Report of Quilting Women: Clark, Smith, Russell - 1930's - Robert Lee, Coke County, TX Contributed by Jo Collier 20 January 2004 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm *********************************************************************** The Observer/Enterprise, Robert Lee, Coke County, TX, October 3, 2003 Report of the "Quilting Women" by Ava Lou Davis Listed below are some more stories and letters concerning some of the original "quilting women" of Robert Lee United Methodist Church. Willie Bell Clark was born November 4, 1898 in Stockdale, TX. Her parents were Will and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bell. In March, 1899, when Willie was only four months old, she began a trip in a covered wagon with her parents and four sisters. They were headed for Coke County and arrived in Robert Lee about two weeks later on April 1. Will and Lizzie loved their five daughters so much, they had five more daughters, all born in Robert Lee. One sister died in that first year so Willie grew up with eight sisters. Willie was a Robert Lee High School graduate. She married Freeman Clark on May 30, 1920. They had one daughter, Carlee, born on May 20, 1925. On November 28, 1945, Carlee married Bill Craddock. They presented Willie and Freeman with two grandchildren: Ann Craddock Wells and Frank Craddock. Still later, they were proud to have six great-grandchildren. Willie died April 28, 1981 at the age of 82. Willie was a joyful Christian and a life-long Methodist. She was an active member of the WMU and part-time teacher of the women's Sunday School class. She was also a member of Eastern Star and the Garden Club. When Willie passed away, we celebrated her life at her beloved First Methodist Church in Robert Lee. The Rev. John Reynolds told of visiting the Robert Lee Nursing Home and looking up to see "prissy Willie flitting down the hall in her favorite high heel shoes." And she took time to spread her joy to every resident in the home. We had a Bilbo Sisters session about Aunt Willie: Jo Ann remembers that Willie's feet were so small, we could wear her high heels to play dress-up and they fit! Janet remembers Willie's delightful giggle and how she would pop into our house when we were home for a visit. She was usually carrying a cake or a pie for us! Jo Ann and Alta Bell remember that Aunt Willie capably directed the rehearsals for both of their weddings. I remember that she furnished the wedding cake for my wedding reception (Freeman had promised me a wedding cake years before), and helped see that everything was ready before the guests arrived. Alta Bell also remembers how Willie gave her daughter, Carleen, a theme birthday party every year, took pictures, and put them in a special album. Alta Bell remembers looking in the album to see how she had changed from year to year. This inspired her to do birthday parties for her two children, take pictures, and keep albums. One special memory Carleen told to me: her mother would bake cupcakes before Easter, and they would drive to all the elderly and shut-ins. Carlee would then deliver the gifts of love. Willie and Freeman opened their lovely home and beautiful grounds to all the family for many Bell family reunions and Grammy and Papa's 50th wedding anniversary. Lura Smith's maiden name was Lura Vowell. She married Monte Trimble, and they farmed out in the Edith community. Monte and Lura Trimble homesteaded on part of J.J.S. Smith's ranch on the Pecan Creek (Pecan Creek runs into the Colorado River). Part of Pecan Creek was on J.J.S. Smith's ranch. Monte and Lura Trimble had six children starting with the oldest. Curtis, Verna, Josie, Alma, Jack, and Edward the youngest. According to Willie Trimble Foreman, Curtis Trimble's wife, Lura was the sweetest lady. She said she was like a mother to her and she couldn't have had a better mother-in-law. Monte Trimble died in 1936 and was buried in Paint Creek Cemetery. Lura Trimble married Monte Trimble's half brother, J.J.S. Smith in 1938. They lived on his ranch at Edith for several years. On Friday, December 5, 1941, after school I (Ava Davis) rode the bus with my friend Doris Woodmansee, Lura Smith's granddaughter, to J.J.S. Smith's ranch. That night after our evening meal, they wanted me to read from the Bible, as I was a guest in their home. I can't remember the scripture, but it was in Matthew. The next morning my cousin, Jane Cumbie, drove out in her dad's Roadmaster Buick and told me my brother, Jack Dean Tubb, was killed in an automobile accident with two other boys. The other boys were Jackie Boy Latham and Loyd Higgins. I remember Mrs. Smith was so kind to me. After "Uncle Scrib", as everyone called him, died, Lura Smith moved into town on Euel and 17th Streets. When she had a stroke in 1964, Curtis Trimble and wife, Willie, moved in with her and took care of her. Mrs. Smith is buried at Paint Creek Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were faithful members of the Methodist Church in Robert Lee. The preceding was submitted by Willie Trimble Foreman and written by Ava Davis. I have fond memories of Mary Stubblefield Russell. She was my first grade teacher and that alone makes her special. She taught me to read and write and so much more. She gave a good start in school to hundreds of Robert Lee children. Mrs. Russell coached me in "story-telling" for the County meet. My story was "Billy Goat Gruff." I was in the end-of-school operetta, "What's the Matter with Sally?" Mrs. Russell was one of the directors and I was Sally. Mary Stubblefield and her sister came to Robert Lee to teach in about 1926. They were from Libery Hill. Mary had a B.S. degree from Daniel Baker College in Brownwood. Mary met Bailey Russell here and they were married in 1927. From the information I could find, I think that Mrs. Russell taught school in Robert Lee for at least 16 years (1926-1942). I also have memories of Mrs. Russell and her husband, Bailey, at the First Methodist Church. (Submitted by Jamie Bilbo Boren). Permission granted by The Observer/Enterprise for publication in the Coke County TXGenWeb Archives.