Notes for Norvel Monroe Ussery

Notes for Norvel Monroe Ussery

MR. AND MRS. N. M. USSERY

Norvel Monroe Ussery was born February 6, 1900, in Norwood, Missouri, the second child of T. A. and Idella Agnes (Allen) Ussery. He spent his childhood years in Missouri before coming to Texas in 1919 with his parents, sisters Docie and Nellie and brothers Lawrence, Melvin and Ray.

Urcy Mae Slater was born April 11, 1903, the second child of Fred B. and Margie (Hollingsworth) Slater. She was born at Nolan in the house of her grandparents, the J. T. Slaters, whose home was north of Slater?s Chapel Cemetery. At the time Urcy was born, her parents lived in a dug-out north of Falling Rock pasture. They were in the process of building Slater?s Chapel Methodist Church when she was born. The church was west of the cemetery.

Urcy had one sister, Freda Blanche, who died in infancy. She is buried at Marystown, Texas. The town is named after her maternal grandmother.

Urcy attended the first Brooks School which was one mile north of the present Divide School on land owned by the Slaters. As a small girl, she rode her pony to school. When she got to school, she would put the reins up and turn it loose to go back home. A second Brooks School was built where the Nolan Church of Christ now stands, and she attended this school until it was time to go to high school. As there was no high school at Nolan, they packed her trunk and carried her to Sweetwater where she attended Newman High School in 1919-1921. While going to school there, she lived with the R. A. Raglands in their home, which now houses the Pioneer County-City Museum.

On September 23, 1923, the F. B. Slaters had a surprise for their wedding anniversary. Their daughter Urcy married Monroe Ussery. The wedding took place behind Slater?s Chapel Methodist Church after the Sunday service. The parents were having a board meeting inside the church while the preacher, Bro. W. F. Hardy, slipped out and married the young couple. When the meeting was over, the Slaters came out and the preacher gave them the news as the newlyweds drove off. Folks tell that the parents were not very happy about their ?anniversary surprise?.

Urcy and Monroe went to Sweetwater and lived on Orange Street and he worked for Sam Glass Grocery Store and later Pace Bros. Grocery Store. When the Slaters found out they were going to be grandparents, they built the couple a brick home at 402 Lamar Street. Their first child, Opal Irene, was born there October 6, 1924. Nine years later, a son, John Monroe, was born there on June 8, 1933.

In 1937, they bought the T. P. Coal and Oil Co., which was located west of Sam Houston Street on First Street. Monroe delivered coal oil and gas while Urcy kept the books. Johnny has fond memories of deliveries to L. O. Hall?s Store at Claytonville. L. O. always gave him ?soda pop? and candy.

In August of 1942, the family moved to Nolan to be near her parents, who were in bad health. They lived west of the Divide School where Opal and her husband Elbert Simmons now live. Monroe continued to operate the business in Sweetwater. After the death of the Slaters in 1943, they moved to the Slater home east of Nolan. Monroe farmed and ranched on the land they inherited. They raised cattle and sheep.

The sheep shearing was a yearly highlight enjoyed by family and friends. Lunch was prepared by Urcy and her cook and was taken to the Falling Rock pasture pens where the sheep were being sheared. The lunch was spread picnic-style and the men would go to the creek to wash up. The grandchildren enjoyed the picnic and climbing and jumping on the sacks of wool. It usually took three days to finish shearing, then the wool was loaded onto the truck to be hauled to San Angelo.

Urcy and Monroe were benefactors and very active in the Nolan United Methodist Church where he was a trustee and she was president of the W. M. S. for many years. They were very strong supporters of the Divide School where Monroe served on the school board for many years. The 1966 yearbook was dedicated to them.

Monroe was on the first Taylor Telephone Board. He was instrumental in getting the dial telephones to Nolan and the surrounding areas. He served from 1953 to 1959 when ill health forced him to retire.

Monroe and Urcy were loving and patient parents and grandparents. Every Sunday found the family gathered around the huge dining table which was filled with good food. They were affectionately known as Monroe and Grandmother to their five grandchildren and later as Mama Urcy to the seven great-grandchildren.

Monroe passed away July 17, 1964 in Sweetwater after a long illness and is buried in the Slater family plot at Slater?s Chapel Cemetery. After his death, Urcy maintained the family home for 18 years. She passed away July 12, 1982 in Sweetwater and is buried beside her husband.

The two left behind a family with lots of fond memories of two fine people that will always be missed.
From FIRST 100 YEARS NOLAN COUNTY TEXAS (1985, Nolan County Genealogical Society)ath Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.e following NARA web page: NARA.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910.T624, 1,178 rolls. Dove, Tarrant, Texas, ED , roll T624_1592, part , page .e following NARA web page: NARA.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910.T624, 1,178 rolls. Dove, Tarrant, Texas, ED , roll T624_1592, part , page .us. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930.T626, 2,667 rolls. Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas, ED 1, roll 2372, page , image 13.0.s Department of State Health Services, Microfiche.l data - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 [Archival Database]; World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.ath Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.us. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930.T626, 2,667 rolls. Precinct 4, Denton, Texas, ED 16, roll 2323, page , image 987.0.ce System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, M1509, 4,582 rolls. Roll 1953188, DraftBoard 0., 1903-2000. Austin, TX, USA: Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit.s Department of State Health Services, Microfiche.

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