I was mortified. That was my Mom! She didn’t dare look good. I guess I was too young to realize what dating was. And she was thrilled to death over the compliment. I remember wondering if she told Mammy, who would have straightened her out on the spot. It worried me for a while, then I forgot about it.
Several times in my life I have thought about that conversation and once I tried to figure out how old she was. She was always old to me as a kid. The best I can remember, I was probably about 9, maybe 10, which would have made her 28 or 29. I could have been as young as 7 or 8, because we lived with Mammy when I was that young, too. She would have only been maybe 26. So she really was a babe and sexy to boot in that bathing suit. My eyes just couldn’t see her like that. Now I realize that she was confiding in me. She was still a very young girl and had stepped out of her role as the mother of either 2 or 3 at that time. That was what worried me, I know now. No one told me that story of her as a youngster.
It gives me lots of pleasure to have had that glimpse of my Mom as other people knew her when she was young. I still miss her very much.

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)
[S1959] 1930 Census, Texas, Hunt County
[S12398] Social Security Death Index, Source Medium: Book
[S6758] Genealogy prepared by meborsheim (Ancestry.com)

Family Explorer

Jack Campbell¹

M, #29967, b. 13 April 1921, d. February 1971

Pedigree Link

Family: Billie Louise Reagan (b. 15 June 1924, d. 14 December 1993)

Daughter	Cheryl Ann Campbell
Daughter	Barbara Jean Campbell+

BASIC FACTS

Jack Campbell was born on 13 April 1921.¹ He and Billie Louise Reagan were married on 11 April 1942 in Waurika, Jefferson Co., Oklahoma.¹ He died in February 1971, at age 49.¹

Jack Campbell had reference number 30259. His Social Security Number was 452-01-9125, issued: Texas.²

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S12398] Social Security Death Index, Source Medium: Book

Family Explorer

Roy Wilson Taylor^1,2

M, #29968

Pedigree Link

Family: Billie Louise Reagan (b. 15 June 1924, d. 14 December 1993)

Son	Roy Lee Taylor+

BASIC FACTS

Roy Wilson Taylor and Billie Louise Reagan were married on 2 September 1951 in Dallas Co., Texas.¹

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

James Lee Royer^1,2

M, #29969

Pedigree Link

Family: Billie Louise Reagan (b. 15 June 1924, d. 14 December 1993)

Daughter

Kathleen Royer

BASIC FACTS

James Lee Royer and Billie Louise Reagan were married on 4 May 1959 in Dallas Co., Texas.¹

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

Kathleen Royer^1,2

F, #29970

Parents

Father	James Lee Royer
Mother	Billie Louise Reagan (b. 15 June 1924, d. 14 December 1993)

Pedigree Link

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

Cheryl Ann Campbell^1,2

F, #29971

Parents

Father	Jack Campbell (b. 13 April 1921, d. February 1971)
Mother	Billie Louise Reagan (b. 15 June 1924, d. 14 December 1993)

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

Cheryl Ann Campbell and William Koci were married on 24 August 1963.¹ She and William Arthur Reinhardt were married on 4 October 1969.¹ She and Lee R. Thornburg were married after 1970.

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

William Koci^1,2

M, #29972

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

William Koci and Cheryl Ann Campbell were married on 24 August 1963.¹

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

William Arthur Reinhardt^1,2

M, #29973

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

William Arthur Reinhardt and Cheryl Ann Campbell were married on 4 October 1969.¹

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

Barbara Jean Campbell^1,2

F, #29974

Parents

Father	Jack Campbell (b. 13 April 1921, d. February 1971)
Mother	Billie Louise Reagan (b. 15 June 1924, d. 14 December 1993)

Pedigree Link

Family 1: Randolph Williams (d. before 1970)

Daughter

Tanya Christiana Williams

Family 2: Mark Bowman Davis

Son	Derek Joseph Davis

BASIC FACTS

Barbara Jean Campbell and Randolph Williams were married in 1966.¹ She and Mark Bowman Davis were married on 13 July 1970.¹ She and Richard "Rich" Slusher were married after 1979.

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)

Family Explorer

Randolph Williams^1,2

M, #29975, d. before 1970

Pedigree Link

Family: Barbara Jean Campbell

Daughter

Tanya Christiana Williams

BASIC FACTS

Randolph Williams and Barbara Jean Campbell were married in 1966.¹ He died before 1970.²

Randolph Williams had reference number 30267.

Citations

[S7096] Genealogy prepared by Rick Reagan (email address)
[S7151] Genealogy prepared by Ron Grassi (email address)