The Passing of Mr. and Mrs. James Walter Rutherford

Lately, I have felt a little run dry when it comes to new genealogy finds. Yesterday, however, I came across a new FREE resource from Texas Tech University. In doing so, I have found many articles mentioning a lot of my Texas ancestors. Most of these finds have been little gossip tidbits about so-and-so visiting so-and-so but I have also found a few obituaries. Today, I would like to share the obituaries of my 2nd great grandparents, James Walter Rutherford and his wife, Ora Frances McClung. If you click on the headlines you should be directed to the actual newspaper articles if you would like to read them first hand. Otherwise, I have transcribed them for your convenience.

James Walter and Ora with 6 of their 7 children. Myrtle Jones is missing.

From the Crowell, Foard County News, Thursday 17 Aug 1950

Pioneer Truscott Resident Dies Saturday, Aug. 12
J.W. Rutherford Buried at Truscott Sunday Afternoon
Funeral services for J. W. Rutherford of Knox City, who died Saturday, August 12 in a Knox City hospital, were held at the Truscott Baptist Church last Sunday afternoon, August 13, at 3:30 o'clock. Ralph E. Branum pastor of the Truscott Baptist Church, was in charge of the services. The following favorite songs were sung, "Saved by Grace" Nearer My God to Thee" and a special quartet sang "Land Where We Never Grow Old". Internment was made in the Truscott Cemetery under the direction of the Womack Funeral Home of Crowell.
James Walter Rutherford was born in Mississippi on April 7, 1877. He came to Texas at the age of six. He was married or Ora McClung at Mt. Pleasant, Texas, in 1898. He moved to Truscott in 1908 and lived there until 1944 when he retired and moved to Knox City. He is survived by his wife and seven children: Mrs. Myrtle Jones, Benjamin; Jesse N. Rutherford, Truscott; Mrs Fletcher Collier, Thalia; Mrs Willard Traweek, Foard City; Mrs. Farris Caddell, Truscott; Mrs E. E. Thompson, Knox City; and Mrs Robert L. Holmes of Iowa Park. All of the children were present for the funeral. He is also survived by three sisters Mrs. Marion Close, Kirkland; Mrs Lillie Price, Odessa; and Mrs Margaret Hosch, Grandfield, Okla. who were also present for funeral services.
Pall bearers were Stan Westbrook, John Bullion, John Black, Bruce Eubank, Mart Chowning and Ozzie Turner. Flower girls were Norma Jones, Clara Jones, Faye Black, Nettie Black, Annie Haynie, Peggy Traweek and Patsy Owens.
Those from out of town attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher B. Collier and children, Mary, Jimmie, Patsy Anna Marlene and Carolyn, of Thalia; Mr. and Mrs. B. L. rater, Mrs Theo Richardson and children, Mrs. Joe Monds and children, Shirley and Velma Ruth, of Duncan, Okla; Mr. and Mrs. Norman Davis and son, Randall, Joe L. McClung, Oris J. Davis of Marlowe, Okla; Reece McClung of Electra; Will Glenn and Mr. and Mrs Edwin Jones and Juanella Kaye of Benjamin; Mr. and Mrs Clarence Woodward, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Godsey Mrs. McCarty, Mr and Mrs. E. E. Thompson and chldren Je. E. Lee Arnold, Armitta, Peggy Anita, and Ray Lynn and Bill Cummings of Knox City; Sgt and Mrs Robert L. Holmes and children Robert, Ronnie and Larry, Mrs. J. C. Skipworth and son, Eugene, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin B. Bishop and sno, Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne Cook and Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Young Jr. of Vernon; Mr. and Mrs. Willard Traweek of Foard City; Mr. and Mrs. Clint Blakeley of Fort Worth; Mrs. Walter Weems, Mrs Georgia Beard, Mrs. Lillie Price of Odessa; Mrs. C. L. Staton of Borger; Mr. and Mrs Edmund Close and Sue, Mr. and Mrs Marion Cose and Louna Lisenbee of Kirkland; Mrs. Margaret Hosch and Grady Hosch of Grandfield, Okla, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Langston.

From the Knox City, Texas,  Knox County Herald 17 July 1958

Funeral Held at Truscott For Former Resident
Funeral services for Mrs. J. W. Rutherford, 78,  former Truscott resident were held in the Truscott Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon at 3:00, conducted by the pastor Reverend Jack Davis assisted by Reverend Bill Hall pastor of the Gilliland Baptist Church and Reverend David Stevens pastor of the Truscott Methodist Church.

Mrs. Rutherford died in the Ford County Hospital Monday morning following a serious illness of several weeks. She had been in ill health for a number of years. She made her home with her children until she went to live in the rest home in Crowell this year.

Pallbearers were Jim Jones and Bryant Bate of Truscott, Harry Traweek of Crowell, Carl Haynie, J B Eubank Jr., and John Bullion all of Truscott.
Ora Frances Rutherford was born in Piedmont Alabama to Martha and Joe McClung on July 1st 1880. In 1898 she was United in marriage to JW Rutherford who preceded her in death on August 12th 1950. To this Union was born six daughters: Mrs. Myrtle Jones of Benjamin, Mrs. Glennie Collier of Thalia, Mrs Elba Traweek of Foard City, Mrs. Lona Noron of Midland, Mrs. Laverne Holmes of Roswell, New Mexico, and Mrs. Opal Caddell of Truscott, and one son Willard Rutherford of Gilliland (<-- This is a typo. Her son is Jesse N. Rutherford)
At an early age she joined the Baptist Church in Coleman County. At the time of her passing she was a member of the Truscott Baptist Church.
The Rutherford's lived on Antelope Flats, near Truscott, and lived in Knox City for several years.
Survivors are her seven children: one brotehr Joe McClung of Marlow, Okla; two sisters, Mrs. Winnie Studdard, Piedmont, Alabama; 32 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.
Burial was in the Truscott Cemetery beside her  husband. Womack Funeral Home in Crowell was in charge of the arrangements.

It's Blackberry Season

When I was younger, and my weekends were spent with my Mammy, there were several occasions where I was given an old plastic gallon size ice cream pale and sent down the road to my Great Grandma Willie Belle's. The bucket was to be filled will blackberries picked from the side of the road. It was about a 1.5 miles down the dirt road from Mammy's house to hers. Along the way was my Dad's land too and I would often grab a few sand plums from his fence row. Sometimes my berries were given to Grandma Nall and she would make jelly. The rest of the time it was taken back to Mammy and they would be washed and frozen for blackberry cobbler one Sunday after church.



I am lucky enough to be nearly surrounded by blackberries out here at Chigger Haven. This year I, with the help of Jared and Ashley, have harvested our wild blackberries 3 times so far. The first batch we just ate plain. The second I used to make a batch of delicious blackberry breakfast bars. This time I decided to skim some old newspapers for some unique recipes. I found a winner from The Akron Beacon dated 15 July 1939. The recipe was a submission from a local reader, Mrs. Gertrude Hensel. She was the prize winner and for the cost of 6¢ she would receive a Glenna Snow cookbook. She entered several recipes but the one I am making today is her Blackberry Pudding recipe. I added a bit of cinnamon to mine.... and used 1 1/3 cup of sugar.

 

There isn't a temperature or time for her pudding but a quick search online tells me that similar bread pudding recipes bake at 350° for about 40-45 minutes.

I look forward to trying her Blackberry Custard Pie next. The above little snippet is a perfect combination of both of my Dads. My Dad, Johnny, loves custard pie, while my Step-dad, Steve, loves bread pudding.

Here are a few pics from today:







Until next time,
Becky