Family/Spouse: Susan Pope. Susan (daughter of Solomon Pope and Margaret Hobson) was born in 1822 in Tennessee; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
She is listed as Mary in the census.

Notes:

Birth:
She is listed as Martha A. in the census.

Notes:

Birth:
She is listed as Mary on the census.

Sarah married Zachariah Taylor Gibson in 1870. Zachariah was born in Mar 1847 in Tennessee; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Lucy Ann McCook on 1 Feb 1874. Lucy (daughter of Hamilton McCook and Martha Howard) was born on 16 Feb 1857 in Texas; died on 28 Jun 1926 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas; was buried on 29 Jun 1926 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Jessie Etta Compton. Jessie (daughter of Joseph Compton and Caroline Millarnes) was born on 31 Jan 1868 in Alba, Wood County, Texas; died on 23 Apr 1954 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas; was buried on 24 Apr 1954 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mildred married Owen Pinckney Pyle in 1891. Owen (son of Jesse Wilson Pyle and Parmenia Amelia Keller) was born on 13 Dec 1867 in Ozark, Franklin County, Arkansas; died on 19 Nov 1919 in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas; was buried on 21 Nov 1919 in Belton, Bell County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: McCook. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At the time of the 1880 Census of Wood County, Texas; the fourth child, a daughter was only two months old and not specifically named.

Family/Spouse: Thompson. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Wier. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Charles Monroe Curry. Charles (son of Alonzo Curry and Rebecca Compton) was born on 1 Dec 1875 in Morrisville, Polk County, Missouri; died on 30 Sep 1954 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas; was buried in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: John Routt. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Walter M. Murdock. Walter was born on 19 Feb 1877 in Corinth, Mississippi; died on 3 Dec 1963 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas; was buried on 4 Dec 1963 in Arlington, Tarrant County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Lelia Mae Cates. Lelia was born on 4 Jan 1901 in Texas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Edna. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: J. M. Self. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: James Fred Bolin. James was born on 25 Sep 1885 in Arkansas; died on 3 Oct 1963 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas; was buried on 8 Oct 1963 in Smithfield, Tarrant County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Werth. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Flora P. Patton. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Robert Murrel Cooper. Robert was born on 27 Oct 1924; died on 19 Apr 2006. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Bennie married Betty Jean Myers on 7 Jan 1947. Betty (daughter of Ray Myers and Billie) was born on 10 Jan 1929 in Big Spring, Howard County, Texas; died on 27 Mar 2023 in Woodville, Tyler County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
John Wiley McChristian, Sr.

April 14, 1934 – May 14, 2023

On Sunday night, May 14, 2023, John Wiley McChristian, Sr. left this earth after a brief illness and went to his Heavenly Father. John was born in Fort Worth on April 14, 1934. He was born to Benjamin Franklin McChristian and Lela Mae Cates McChristian. On the day he celebrated his first birthday, the dust bowl’s worst storm, “black Sunday”, blasted through Oklahoma and Texas. That day brought only one of the many winds of change that came and went throughout his life.

His early years included his siblings Bennie Frank, Lucy, Lela Mae, and Howard. All of his siblings and their beloved spouses have preceded John in death. He was also preceded in death by his grandson, Curtis John Seiwert. His father moved the family from Fort Worth to Big Spring in West Texas to find a drier climate for Lela Mae’s asthma. He and his siblings farmed cotton with their father until they were old enough to find work off the farm. Over the coming years, the siblings, their spouses and the many nieces and nephews visited that old farm often. The youngsters were especially fascinated by the two-hole outhouse. John left High School without graduating to work at the tank car shop at the Cosden Refinery in Big Spring.

At 18 he married 17 year-old Joyce Marie Watkins and they began a life that would veer across the country and back. Throughout their lives together John and Joyce made worship and prayer a priority. Their unwavering faith was a living testament to friends, family, and neighbors.

John loved the adventure of seeing new places and over the next 70 years, they lived in Big Spring, Texas; El Dorado, Kansas; Bakersfield, California; Ventura, California; Davidson, North Carolina; Denison, Texas; Gun Barrel City, Texas; and at last, Athens, Texas. To support his family, and his wanderlust, John took on many jobs and titles. Despite his modest education, he understood machines and could figure out how to solve almost any problem. He worked on railroad tank cars in Big Spring, ran a tank car shop in El Dorado, learned how to repair copy machines in Bakersfield, then fabricated walk-in freeze-dryers in Bakersfield and Ventura; by the time they moved to North Carolina, he figured out how to build an automated line to sterilize, fill and label small glass vials with powdered reagents while satisfying FDA regulations.

In addition to these civilian adventures, John also served in the military. He was a proud member of the Texas National Guard for 10 years and was called to active duty in 1961 at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. During his service he was awarded, “Soldier of the Year” for his battalion in 1961 and spent an afternoon with Audie Murphy as a reward.

At age 65 he retired from the medical product field and began to work in the fields of grass and hay around Denison. He loved cutting and baling hay as he returned to the farming roots he left so many years before. He loved trying to make an old tractor start that everyone else had given up on; or cannibalizing two ancient dump trucks to get one that would run and dump … sometimes. His last 6 years were spent living on Cedar Creek Lake until he could no longer walk down to his dock and then living quietly in Athens, Texas. As his body began to tire and wear out on him, he often told his children that he just wanted “to make it to the party.” He did, and what a party it was. In August of 2022, surrounded by children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and great grandchildren, John and Joyce celebrated 70 years of marriage.
John is survived by his wife of 70 years, Joyce Marie McChristian, of Athens, Texas. He is also survived by daughter Debra Winter of Kingman, Kansas; son John McChristian Jr and wife Lee Ann McChristian of Athens, Texas; and daughter Connie Seiwert and husband Steve Seiwert of Kingman, Kansas. John is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren.

A funeral service will take place at Dannel Funeral Home Saturday morning, May 20, 2023. A viewing is scheduled for 9:00am – 10:30am; with a service to follow at 10:30am. Bro. Todd Catteau of Park Avenue Church of Christ in Denison will officiate. Interment will follow the service at Cedarlawn Memorial Park. After the interment, a reception will be held at Dannel Funeral Home, 302 S. Walnut Street, Sherman, Texas, 75090, (903) 893-1171.

In addition to flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Assoc. (www.diabetes.org)

John married Joyce Marie Watkins on CA Aug 1952. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Frank Louis Dorsey. Frank was born on 15 Jul 1922; died on 8 Jun 2007. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Both residents of Denham Springs, passed away less than 24 hours apart. Hauna Ruth Moore McChristian on Sunday February 14, 2021 at Harvest Manor Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Denham Springs at the age of 80 and Howard Cates McChristian on Monday February 15, 2021 at Baton Rouge General Medical Center in Baton Rouge at the age of 82.

Their love story began in 1958 at a diner in Big Spring, TX. Howard had a red Harley Davidson parked out front & Hauna came in asking for a ride. They went for that ride and on May 30th, 1958 they were married! From the beginning and through their final days, their love and commitment to each other was evident and inspiring to all that met them.

Hauna & Howard wanted a large family and as a result, they had five children who loved and adored them. Jimmy Howard, Jerry Jeff, Jason Lloyd, Justin Cates & Johauna Leann were raised in a Godly home full of love, honesty & willingness to help others, all taught by the actions of Hauna & Howard. In December 1975 the family moved to Louisiana and established their home in Denham Springs in 1976.

Hauna loved being a wife, mother & grandmother and was a homemaker her entire life. In addition to her love for family, her contagious personality led her to being a top sales manager for Tupperware and then to become the successful business owner of Hauna's Professional Answering Service where she became the leader in the answering service industry. She had many amazing talents, such as sewing, cake decorating and car upholstery, that she often did for family and friends out of pure love and willingness to help others.

Howard loved being a husband, father & grandfather and was an Instrument Technician by trade. He did side jobs such as concrete finishing & cotton farming to help provide for his family. He also drove a concrete truck for McMahon Concrete in Big Spring, TX. He worked as an Instrument Technician for Sid Richardson Carbon in Big Spring, TX and Addis, LA for over 30 years. His many talents and vast knowledge of building/repairing things were often called upon by family and friends, where he always came to the rescue in that willingness to help others theme.

Hauna & Howard also both became hot shot drivers for Venture Transport in Gonzales, LA where they enjoyed traveling and seeing the country together until retirement. In their early years, Hauna & Howard had a passion for drag racing and they shared that passion with her brothers. Howard owned several NHRA records that stood for years. They also had a passion for street rods and were co-founders of the Ramblin Oldies of Denham Springs pre-49 Car Club. They enjoyed street rods from their early days in Big Spring as members of the Early Cars of Big Spring and continued that passion through their final days.

A joint celebration of life will be held Sunday February 21 at Seale Funeral Home in Denham Springs. Visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with a service to begin at 2:00 p.m. The service will be conducted by their beloved nephew Johnny McChristian. The funeral home is asking that masks be worn by all in attendance.

Burial in Evergreen Memorial Park in Denham Springs.

Hauna & Howard are survived by sons, Jimmy Howard McChristian and fiancé' Marian Eades, Jerry Jeff McChristian, Jason Lloyd and wife Monic McChristian and Justin Cates and wife Suzanne McChristian; daughter, Johauna Leann and husband Donald Lege'; grandchildren, Katrina and husband Ryan Jenny, Kelli Miller, Kevin and wife Britany McChristian, Cherie and husband Jay Burks, Ben McChristian, Jarmen McChristian & Sydney Comeaux, Kayren McChristian and fiancé' Garan Lentz, Josh and wife Ashleigh Edwards, Brandi Edwards & Jordan Snyder, Brady and wife Brooke McChristian, Blake and wife Nicki McChristian, Jeff and wife Brooke Lege', Shauna Lege' & Eric Dorman and Catherine Lege'; great-grandchildren, Dawson and Dalton Albin, Brianna Miller, Caydence, Cayleigh, and Caroline McChristian, Tori Carradine, Peyton Burks, Liam McChristian, Ella Parrozzo, Rosalee Lentz, Hadleigh and Cooper Edwards, Mitch, Hosea and Landon Sonnier and numerous nieces & nephews.

Preceded in death by grandson Roland Howard Lege'.

Hauna is also survived by brother, Autry and wife Martha Moore; sister Judy Moore; sister-n-law Joyce Moore. Preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd & Ruby Pugh Moore; brothers, Alvin and wife Marilyn Moore; Bill Moore; sister, Ada Moore.

Howard is also survived by brother, John and wife Joyce McChristian; sister-n-law Betty Honea. Preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin & Lela Cates McChristian; brother, Bennie McChristian; sisters, Lucy and husband Frank Dorsey; Lela Mae and husband Murrel Cooper.

Pallbearers will be grandsons Kevin, Ben, Jarmen, Brady & Blake McChristian, Jeff Lege' & Josh Edwards. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ryan Jenny, Dawson and Dalton Albin, Garan Lentz, Jordan Snyder & Eric Dorman.

Howard married Hauna Ruth Moore on 30 May 1958 in Big Spring, Texas. Hauna (daughter of Lloyd Moore and Ruby Pugh) was born on 12 Jul 1940 in Talihinia, Oklahoma; died on 14 Feb 2021 in Denham Springs, Livingston Parish, Louisiana; was buried on 21 Feb 2021 in Denham Springs, Livingston Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]