Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries, Memorials, and Death Notices


[This is Mary Eva (Smith) Clark Companion (5 Mar 1846-18 Nov 1932) ]

The Ennis Daily News - Saturday, November 19, 1932 Page: 1

Mrs. Champion Pioneer Texan Funeral Today

 Mrs. Mary E. Champion, 86, member of a prominent pioneer family of Cotton Gin, 
Texas, and first cousin of General Wade Hampton of the Civil War days died here 
at her home at 107 West Knox street Friday afternoon shortly after the noon hour, 
following an illness of two weeks. However, she had been in bad health for fifteen 
months.
  Surviving are five sons, Dr. L[awrence] E[dward] Clark, Dr. J[ohn] P[ettit] 
Clark, C. P. Clark and W[illiam] F[rancis] Clark, all of Ennis and Wade [Hampton]
Clark of Dallas. 
  Mrs. Champion, whose maiden name was Mary E. Smith, was born near Farmington, 
Mo., March 5, 1846. She moved to Texas with her parents at the age of 9 years and 
lived in Rockwall for a short time, moving to Cotton Gin, Texas. She was married 
there to L[awrence "Lary"] Clark, owner of a large plantation, Only a few months 
after her marriage Mr. Clark was called to service in the Civil War and served 
the entire four years. He died in Cotton Gin in March, 1903, and was buried there. 
Mrs. Clark was married to E[lied "Ed"] D[rury] Champion of Ennis in 1908, and he 
died in 1920, She has been a member of the First Methodist Church since a small 
child.
  Funeral services were held at the home, 707 West Knox St., this morning at 11 
o’clock with' Rev. W. E. Fisher, pastor of the First Methodist Church conducting 
the services.
  The body was carried to Cotton Gin where funeral services were concluded at the 
cemetery where interment was made. Rev. W. E. Fisher, assisted by Rev. Frank
Tirey, pastor of the First Baptist Church at Teague, conducted the services at 
the grave.
  J. E. Keever was in charge of funeral arrangements.
  Pallbearers were R. W. Hesser, W. P. Beasley, J. D. King, Sr., Walter Myers, 
Lon Backloupe, and J. L. Clarke.
  A large number of friends and relatives were in the cortege to Cotton Gin, among 
them Dr. and Mrs. L, E. Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Clark. Dr. J. P. Clark, Mr and 
Mrs. C. P. Clark, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Clark, Mr. and Mrs. R W. Hesser, Mrs. Chester 
Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. Claybourne Neal, Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Beasley, Mr. and Mrs. 
Wade Clark of Dallas. Mrs. Townsend Clark and daughter, Mildred, of Teague, Leon
Clark of Corsicana ana Mrs. Claud McKinney of Corsicana.