Byrum Sibling Obituaries

©  Kathy Duncan, 2019

This is an obituary study of the children of Ralph Henderson Byrum and Nancy Evelyn Turner, daughter of Andrew and Levina (Chisum) Turner on 9 February 1860 in Hardeman County, Tennessee.

Their known children were

1. Margaret "Maggie" Enola Byrum
2. Ida Byrum
3. Norvie E. Byrum
4. Eddie Dean Byrum
5. John Bryum
6. Nannie Irene Byrum

After the death of Nancy, Ralph married Nora (Miller) Armstrong, and had three more children:

7. Velma Ophelia Byrum
8. Lula Byrum
9. Iva Lee Byrum

Locating obituaries for these siblings has been an ongoing challenge. Their obituaries follow in the order of their deaths:

John Byrum, born circa 1872 in Tennessee. Death date and location unknown.

Ida Byrum, born 20 October 1868 in Tennessee, married George W. Strong and died 6 June 1898 in Terrell, Texas. Obituary not found yet.

Lula Byrum, born circa 1888 and died 12 April 1900. No death notice found yet.

Norvie E. Byrum, born 2 February 1866, married George Harvey Strong, and died 9 November 1925 in Collingsworth County, Texas. Obituary not found yet.

Margaret "Maggie" Enola Byrum, 22 December 1860 in Hardeman County, Tennessee, married Thomas Jefferson Graham, and died on 15 March 1930 in Floydada, Floyd County, Texas:

Obituary published for Margaret Enola (Byram) Graham in The Floyd County Hesperian:

Funeral Held Saturday for Mrs. T.J. Graham - Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock for Mrs. T.J. Graham, a resident of Floyd County for the past two years, and a number of years prior to 1917. The funeral services were held at the Carr’s Chapel cemetery, where interment was made.

   Mr. and Mrs. Graham lived in Floyd County a number of years prior to 1917, when they moved to Norman, Oklahoma. In 1927 they moved to Mangum, Oklahoma, where they made their home until 1928. For the past few months they have been making their home in the Sand Hill community, where Mrs. Graham’s death occurred. She had been in poor health for some time. Death came at about 4 o’clock Saturday morning.

   Surviving the deceased are her husband, seven sons, Milliard and H.H. Graham, who reside in the Sand Hill community, Carl, of Mangum, Okla., Edward of Amarillo, Horace of Oklahoma City, Walter, who resides in New Mexico, and Ralph, of Vernon, Texas; one daughter, Mrs. Annie Duck, of Cameron, New Mexico, and two sisters, Mrs. Bert Hale, of Clarendon and Mrs. Eddie Howe, of Colorado. All were present for the funeral services Saturday except Walter, Ralph, and Mrs. Howe.

[Source: The Floyd County Hesperian, Mar., 20, 1930.]

Note that this obituary mentions sisters Nannie Irene (Byrum) Haile and Eddie Dean (Byrum) Howe, but makes no reference to their two younger half-sisters who are both still living - Iva Lee (Byrum) Buttrill and Velma Ophelia (Byrum) Jackson.

Iva Lee Byrum, born 27 November 1890, married Asa B. Buttrill, and died on 31 January 1931 in Waco, McLennan County, Texas. No obituary found yet.

Eddie Dean Byrum, born 4 January 1869 in Hardeman County, Tennessee; married John Finis Howe, and died on 4 March 1947 in Fritch, Hutchinson County, Texas:

Mrs. Eddie Dean Howe, 78, Died Today at Ranch Home of Daughter - Mrs. Eddie D. Howe, 78, died at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Whiteside, Sanford Ranch, headquarters, following a lingering illness.

   Mrs. Howe was visiting from Trinidad, Colorado.

   Other survivors, in addition to her daughter, are four sons, Will Howe of Springfield, Colo., J.B. Howe of Panhandle, Arthur Howe of Herford, and Ray Howe of Wagon Wheel, New Mexico; a sister, Mrs. W.B. Haile of Amarillo.

   Funeral services will be held in Kim, Colo., Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. under the direction of Minton Funeral home of Borger.

[Source: Borger News-Advocate, Borger, TX, 4 Tues., 4 Mar 1947] 

Note that this obituary mentions only one sister, Nannie Irene (Graham) Haile, although there is one, younger half-sister still living. 

Nannie Irene Byrum, born in August 1881 in Tennessee. She married 1. George Fry and 2. William Burder Haile. She died on 15 September 1957 in Potter County, Texas.

Obituary of Nannie Irene (Byrum) Fry Haile; published in The Amarillo Daily News, Amarillo, TX, Fri., 20 Sept 1957, p. 28]:

Mrs. Nannie Haile -  Rites in tribute to the memory of Mrs. Nannie Irene Haile, 76, of 2115 Parker, will be conducted at 3 p.m. today in the First Baptist Church. Clarendon by the Rev J.D. Hill, pastor of Haile Baptist Church in Hutchinson County, and the Rev. W.F. Vanderburg of Clarendon.

   Pallbearers will be Murl McCaalin, M.L. McElvany, Paul Kemp, R.L. Harlan, E.L. Byars and C.E. Terry.

   Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery, Clarendon under direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home.

   Mrs. Haile, widow of W.B. Haile, and a resident of the Panhandle area since 1891, died Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. in Underwood Clinic. She had lived in Amarillo since 1946, shortly before the death of her husband, a former Hutchinson County rancher.

   Mrs. Haile was born Aug. 28, 1881 in Tennessee, and came to Collingsworth County with her parents when she was 10 years old.

   Surviving are three sons, B.H. (Bob) Haile, Amarillo; J.B. Haile, Hereford, and W.C. Haile, Corona, Calif.,; four daughters, Mrs. J.M. Herrington, Rogers, Ark.,; Mrs. Buel Gray, Skellytown; Mrs. Paul Russ, Panhandle, and Mrs. Clyde Martin, Clarendon; a sister, Mrs. Velma Jackson, Silsbee, Tex; 21 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

[Source--The Amarillo Daily News - Amarillo, TX., Fri, 20 Sept 1957, p. 28.]

Note that this obituary mentions younger half-sister Velma Ophelia (Byrum) Jackson and is the only one to do so. Until I read this one, I had no idea that the younger half-siblings existed.

Obituary for Mrs. Nannie Haile published in The Amarillo Globe, 19 Sept. 1957:

Mrs. Nannie Haile Taken by Death - Death last night claimed Mrs. Nannie Irene Haile, 76, pioneer resident of the Panhandle and benefactor of church and youth organizations.

            Mrs. Haile, widow of W.B. Haile, died at 11:30 p.m. in the Underwood Clinic.

            She had lived in the Panhandle area since 1891 and had been a resident of Amarillo since 1946, shortly before the death of her husband, a former Hutchinson County rancher.

            Mrs. Haile was a member of the Haile Baptist Church in Hutchinson County, which she had endowed, and had been a staunch supporter of the Boys Ranch and Kids, Inc. The church was named for the Haile family.

            She was born Aug. 28, 1881, in Tennessee, and came to Collingsworth County, Tex., with her parents when she was ten years old.

            Funeral rites for Mrs. Haile will be conducted Friday at 3 p.m. in the First Baptist Church in Claredon by the Rev. J.D. Hill, pastor of the Haile Baptist Church and the Rev. Vandenburg of Clarendon.

            Named as pallbearers are Murl McCaslin, H.L. McElvaney, Paul Kemp, R.L. Harlan, E.L. Byars and C.E. Terry.

            Burial will be in the Citizens Cemetery at Clarendon under direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home.

            Mrs. Haile is survived by three sons, B.H. (Bob) Haile, Amarillo; J.B. Haile, Hereford, and W.C. Haile, Corona, Calif.; four daughters, Mrs. J.H. Herrington, Rogers, Ark., Mrs. Buel Gray, Skellytown; Mrs. Paul Russ, Panhandle, and Mrs. Clyde Martin, Clarendon; a sister, Mrs. Velma Jackson, Silsbee, Tex: 21 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

[Source: The Amarillo Globe, 19 Sep 1957, Panhandle Plains Historical Museum]

Again, this obituary mentions half-sister Velma O. (Byrum) Jackson.

Velma Ophelia Byrum, born 14 September 1887 in Texas. She married Richard E. Jackson, the "Father of the Big Thicket," and died on 29 June 1973 in Silsbee, Hardin County, Texas.