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SSN 451-32-1557
Born 3 miles East of Rayner, TX
He was fast on his feet. He was a good runner in school. Had a beautiful handwriting. Attended college in Canyon, TX for at least one semester. Took a woodworking class.
Used to walk to see Effie when they were courting. They always knew he was coming because they could hear him whistling along the way. Was one of the first young men to buy his own Model A Ford Coupe. He and some friends took a trip to Colorado and had trouble trying to come down Pike's Peak--burned out the brakes, I believe.
Helped to build the baptistry in Hale Center Baptist Church and was one of the first to be baptized in it. He grew up in a Presbyterian family but converted to Baptist belief mainly regarding the security of the believer and baptism. Was an ardent believer in the Cooperative Program and was a faithful teacher of tithing.
Married by Rev. J. Harlan Matthew in Baptist parsonage in Plainview
Occupation: Wheat Farmer, Secretary for Farmers Coop (no telling how many stock certificates he signed and, oh, the fun of those annual stockholder's meetings and ice cream suppers in the Dalhart High School), Treasurer for Trans-Canadian Baptist Association (He traveled countless miles to attend Associational Meetings and dinner on the ground. Many times he was mistook for a preacher.), Southern Baptsit Deacon (He always liked to provide the visiting evangelists a place to stay--no motels in those days. And there was always fried chicken, gravy and hot biscuits for breakfast!! About the only time we had coffee.) He loved to read and study his Bible. Taught a men's Sunday School class for years.
During depression days he had a black Ford Panel which he used for a school bus. He would drive the route in the morning, work in a lumberyard in Hartley during the day and return home after delivering the school kids in the afternoon. The dirt storms were so bad during the Dust Bowl days and tumble weeds would often have to be burned for cars to get down the roads or to have to shovel a path through a sand drift. However, he bought their first radio which ran on a car battery during those days. The sand took off all the paint on his tractor and he had to have it re-painted bright red after the depression.
He was innovative in his farming, was a trailblazer in many things like windcharger electric lights, was a good carpenter and mechanic. Remodeled the house at Sedan rather than building a new one after the wheat harvest was not a bumper crop the year he bought his first farm a mile and a half over the Texas line in New Mexico, 34 miles from town, of mostly dirt road. The mailing address was still Dalhart, TX, because it was a Star Route out of Dalhart going to Sedan, NM. Heating was with prophane gas and REA (elecricity) came in during the late 1940's. His first new car was a 1950 Ford with undercoating. Farm to market (hard surfaced) roads came in the middle 1950's replacing the graded dirt roads. During the war farmers could buy gasoline for their tractors at a savings but blueing was put in it. It was illegal to put it is automobiles. Teenagers were known to steal blue gasoline from farmers, about the meanest thing they did outside of stealing watermelon or maybe putting shocks of feed in the road for Halloween.
Buried January 16, 1991 Hillcrest Cemetery, Bossier City, LA
Lived: Aspermont (near Graham), Hale Center, Floydada, Dimmit (Hart), Dalhart : Harlow, Turner, Peoples, by Air Base, Hartley: Hawkins--all in Texas; Sedan NM: bought farm, Tucumcari, Portales: lived in town adjoining Eastern New Mexico University; Bossier City, LA: June 12, 1978 until his death.
Attended many Ritchey Reunions mainly at Erastus & Gillie's in Hale Center, Johnson/Springer Reunions mainly at W.T. Johnson's home, Hale Center and later in Plainview park; in 1977 - Hereford, TX; 1986 - Plainview (and Hale Center Baptist Church Anniversary), Effie had had hip replacement surgery and Freda and Paul took him.Prayers:
Accept our thanks, Heavenly Father, for the manifestation of your goodness. Bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and our bodies to Thy service. Help us look to Thee for guidance and strength and to know an do your will. Help us to be mindful of the things that are uplifting to your cause. Forgive us when we fail you. In Jesus' name.Thank you, Lord, for the good night's rest and for your watchcare over us. Bless this food for its intended use and help us do your will. In Jesus' name.
We thank you, Lord, for this table comfort. Bless this food to nourish our bodies. Accept our souls for Christ's sake. Amen.
Humor:
I didn't stay awake to see how much I slept last night.
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Moved to Oklahoma City to live with Freda & Paul Cunningham in Nov, 1992.
Attended Family Reunion at Palo Dura Canyon, TX July 4, 1992, with Paul & Freda and the Choate family.